Although the majority of bus drivers operate their vehicles in a safe manner, sometimes an accident will occur. If a large bus crashes into a motor vehicle, passengers in the car could suffer a number of serious injuries because of the extreme weight difference between the two vehicles. Since buses could tip over and slide in a crash, bystanders could also suffer injuries, as well as the passengers inside the bus.
After a bus accident in which you suffered injuries as a passenger, a bystander, or another driver, you may want a lawyer to take on your case. The team at Morelli Law Firm can help you reach a settlement with the insurance company and secure your compensation. As a White Plains bus accident lawyer, we will represent your interests and work to deliver a fair settlement. Call us at (212) 751-9800 for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an estimated 15,000 buses were involved in injury crashes in the United States, resulting in an estimated 25,000 injuries. In addition, 232 buses were involved in fatal crashes. The FMCSA says the leading types of buses involved in fatal crashes in the United States between 2007 and 2017 include school buses, transit buses, and intercity buses.
Bus drivers often need to maneuver these large vehicles through narrow city streets clogged with parked cars and other obstacles. Driving in tight spaces can lead to minor fender benders, but it also can cause drivers to miss seeing a pedestrian or a bicycle rider until it is too late to avoid a collision.
Some of the other reasons bus drivers may cause accidents include:
- Aggressive driving. If the driver tries to hurry because he or she is running late on a route, it may lead to impulsive and dangerous driving.
- Excessive fatigue. If a driver works long hours, especially at night, fatigue can impair his or her driving skills and even lead to falling asleep at the wheel.
- Texting while driving. If the bus driver uses his or her smartphone while behind the wheel, it can cause him or her to miss potential danger up ahead.
- Driving while drunk. The bus driver may have taken drugs or drunk alcohol before starting the workday, leading to significant errors in judgment behind the wheel.
Determining Fault
The typical city bus weighs between 25,000 and 40,000 pounds, meaning it dwarfs the typical passenger car, which weighs 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. This significant weight difference can lead to massive injuries for passengers in other cars, as well as for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists in the event of a bus crash.
If you were involved in a bus accident, the cause of the crash may not have been the fault of the bus driver alone. It is possible that the negligence of multiple parties played a role in the crash, leading to your injuries. For example, if the company that owns the bus fails to keep up with regular maintenance and repairs, it could lead to an accident.
When you hire a White Plains bus accident lawyer from Morelli Law Firm, we can help you determine which parties should be held responsible for your injuries. We will study the facts in the case in order to figure out the exact reasons the accident occurred and identify the parties at fault. We can use that information to ask for a fair settlement from the insurance company. For a free consultation, call us at (212) 751-9800 today.
Negotiating with Insurers
As the victim in a bus accident, you have the right to try to negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company on your own, rather than hiring an attorney. However, because the insurer deals with cases like this on a regular basis, it has a significant advantage during negotiations When you do not deal with these situations regularly, it can be difficult to know whether the insurer is offering you a fair settlement.
The team at Morelli Law Firm can study your medical reports and interview the doctors caring for you in order to determine the right level of compensation you deserve. If you will have permanent disabilities or trauma that will not improve with time, you deserve to receive reimbursement for your estimated future medical costs and lost wages, in addition to your current damages.
Problems in Negotiations
You may find that the insurance company offers you a far smaller settlement that you think you deserve, but you do not have to accept the first offer. You have the right to try to negotiate for a greater level of compensation, which is just one area where an attorney representing you can give you the advice you need.
During negotiations, the insurance company may try to downplay your injuries, or the insurer may attempt to argue that your actions played a role in the crash, reducing the liability of its client. Your attorney can use the facts in police reports and other evidence to argue that you deserve the full settlement you are requesting.
White Plains Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Contact Our Law Firm About Your Bus Accident
You should not have to pay the medical bills for your treatment when you did nothing to cause the crash. A White Plains bus accident lawyer from the team at Morelli Law Firm is ready to represent your rights, using our skills to negotiate with the insurance company to secure you a fair settlement. Call us at (212) 751-9800 to get started with a free review of your case.