Bus Accident Lawyers in Winnsboro, SC
At Strom Law Firm, we fight for compensation from negligent bus drivers, their employers, and transportation companies. We understand South Carolina’s transportation statutes and the complex legal questions that can arise in bus accident cases, including navigating multiple injured parties who have suffered numerous and significant injuries. The Winnsboro 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 they cause by their negligence or other wrongful behavior.
Many commuters and students across South Carolina, in cities like Winnsboro, depend heavily on public transportation. Despite being a generally safe method of transportation, buses are not immune to accidents. Because buses are large, heavy vehicles, a bus accident can lead to catastrophic injury or death. Bus accidents can leave an injured victim with mounting medical bills and treatment, lost earnings, and serious or permanent disability.
2016 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.
Common Types of Bus Accident Injuries
The passengers on-board the bus at the time of the accident are not the only victims of the accident. If a bus is involved in or causes a car, scooter or other pedestrian accident, the individuals on the other end of the accident can sustain life-altering injuries including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Disc injury
- Child Injury
- Muscle tear and strain
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken or fractured bones
- Amputation
- Wrongful Death
- Damaged organs
- Burn
What Damages Can Be Recovered for Bus Accident Injuries?
Economic damages include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Mobility devices or prosthesis
- Current and future income
- 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
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Ongoing disabilities
- Impact on relationships
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 a vehicle or does not fix known defects, he or she 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.
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 Accident Injury Lawyers Today for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation
If you have suffered injuries in a bus accident in Winnsboro, Fairfield 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 Winnsboro bus accident lawyers at 803-252-4800 or online. We look forward to hearing from you and finding out how we can best assist you.
