Bus Accident Lawyers

Passengers rely on bus companies and operators every day, and one simple mistake could cost the lives of everyone on board. Bus accident tragedies change the lives of families every year.

Whether it’s for a faster commute or to personally combat climate change, more Americans are choosing public transit as a preferred mode of transportation. Despite their overall safety features, school buses, intercity buses and public rail systems are not immune to accidents. Both vehicle occupants and pedestrians can fall victim to a sudden collision.

If you are injured on a public transportation carrier, such as a bus, light-rail, subway, or school bus, you could be entitled to seek justice for your pain and suffering. Public transportation and national bus companies have large insurance and legal defense teams ready to protect the monetary interest of their companies. They will most likely offer a low-ball settlement. Hiring a personal injury attorney can make all the difference in getting the compensation you deserve.

How We Can Help

Personal injury cases involving buses and school buses require definitive proof of the accident cause and the liable parties. The lawyers of Fried Goldberg are known as the “Truck Accident Attorneys.” They are well versed in cases that involve large vehicles, such as big-rig commercial trucks and buses.

When you hire our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys, we will gather all the crucial evidence that can help prove liability and win your case. Over the years, we have successfully litigated for bus accident and truck accident victims, resulting in multi-million dollar verdicts.

Past Bus Accident Verdicts and Settlements

Our firm has built a strong reputation on reaching favorable settlements and verdicts for our clients. In a recent bus accident case, we secured a $4.1 million verdict for a husband and wife injured in a collision with a transit bus.

What Separates Bus & Car Accidents

The first noticeable difference between buses and cars is the sheer size and weight of a bus. In terms of a head-on collision, a bus weighing nearly 50,000 lbs. could easily total a small sedan, and completely decimate a human body. Most buses don’t have seat belts. This increases the chances of being injured if a crash should occur.

Other than the size of the vehicles involved, bus and car accidents differ in terms of liability. In an auto accident, the drivers involved are liable in the event of injury. When the bus involved is a public transit carrier, the state is responsible for injuries to passengers.

On the other hand, major bus operators, such as Greyhound or Amtrak, are legally required to carry a multi-million-dollar liability insurance policy. If you are injured riding a bus in their fleet, most likely they will offer you a settlement at the lowest price-point possible. Often this amount is not nearly enough to cover the costs of a full recovery. This practice isn’t in the best interest of bus accident victims. For this reason, it is always a good idea to consult with an attorney before agreeing to or signing anything from another party’s insurance carrier.

On average, there are roughly 63,000 bus accidents each year in the United States.

Common Bus Accident Injuries

During a collision, the combination of a lack of safety restraints with the size and weight of the vehicle means that passengers can sustain serious injuries. Buses also run a high-risk for roll-overs, which can lead to severe injuries. Common bus accident injuries include:

  • Broken and/or dislocated bones
  • Lacerations
  • Back sprains
  • Neck strains
  • Whiplash
  • Spinal cord trauma
  • Amputation
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Wrongful Death

How to File a Bus Accident Claim

The process for filing an accident claim depends on the type of bus involved. Time constraints are an important consideration for both privately owned buses and government funded transit systems.

Accidents involving public transit have a very limited filing period: six months from the date of incident. This allows the government to investigate the incident and offer a settlement out of court. Missing the filing deadline means you forfeit the right pursue a lawsuit. Your file or claim must contain the following information:

  • The name of the liable party or parties
  • A detailed account of the time, place and circumstances of the accident
  • The name and address of the person submitting the claim

Major National Bus Companies

If the bus in question is owned by a major bus operator, the statute of limitations is the same as any personal injury case in the state of Georgia – 2 years. The major bus companies currently operating in the U.S. are:

  • Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach is a national railroad passenger corporation that offers rail and bus routes throughout the contiguous United States.
  • Coach USA provides a variety of transportation services, including intercity commuter, sightseeing, charter and school bus services.
  • Greyhound is the most familiar long-distance bus company, having existed in the U.S. for over a century.
  • Megabus is an intercity bus line owned by Coach USA and operating out of Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Toronto, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., California and Nevada.
  • Peter Pan Bus Lines operate along the Northeastern seaboard, owned by the Picknelly family since 1933.

Atlanta City Buses

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is currently the 8th largest intercity transit system in the U.S., with an annual ridership of around 439,000 passengers. While bus accidents, train derailment and facility malfunctions are rare, they do occur. Both passengers and pedestrians run the risk of injury due to accident during their daily commute around Fulton, Clayton and DeKalb counties.

If you have been injured in a bus or train wreck owned and operated by MARTA, or sustain injury while on MARTA property, you should seek the professional opinion of an attorney who understands the nuances of personal injury cases involving large vehicles. Claims against public entities and large corporations are complex, often involving teams of lawyers and bureaucratic red tape. You need a tenacious law firm that will fight for your rights and make sure justice is served against negligence.

Contact a Bus Accident Lawyer

At Fried Goldberg LLC, our bus accident attorneys serve Roswell, Marletta, Atlanta and all of Georgia with the expertise necessary to generate successful outcomes for our clients. You can view our settlement and case results by clicking here. Contact us to receive a free evaluation of your case by one of our bus accident lawyers.

Truck accident attorneys at Fried Goldberg

The Truck Accident Attorneys

The Truck Accident Attorneys at Fried Goldberg LLC devote at least 75% of their caseload to representing the victims of accidents involving tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles. Our extensive experience with the laws governing the trucking industry is the reason we are routinely successful at taking on trucking companies when someone is seriously injured.

 

 

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FG Partners

The Truck Accident Attorneys

The Truck Accident Attorneys at Fried Goldberg LLC devote at least 95% of their caseload to representing the victims of accidents involving tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles. Our extensive experience with the laws governing the trucking industry is the reason we are routinely successful at taking on trucking companies when someone is seriously injured.

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Millions Recovered

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Our experienced attorneys have represented individuals who have been seriously injured. We are proud of the outstanding reputation we have within our industry and our track record of success, which sets us apart. In particular, we have recovered nearly $1 billion for our clients throughout the country.

red 100 percent$30 million+
red 60 percent $11-$30 million
red 30 percent $1-$10 million
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