Passengers riding on a public transportation bus or a private commercial bus may not have seat belts to restrain them should an accident occur. A crash may throw them into other bus riders, toss them into the aisle, or eject them from the bus entirely. That is why bus crashes can easily result in serious, even fatal injuries.

If you suffered injuries in a bus accident due to the negligence of the bus driver, the bus company, or another party, you may claim compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact OEB Law, PLLC, today for information on collecting damages through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. We offer free, no-obligation legal consultations. Call us today at 865-546-1111 to speak to a bus accident lawyer in Farragut.

The Number of Bus Crashes Is on the Rise.

The percentage of bus accidents increased from 2014 to 2015, according to statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The number of fatal bus crashes rose from 236 to 261—an 11 percent increase. To protect bus passengers from injury risks, Greyhound became the first company in 2009 to equip a fleet of buses with lap and shoulder belts. Along those lines, in March 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) presented a report to Congress on the benefits of retrofitting buses with lap and shoulder belts.

Despite these advances, bus accidents still pose great risk to passengers. Due to their large size, the damage that occurs in these collisions is usually much worse than a crash involving only passenger vehicles. If you suffered serious injuries in a bus crash in Farragut, our attorneys can help you file an insurance claim for compensation.

How Do I File an Insurance Claim?

A claim is a request to an insurance company for compensation or payment. In this case, if your injury occurred on a public transit bus in Farragut or a private commercial bus, such as Gray Line, we would file your insurance claim against the local government that operates the public bus system or the private bus company.

Our attorneys have the research skills to track down not just the name of an insurance company, but the name of the bus driver and other drivers involved in the accident. Once we know who caused your crash, we can begin the claims process to hold them responsible.

How Can I Determine Who Caused the Bus Accident?

Our law firm will launch an investigation to determine the party responsible for causing the bus accident. It may or may not be the fault of the bus driver.

To determine the at-fault party in your crash, we will first find out which local government agency or private company operates the bus involved in the wreck. Our probe would also look at specific factors that may have contributed to the crash, such as whether:

• The bus driver was texting, speeding, or driving impaired;
• The bus driver had prior traffic violations;
• The bus company violated state and federal standards set for bus operations;
• The bus company performed routine maintenance on the bus; or
• Another driver caused the accident.

We will also obtain police reports, which typically contain names of all parties involved in accidents. The police report should also state the party the responding officer claims caused the accident.

What Happens After You Find the Party Who Caused the Accident?

Tennessee is a “fault” state, which means the party liable for causing the bus accident pays for the damages. While we may determine the bus driver’s or the bus company’s negligence caused the accident, we must prove this claim to win you compensation.

To do this, we must prove the bus driver and the bus company had a duty to carefully operate the bus, but breached that duty by causing an accident. We must offer evidence showing the bus driver’s or bus company’s negligent actions caused your injury. Finally, we will prove you suffered real damages.

Bus companies must adhere to a high standard to provide safe transportation to their passengers. That higher standard leads to higher liability. Our law firm has successfully helped our clients recover the maximum compensation while holding bus companies liable for their actions.

How Much Compensation Will I Receive?

Your amount of reimbursement depends on many factors, particularly the severity of your injuries. Before we estimate your compensation, we must first speak with you about the accident, the extent of your injuries, and the damages you incurred.  Generally, you may receive compensation for the following expenses:

• Medical bills;
• Ambulance transportation;
• Lost income, current and future;
• Physical therapy;
• Prescription medications;
• Assistive medical devices, such as canes, wheelchairs, and crutches; and
• Funeral expenses, if a loved one died in the bus accident.

You may also pursue intangible damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. We will negotiate your claim with the insurance company to secure the best possible outcome in your case. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we can represent you in a personal injury lawsuit.

At OEB Law, PLLC, We Understand the Complexities Involved in Bus Accidents.

We know what to expect when government entities and commercial companies bring complex legal challenges to a personal injury claim. For instance, a local government may use sovereign immunity to prevent an accident victim from receiving compensation after a municipal bus crash. In some cases, sovereign immunity prevents accident victims from pursuing compensation from a government entity. However, immunity may not apply when it comes to a city employee who operates a bus in a negligent manner. If this occurred in your case, we can hold the government entity financially responsible for your damages.

Let Our Bus Accident Lawyers Help You.

If you suffered injuries in a bus accident, we can help you recover compensation. Contact OEB Law, PLLC, for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We provide aggressive representation for people who suffered damages due to another party’s negligence. We work on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay unless we achieve a favorable outcome for you. Call 865-546-1111 today to get started.