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Florida Bus Accident Attorneys

Bus Accident

Buses are common sights on Florida’s roadways. Whether they are transporting children to/from school or activities, carrying commuters to their daily jobs, or are filled with tourists, most bus rides are completed without incident. Unfortunately, sometimes passengers are injured while riding buses, and sometimes buses are involved in accidents with other vehicles.

If you were injured or if a loved one was injured or killed in a bus accident, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for your physical injuries, damaged personal property, and more. Accidents involving buses can be more complex than crashes involving only cars or passenger trucks, because they may involve large corporations or public entities. Consulting with experienced Florida bus accident attorneys can help you understand your rights and can give you peace of mind knowing that skilled legal professionals are advocating for your interests. Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys represents victims injured in Florida bus accidents.

Understanding Liability In Florida Bus Accidents
Who Can Be Held Liable?

One of the important tasks your attorney will handle is identifying all potentially responsible parties in the accident. In bus accidents, there may be multiple liable parties.

  • The Bus Driver. Depending on the circumstances, the driver may have been negligent. For example, if the bus driver failed to pay adequate attention while driving, did not adhere to traffic laws, did not drive appropriately for weather conditions, or was operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may be a named party in your lawsuit.
  • The Bus Company. Bus companies have an obligation to maintain their fleet in good working condition, and to ensure drivers are adequately trained to operate their vehicles. Your legal action may include the bus company, if circumstances point to the company’s negligence.
  • Third Parties. In certain cases, a municipality may be liable due to a failure to maintain road conditions. In other cases, other drivers may bear liability. Bus manufacturers or maintenance contractors can also be considered responsible parties if mechanical failure played a role in the accident.

Shared Liability

In some bus accident cases, multiple parties share responsibility for the crash. In those situations, fault is apportioned among the parties. For example, a bus driver might be deemed 40% at fault while his employer, the busing company, is 60% at fault. If the elements of the claim are proven and a settlement is agreed upon by the parties, then the bus company would pay 60% of the agreed-upon amount, with the driver paying the balance (or the remaining 40%.)

Proving Liability

Before you can prevail on your bus accident claim, your lawyer will need to establish liability. Whether you were injured as a passenger on a bus or suffered car accident injuries when a bus collided with your vehicle, your legal team will conduct a thorough investigation. As part of that process, your attorneys will seek to gather all relevant information to support your claim. Relevant evidence may include bus maintenance records, driver logs, and statements from anyone who witnessed the accident or who can otherwise testify to the negligence of the responsible parties.

Reasons To Hire A Bus Accident Attorney

In the aftermath of a bus accident, insurance companies will act quickly to try to settle injured victims’ claims. On its face, this sounds like a good thing. Unfortunately, insurers are motivated to try to settle claims for less (often much less) than the claim may be worth.

Before you talk to an insurance adjuster or agree to anything, schedule a free consultation with a reputable Florida bus accident law firm. Your attorney will understand the nuances that come with bus accident claims and can help you navigate the complexities inherent in the process. Your lawyer will explain your rights and options for pursuing your claim, so you can make the best decision for your situation. We will also explain timelines, and help you understand applicable statutory deadlines for pursuing your claim.

If you choose to work with Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys, you can expect your legal team to also do the following:

  • Investigate. We will investigate the facts and circumstances of the accident and collect evidence.
  • Establish Liability. Identifying all responsible parties is another key step your attorney will handle for you. 
  • Value Your Claim. We have significant experience valuing claims for complex accidents such as bus accidents and will work closely with you to ensure your claim is valued appropriately.
  • Communicate. Your attorney will handle all communications and negotiations on your behalf.

Consulting with an attorney quickly can help you make informed decisions, meet time limitations, and position your legal team to gather and preserve evidence to support your claim.

Types Of Compensation You May Recover

You may be entitled to recover different types of compensation in your Florida bus accident claim:

  • Property Damage. If your vehicle was damaged or destroyed, or if your personal belongings were damaged in a bus crash, your claim can include an amount designed to pay for personal property damage.
  • Lost Wages. If you were unable to meet the demands of your job after the accident because of your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages.
  • Medical Expenses. Your personal injury lawsuit will include an amount designed to compensate you for expenses already incurred and expected expenses for ongoing treatment related to injuries sustained in the bus accident.
  • Pain and Suffering. Your Florida bus accident lawyers may also be able to help you recover funds designed to compensate you for both physical and emotional pain and suffering related to the bus crash.

Common Causes Of Bus Accidents

Bus crash lawyers in Florida see all kinds of reasons for bus and other motor vehicle accidents. The most common causes we see at Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys include:

  • Distracted bus drivers 
  • Bus drivers or other involved drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs 
  • Speeding 
  • Reckless driving 
  • Poor road conditions 
  • Faulty bus maintenance 
  • Third-party negligence (such as the city’s failure to maintain road conditions or another driver’s negligence)  

Experience Handling All Types Of Bus Accident Injuries

Because of their large size and weight relative to other vehicles, accidents involving buses can result in serious, life-threatening injuries. Our bus accident attorneys in Florida have helped clients who were dealing with a wide range of injuries, including:

Injuries sustained by bus passengers can be compounded by the lack of seatbelts or other protective restraints, and bus design, which arguably does not prioritize passenger safety.

Types Of Bus Accident Cases We Handle

At Scott Marshall Injury Attorneys, our experienced bus crash attorneys handle all types of bus-related cases, including:

  • Public transportation bus accidents
  • School bus accidents
  • Tour bus accidents
  • Shuttle bus accidents
  • Accidents involving buses and pedestrians or cyclists

We are adept at handling the complexities of cases involving multiple liable parties; no case is too large or too challenging for our legal team.

Contact Our Experienced Bus Accident Injury Lawyers Today

When you choose to work with our Florida bus accident attorneys, you can be confident in your decision. Attorneys Scott Marshall and Mark Crespo are committed to helping clients recover full and fair compensation and have more than a quarter of a century of experience pursuing justice for accident victims.

Schedule your free consultation today!