If you suffered injuries in a bus accident in Murfreesboro, you do not have to shoulder the financial burden alone. You may be entitled to recover compensation from the bus operator for your losses while holding the company legally responsible for your injuries and other damages.

OEB Law, PLLC can help you in this complicated process of dealing with defensive bus operators and their insurance companies. We can represent you as you pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To find out how we can help you, call us today at 865-546-1111 for a free consultation a bus accident lawyer in Murfreesboro.

We Start by Investigating Your Murfreesboro Bus Accident

We will investigate your bus accident to determine how the crash occurred and who or what caused the wreck. In many cases, a bus driver’s negligence contributes to an accident. So, we will look at what the bus driver was doing before the crash occurred. Some of the most common negligent bus driver actions that cause accidents include:

Distracted driving
Driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs
Driving while fatigued
Failing to adjust to deteriorating weather conditions
Ignoring traffic signs or signals
Speeding

Holding Bus Companies in Tennessee Negligent for Bus Accidents

Commercial buses, whether publicly or privately owned, are considered common carriers because they transport passengers for a fee on a routine basis. Common carriers are legally obligated to ensure the safety of their passengers.

In investigating your bus accident, a bus accident attorney in Murfreesboro can determine whether the bus company’s negligence contributed to the crash by:

Failing to conduct routine safety inspections on the bus
Failing to maintain safety records related to the bus
Failing to maintain and repair known mechanical and equipment problems with the bus
Hiring unqualified bus drivers
Allowing the bus driver to drive beyond the federally mandated driving time limits

A manufacturing design or defect can cause a bus accident if the problem is not corrected. In these instances, you may hold the bus manufacturer responsible for your accident.

Unfortunately, negligence on the part of the bus driver, bus company, or bus manufacturer can result in multiple passenger injuries—and even fatalities—in a bus accident.

Filing Claims against Government-Operated Transit Systems

Governments and school districts, which are a part of a local government, might be immune from certain personal injury lawsuits. Bus accident claims are complicated because a government must consent to the lawsuit.

However, the OEB Law, PLLC know about the strict rules involved in bringing a claim against the City of Murfreesboro, which operates the Rover bus system, or Murfreesboro City Schools, which operates its own school buses. Following these requirements means helping you to hold a government entity liable for your damages.

We Collect Evidence to Support Your Claim

We must collect significant evidence to show how the bus driver or bus company’s negligence caused your injuries and other damages. We collect such information as:

Your medical records that detail the severity of your injuries
Reports from law enforcement agencies that investigated the bus accident
Photographs of the accident scene
Eyewitness statements about the bus accident
Traffic camera video or surveillance video that captured the accident

We may also send a letter to the bus company asking the company to preserve documents related to the bus involved in our accident, and data from the electronic logging device that records the bus driver’s driving hours. We request this information as soon as possible because a company can destroy this information after a certain period.

The Elements of Negligence in a Bus Accident Case

To win your personal injury claim requires us to prove the following four elements of negligence:

The defendants had a duty to ensure the safety of their passengers
The defendants failed in this duty
The defendants’ negligence caused an accident
You suffered injuries and other damages because of the crash

In proving these elements, we can hold the bus operators or the bus manufacturer legally liable for your injuries and your damages. In a “fault state” like Tennessee, the party at fault for causing an accident must pay for damages.

Estimating the Value of Your Bus Accident Claim

We can estimate the value of your claim based on the type of damages you sustained in the bus accident. Bus accidents can cause a wide range of severe injuries from the bus when it crashes. Victims might be able to recover compensation for:

Medical bills (present and future)
Rehabilitation
Home healthcare
Assistive mobility devices
Loss wages
Loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress

If your loved one died in the bus accident, we could also help you file a wrongful death claim which will further increase the value of your claim.

Negotiating a Settlement and Compensation for Your Bus Accident Claim

Our law firm handles all aspects of an insurance claim. We can file a personal injury claim and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.

When a local government is involved in injury accidents, the state’s Government Tort Liability Act (GTLA) applies to remove governmental immunity. However, the GTLA places the following caps on the compensation amount injury accident victims can recover:

$300,000 for bodily injury or death for each person per accident
$700,000 for bodily injury or death for everyone involved in the accident
$100,000 for property damage per accident

Call OEB Law, PLLC Today

In the State of Tennessee, you have one year from the date of your bus accident to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Because time is of the essence, contact the OEB Law, PLLC as soon as possible so we can promptly begin an investigation of your bus accident.

We work on contingency which means you do not pay us unless we win compensation in your case. So, call today at 865-546-1111 to schedule your free legal consultation with a bus accident lawyer in Murfreesboro, TN.