Bus Accident Lawyers in Bamberg, SC
If you have a personal injury case, contact an experienced Bamberg Bus Accident Lawyers like Bakari Sellars can help you navigate your case.
With a growing public transit system, like the one used by those in Bamberg, many commuters and students rely heavily on public transportation. Although a generally safe mode of transportation, bus accidents do occur. These accidents can also involve pedestrian accidents and scooter accidents. Bus accidents often result in devastating injuries, leaving an injured victim with mounting medical bills and treatment, lost earnings, and serious or permanent disability. A bus’s capacity to cause damage is drastically increased by its weight and size, sometimes leading to catastrophic injuries, even wrongful death.
2016 data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Large Truck and Bus Crash studies show the extent to which buses contribute to the mortality rate in United States vehicular accidents. NHTSA conducted a 10-year study, School-Transportation-Related Crashes, documenting an average of 128 fatalities every year. Driver error is often the primary factor in such heartbreaking events.
At Strom Law Firm, we fight for compensation from negligent bus drivers, their employers, and transportation companies. The Bamberg bus accident lawyers at Strom Law Firm will devote time and resources to fight for fair compensation on behalf of our injured clients. We understand South Carolina’s transportation statutes and the complex legal questions that can arise when a Bamberg Bus Accident Lawyer is needed, including navigating multiple injured parties who have suffered numerous and significant injuries. The necessary steps will be taken to hold bus companies accountable for the injuries caused by their negligence or other wrongful behavior.
Common Types of Bus Accident Injuries
In addition to causing harm to passengers on-board, when a bus crashes into pedestrians, cyclists, or passenger vehicles, the individuals on the other end of the accident can sustain life-altering injuries. The severity of these injuries is what can make bus accidents different from car accidents. When bus accidents occur, they cause injuries that are permanent or life-threatening:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Disc injury
- Child injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Muscle tear and strain
- Broken or fractured bones
- Wrongful Death
- Amputation
- Damaged organs
- Burn
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bus Accident?
After investigating bus accidents, many times, the driver is found to have been negligent or at-fault. Examples of negligent operation by bus drivers include distracted driving, reckless behavior, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and other risky behavior. In addition, since a bus is usually a commercial vehicle, the driver may be held to a higher standard than a non-commercial driver. In addition, people and companies beyond the driver may be responsible:
- Employers: Bus companies are often responsible because they make hiring decisions and have control over the budget, training, scope, and actions of their drivers. If employers know their employee has prior driving violations, has ever been accused of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, has any other safety infractions or poor record, the employer may be liable for claims related to negligent hiring and negligent entrustment.
- Bus Owner: When a bus owner improperly maintains their vehicle or does not fix known defects, they may be exposed to liability.
- Mechanics: Mechanics may contribute to an accident if they negligently complete maintenance and repair.
- Bus Manufacturer: Sometimes, a bus or its parts are defective. If a bus defect causes an accident, the manufacturer can be liable for damages.
What Damages Can Be Recovered for Bus Accident Injuries?
Economic damages include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Physical or mental therapy
- Current and future income
- Mobility devices or prosthesis
- Medical transportation costs
Non-economic damages consider the effects of injury complications on somebody’s life, like:
- Loss of ordinary functions
- Ongoing disabilities
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Impact on relationships
Will the responsible party try to Avoid Payment?
Insurance companies often try to convince victims to accept a quick settlement. They may request recorded statements early on when an injured party does not yet know the full extent of the injuries or may request access to protected health information, all in an effort to reduce or otherwise deny a valid claim. Additional tactics can include:
- Denying Any Negligence: The defendants and their insurance company do not accept liability for an accident.
- Denying the Existence Of A Defect: A defective product’s manufacturer will likely defend their company through denial of the existence of the defect.
- Comparative Negligence: Arguing that the fault is either that of the injured party or of a third party;
- Disputing Damages: The attorneys of negligent parties who have no real liability defense often deny causation of the plaintiff’s injuries or call into question the extent or mere existence of the plaintiff’s injuries.
Contact Our Bamberg Bus Accident Lawyers Today for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation
If you have been injured in a bus accident in Bamberg, Bamberg County, or anywhere else across South Carolina, contact us. We offer free case evaluations, and we do not collect a fee unless we recover for you. Contact the experienced Bamberg bus accident lawyers at 803-252-4800. You can also contact us online. Our firm looks forward to finding out if and how we can assist you.
