Statesboro Bus Accident Lawyer

Bus transportation is a vital service for the residents of Statesboro and Bulloch County, facilitating travel to school, work, and other destinations. While generally considered a safe mode of travel, bus accidents do occur in and around the Statesboro area, often resulting in serious and costly injuries and property damage. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident in Statesboro, understanding your rights and the legal process is crucial to protecting your financial security and ensuring continued medical care. Speaking with an experienced Statesboro bus accident lawyer is a critical step you should take as soon as possible following your accident.

Bus accidents can be complex legal matters, involving different types of buses and navigating Georgia’s unique legal system. The aftermath of such an incident can be overwhelming, adding physical pain and emotional trauma to the challenge of pursuing compensation. The Statesboro bus accident lawyer team at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm can help alleviate this stress by managing your legal concerns and working towards your financial restoration and relief. Call us today at 912-764-3434 to discuss your case with an attorney for free.

Common Causes and Contributing Factors of Bus Accidents in Georgia

Although there can be many contributing factors to an automobile accident, there is one constant when it comes to what causes bus accidents. In a recent study, the cause of bus accidents was determined to be the cause in 15 out of 19 cases studied.
Specific driver errors identified in the study include:

• Inadequate surveillance (failing to look, looked but did not see)
• Inattention (attention wandered from driving task)
• Following too close
• Traveling too fast for conditions
• Making an illegal maneuver
• Other factors like fatigue, being in a hurry, being uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the road, vision problems, misjudging speed, and distractions while driving.

Vehicle issues, such as engine fires or failed brakes, while less frequent than driver error, can also be critical reasons for crashes, as are environmental conditions, such as ice on the road.

In Statesboro specifically, traffic accidents are unfortunately a part of daily life, with some of the busiest intersections located on Veterans Memorial Parkway being at a higher risk to bus accidents than other intersections.

In fact, the top 5 crash locations in Statesboro in 2022 were all on this road, with Veterans Memorial Parkway at Fair Road having the highest number of crashes (150). Speeding and distracted driving are significant causes and contributors to the severity of traffic crashes in these areas, highlighting the importance of staying extra vigilant when driving in these areas.

Injuries Sustained in Bus Accidents

Bus accidents can result in severe injuries to passengers in the bus, occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. Injuries can range from minor to severe or even fatal. Common injuries associated with bus accidents include:

• Broken Bones: Particularly in hands and wrists.
• Lacerations: Resulting from the sudden impact.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Which can be among the most serious and lead to permanent disability.
• Head Injuries: Including concussions and traumatic brain injuries, especially if individuals hit their head inside the vehicle or if cyclists are not wearing helmets.

It is important to note that many injuries sustained in bus accidents may not be immediately obvious and can worsen over time. Adrenaline can mask pain, making it difficult to realize the full extent of harm, which is why seeking medical attention immediately after an accident is crucial, even if you feel your injuries are not severe. Accurate medical records are essential for proving your injury case and supporting claims for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. If you find yourself in the unfortunate event of being injured in a bus accident, call the Statesboro Bus Accident Injury Attorneys at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm at 912-764-3434 to discuss your case for free.

Navigating the Legal Landscape in Georgia

Georgia is an at-fault state, meaning the party determined to be more at fault for an accident is financially responsible for damages. In bus-involved accidents, identifying the accountable party is not always straightforward. Persons responsible for the accident could include bus drivers, bus companies (if they failed in background checks, training, or compliance with FMCSA rules), vehicle or part manufacturers/installers, vehicle inspectors, school districts, or government entities responsible for road conditions.

Georgia also follows a modified comparative negligence theory, which means that an injured party’s ability to recover is also determined on their own percentage of fault for the accident. Under this standard, you can recover damages only if you are less than 50 percent at fault for your injuries. If you are less than 50 percent at fault, any damages you are awarded will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. For example, if you are determined to be 25 percent at fault, you can only recover 75 percent of the total damages.

Most personal injury cases, including those involving bus accidents, rely on proving the other party was negligent by causing the accident. In order to win a claim for negligence in Georgia, the injured party must prove four elements:

1. Duty of Care: The alleged negligent party (defendant) owed a duty of care to the injured party.
2. Breach of Duty: The defendant breached that duty.
3. Causation: There is a direct (actual) or foreseeable (proximate) causal connection between the defendant’s conduct and the resulting harm.
4. Damages: Actual harm or damages resulted from the defendant’s conduct.

What to Do After a Statesboro Bus Accident

Following a bus accident, taking immediate steps is crucial to protecting your health and legal rights.

1. Ensure Your Safety and Check for Injuries: Move to a safe location away from traffic. Check yourself and others for injuries. Even if you feel fine, some serious injuries may not be immediately apparent due to adrenaline.
2. Call 911 and Report the Accident: Reporting the accident to the authorities is a legal obligation and vital for your claim. Emergency personnel can provide medical assistance, and law enforcement can file an official police report, which is critical for insurance claims or lawsuits.
3. Exchange Contact Information: Collect contact and insurance information from everyone involved if you can do so safely, including the bus driver, drivers of other vehicles, and any witnesses.
4. Document the Scene: Safely gather evidence by taking photographs of the accident scene, damaged vehicles, your injuries, and anything else relevant. This documentation helps determine the extent of damages and the cause of the accident.
5. Avoid Admitting Fault: Do not make statements that could be interpreted as admitting fault, even if you feel apologetic.
6. Keep Detailed Records of Expenses: Track all expenses related to your recovery, including medical bills, transportation costs, property repair/replacement costs, and lost wages. These records are used to calculate the worth of your claim.
7. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney: Consult with a Statesboro bus accident lawyer experienced in handling cases like yours. Bus accident cases can be complex, and a lawyer can help you navigate the legal process. Call today at 912-764-3434 to speak with an attorney about your case for free.

How a Statesboro Bus Accident Lawyer Can Help

Securing the help of a Statesboro bus accident lawyer is crucial due to the complexities involved in legal cases and the evidence you need to gather. Your lawyer will manage all your legal concerns and work toward your financial restoration and relief. At-fault parties and their insurance companies often try to avoid paying damages, and potentially culpable parties may point fingers at each other. Your attorney will investigate the accident thoroughly, collect comprehensive evidence, and determine who needs to pay.

Your lawyer will also deal with the insurance companies on your behalf to try and get an acceptable offer for your compensation. If one cannot be reached, your attorney will then file all the paperwork needed to represent you in court if you choose to take your case to trial.

In any personal injury case, there are different kinds of compensation that you may recover based on your injuries. The different types of compensation sought in a bus accident claim may include:

• Medical Care and Expenses: Covering both current and future treatment costs.
• Economic Losses: Recovering lost wages and factoring in lost potential future earnings if injuries prevent a return to work.
• Non-Economic Losses: Providing financial recognition for physical pain and emotional distress, which can help cover counseling or other supportive resources.

In cases where a loved one was killed in a bus accident, a Statesboro bus accident lawyer can pursue a wrongful death settlement to compensate surviving family members for expenses like death costs, loss of income, and loss of relationship.

How a Statesboro Bus Accident Lawyer at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Can Help

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, we understand the challenges you face after a bus accident in Statesboro. Our firm is dedicated to representing individuals who have suffered harm due to negligence or intentional wrongdoing. We are experienced in bus accident cases, and our team is ready to fight for you to secure fair compensation and hold those at fault accountable.

If you have been injured in a bus accident in Statesboro or the surrounding Bulloch County area, you don’t have to face the legal process alone. Contact a Statesboro bus accident lawyer at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today for a free consultation when you call us at 912-764-3434. We are available to answer your questions and discuss how we can help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.