Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer

Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been in a bus crash in Atlanta and now suffer from injuries, you may have a viable personal injury claim. Turn to our bus accident lawyers for free legal advice, we never charge unless we collect on your behalf. To begin your confidential case review, call our offices at 404-975-1775. An experienced Atlanta bus accident lawyer will be an invaluable resource in your impending recovery efforts.

Representing Georgians Injured in Bus Accidents

Approximately 74,000 people use the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) or other public transportation to commute in the largest five metro Atlanta counties every day and most people get to their destinations safely. For those who don’t, however, the consequences can be life-altering. Unfortunately, the laws, regulations, and procedures that pertain to claims for public transit accidents are typically much more complicated than those that regulate claims for car and truck crashes.

Claims for accidents that involve the MARTA or other government entities must be handled with care. Unlike personal injury claims involving charter bus or long-distance carrier crashes, in those that are made against city, county, or state agencies, victims may be required to follow a series of complicated steps and meet specific deadlines.

With strict procedures and time limits that are often in place, it can be difficult for non-lawyers to navigate the complicated matrix of laws to recover damages. We have decades of experience handling bus accident claims; let us worry about the legal process while you worry about getting better.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has successfully helped many past clients with a wide range of complex personal injury cases, including all types of vehicle accident claims. Bus accidents can be particularly challenging to resolve because of the difficulties many injured victims have in identifying the parties liable for these incidents. Our team can help you prove fault and begin the process of recovering compensation for your damages.

Causes of Bus Injuries

Bus accidents are commonly caused by driver inattentiveness, poor vehicle maintenance, or other acts of negligence by the transportation company, bus manufacturer, or another motorist. While bus crashes are very similar to car accidents, buses have certain characteristics that increase the likelihood of accidents that cause serious injuries.

The massive size and weight of most buses make it nearly impossible for these large vehicles to stop suddenly. These characteristics can also restrict maneuverability, cause limited visibility for the driver, and interfere with views of other motorists.

Buses are usually not equipped with seat belts, airbags, or other safety equipment that are standard on today’s smaller passenger vehicles. When busses stop suddenly, accelerate too quickly, turn sharply, or engage in other careless or reckless behaviors, passengers can suffer slip and falls, become ejected in rollovers, or suffer blunt force trauma upon impact in a crash.

How Bus Crashes Are Different from Other Motor Vehicle Accidents

While sharing some similarities with car and truck accidents, bus accidents exhibit distinct characteristics across several dimensions. Travel by bus is generally safer than car travel. However, the sheer size and weight of buses contribute to a higher potential for severe injuries in crashes, particularly for vulnerable road users and occupants of other vehicles. 

The causes of bus accidents often involve a combination of driver error, vehicle-related factors such as mechanical failures, and environmental conditions, with driver fatigue being a notably significant factor. 

Injury patterns in bus crashes are unique due to the lack of seat belts in many buses, leading to passengers being thrown within the vehicle. Safety regulations for buses and their operators are more stringent than those for non-commercial vehicles, reflecting the responsibility of transporting large numbers of passengers. 

Legal and insurance aspects of bus accidents are often more complex, involving multiple potentially liable parties and higher insurance coverage. The impact of a bus crash on passengers differs significantly from that on car occupants due to the vehicle size and lack of individual restraints. Finally, driver training for bus operators is more comprehensive and specialized compared to that for non-commercial drivers and even some commercial truck drivers. 

Common Carriers Are Held to a Higher Standard

In Atlanta, Georgia, common carriers are subject to a higher duty of care for the safety of passengers and the public. Bus companies and their drivers must exercise increased caution and vigilance to protect passengers. When a bus driver’s negligence causes injuries, the company or agency responsible for the carrier’s operation may be held liable for damages as well. Any private company that offers transportation as a paid service is a common carrier.

If you were hurt while riding on a bus operated by the local government, filing your case will be very different from what you could expect if you filed a lawsuit against another private entity. If you intend to claim compensation from any government office or agency, you will face very strict procedural rules and will need to file your claim more quickly. It is imperative to have trusted legal counsel for this type of claim.

If your child was injured in a school bus accident, liability could potentially fall to one or more parties. It is possible for the bus driver, the driver of another vehicle, the bus company, or the school district to be liable for your damages. An experienced Atlanta bus accident lawyer can review the details of your accident and help determine the fault for the resulting damages.

Claiming Compensation for a Bus Accident in Atlanta

Once you have established fault for your bus accident, your Atlanta bus accident lawyer can determine the optimal path to recovering your losses. Recovering from motor vehicle accidents in Atlanta generally requires filing an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver, and if their insurance does not fully cover the victim’s losses, a personal injury suit could potentially allow the victim to recover the rest of their claimable damages.

