Bus Accident Attorneys in Sumter, South Carolina
Our Sumter Bus Accident Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm are familiar with litigating South Carolina personal injury cases and can often help victims recover substantially more compensation than they would be able to retain on their own, so it is highly advisable for anyone injured in an accident to discuss their options with one of our Sumter Bus Accident Lawyers.
In a growing city like Sumter, many commuters and students rely heavily on public transportation. Although a bus is generally seen as a safe mode of transportation, bus accidents do occur. A bus’s capacity to cause damage is drastically increased because of its weight and size, sometimes leading to catastrophic injury or death. Injured victims are often left with mounting medical bills and treatment, lost earnings, and serious or permanent disability.
Two thousand sixteen data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Large Truck and Bus Crash studies show the extent that 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.
The legal professionals at Strom Law firm fight for compensation from negligent bus drivers, their employers, and transportation companies. The Sumter bus accident lawyers at Strom Law Firm will devote time and resources to fight for fair compensation on behalf of our injured clients. We take the necessary steps to hold bus companies accountable for the injuries caused by their negligence or other wrongful behavior.
We understand South Carolina’s transportation statutes as well as the complex legal questions that can arise in bus accident cases, including navigating multiple injured parties who have suffered numerous and significant injuries.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bus Accident?
After investigating a bus accident, the driver may be 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. Since a bus is usually a commercial vehicle, the driver may be held to a higher standard than a non-commercial driver.
- 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 Manufacturer: Sometimes, a bus or its parts are defective. If a bus defect causes an accident, the manufacturer can be liable for damages.
- 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.
Common Types of Bus Accident Injuries
Passengers onboard a bus at the time of the accident are not the only ones who may suffer injuries. Buses can be a contributing factor to many other accidents, such as pedestrians, scooters, or car accidents. The individuals on this end of the accident can sustain serious injuries:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Child Injury
- Muscle tear and strain
- Broken or fractured bones
- Disc injury
- Damaged organs
- Amputation
- Wrongful Death
- Burn
What Damages Can Be Recovered by Sumter Bus Accident Lawyers?
Economic damages include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Current and future income
- Mobility devices or prosthesis
- Physical or mental therapy
- Medical transportation costs
Non-economic damages consider the effects of injury complications on somebody’s life, like:
- Loss of ordinary functions
- Ongoing disabilities
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Impact on relationships
Will the responsible party try to Avoid Payment?
Insurance companies often try to convince victims to accept a quick settlement of a low amount. 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.
- Comparative Negligence: Arguing that the fault is either that of the injured party or of a third party.
- Denying The Existence Of A Defect: A defective product’s manufacturer will likely defend their company through denials of the existence of the defect.
- 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 Sumter Bus Accident Lawyers Today for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation
In addition to offering free case evaluations, we do not collect a fee unless we recover for you. Contact the experienced Sumter bus accident lawyers at 803-252-4800 or online. Do not delay finding out if and how we are able to help you. If you have been injured in a bus accident in Sumter, Sumter County, or anywhere else in South Carolina.