Dealing with an auto insurance carrier will be much easier if you have legal counsel you trust on your side. The right attorney can help you navigate the insurance claim filing process and verify that the insurer has handled your claim in good faith. Once you receive your settlement offer from the insurer, your attorney can determine whether it is suitable under the terms of the policy and help determine your next most viable steps toward further recovery.

If you have grounds to file a personal injury suit after a bus accident, state law allows the plaintiff in a personal injury case to seek full repayment of all the economic losses they suffered because of a defendant’s actions. Depending on the specific details of your accident, it is possible that you could secure compensation for property damage, medical expenses, future medical treatment costs, lost income, and any future income you may be unable to earn.

The right attorney can be invaluable for helping you accurately assess all your economic losses, including projected future economic losses you may not recognize on your own. Additionally, the plaintiff in an Atlanta personal injury case has the right to claim whatever amount they determine appropriate to reflect the pain and suffering they experienced. Georgia law does not limit pain and suffering compensation for plaintiffs in vehicle accident cases.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm approaches every case we accept with the goals of building the strongest possible case for our client, helping them resolve their case efficiently, and maximizing their recovery as much as state law allows. When you choose our team to represent you, you will have a dedicated legal advocate ready to provide guidance and support through every stage of your legal proceedings.

Top Reasons for Bus Accidents in Atlanta

Although there can be multiple reasons why a bus accident occurs, there are some common reasons why bus accidents occur. 

• Driver error – Driver error can include factors such as the bus driver being distracted while driving, driving fatigued, speeding, not obeying traffic laws, driving under the influence, or the driver being inadequately trained. The driver of the bus has an immense responsibility driving a vehicle with multiple passengers on board, and as such, their actions alone could lead to the injuries of many. 
• Poor maintenance – Another probable cause of a bus accident would be that the bus itself could have maintenance issues such as brake malfunctions or tire blowouts that could be the cause of the accident. 
• Road and weather conditions – Road conditions could also be a cause for a bus accident, such as potholes causing erratic driver movements, or a road not being marked well or lighted well. Weather could cause an accident if there is heavy rain or dense fog while the bus driver is operating the bus, especially in urban areas such as Atlanta. 
• Heavy loads or overloading – If a driver loads a bus and it becomes too overloaded, it could lead to the bus being unstable and possibly lead to erratic driving. 

All of these factors could lead to an accident where a bus driver causes the injury of another. Having a personal injury attorney who understands the complexities of accidents caused by a bus is imperative to get maximum compensation from your claim.  

FAQs

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Suit?

A: The time you have to file a personal injury suit in Georgia is defined by the statute of limitations. The typical statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in the state is two years, starting on the date the injury occurred. However, if you are suing any government entity, you face a much shorter deadline and must submit a notice of claim to the appropriate agency as quickly as possible after your accident.

Q: How Do You Prove Fault for a Bus Accident in Atlanta?

A: You can prove fault for a bus accident in Atlanta by leveraging various forms of physical evidence from the scene of the crash, digital evidence your attorney can help you collect, and testimony from witnesses and other victims of the event. Before you are able to recover any compensation for your damages, you must first prove exactly how those damages occurred and identify the party or parties responsible.

Q: What Compensation Can I Recover for a Bus Accident?

A: The compensation you could recover for a bus accident will largely depend on the scope and severity of your damages. The party responsible for injuring you is liable for the full range of economic damages their actions caused, such as your medical bills, future medical treatment costs, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. They are also liable for your property losses, and you have the right to seek as much pain and suffering compensation as you deem appropriate.

Q: How Can an Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer Help Me?

A: Your Atlanta bus accident lawyer can help by gathering the evidence you will need to prove fault, helping you meet all the procedural deadlines of your claim, and identifying all the damages you can claim from the defendant to maximize your recovery. They can also streamline your case to reduce the time it takes for you to receive your compensation and assist you in addressing any unexpected complications that arise throughout your case.

Q: What Will It Cost to Hire an Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire an Atlanta bus accident lawyer depends on the attorney’s billing policy. Merritt & Merritt Law Firm offers personal injury counsel on a contingency fee basis, meaning we will only collect a fee from our client if and when we win their case. Additionally, our fee will be a percentage of the total compensation we recover for them, so there is never a risk of our client’s legal fees exceeding their recovery.

Speak with an Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer Today in a Free Consultation

From simple fender benders that cause soft-tissue damage to major accidents that result in more significant injuries from bus accidents, our firm is ready to help. Please call today. or contact us online to schedule your consultation with an Atlanta bus accident lawyer. Call our bus accident attorneys at 404-975-1775 for a free case evaluation.