According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 5,096 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal accidents in a single recent year. That was up 1 percent from the prior year, demonstrating that these accidents are increasing. In fact, since 2009, fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses have increased 48% percent.
Were you injured in a bus accident in Clayton, MO? If so, you could be entitled to recover compensation for losses you suffered due to the accident. To bring a successful bus accident claim, you need experienced legal representation.
Contact the experts at Sumner Law Group, LLC, today to discuss your case for free.
How Sumner Law Group Can Help if You Were a Bus Accident Victim in Clayton, MO
Bus accident cases can be quite complex. Seeking compensation after a bus accident can be challenging for victims. With many different types of buses, the insurance claims process could look different based on who owns and operates the bus. In addition, crashes often involve multiple liable parties involved. Your status at the time of the crash could also play a role. For example, were you a passenger on the bus, or were you an occupant of another vehicle that was hit by the bus?
Due to the complicated nature of bus accident claims, hiring an attorney to handle your case for you is vital. You shouldn’t have to deal with the stress of determining liability and negotiating with multiple insurance companies while trying to recover from your injuries. The Clayton, MO bus accident lawyers at Sumner Law Group, LLC, are prepared to manage every aspect of your case while you focus on your recovery.
If you hire us, our attorneys can:
- Conduct a thorough investigation into the accident that caused your injuries.
- Determine liability and identify all potential sources of compensation.
- Quickly collect and preserve evidence to support your claim.
- Get statements from any bystanders who witnessed the accident.
- Document and calculate your financial and non-financial losses.
- Handle all communications with the insurance company and others involved in the case.
- Negotiate for a settlement with the insurance adjuster.
- Take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to negotiate in good faith or offer a fair amount.
Types of Buses Involved in Crashes
Many types of buses operate in the Clayton, MO area, including:
- City buses
- School buses
- Private or charter buses
- Tour buses
- Airport and hotel shuttle buses
The team at The Sumner Law Group, LLC, has experience handling all types of bus accident cases. The type of bus involved in the crash could impact who is liable. Therefore, speaking with a knowledgeable bus accident attorney is crucial if you were injured.
What Is a Bus Accident Case Worth in Clayton, MO?
It is impossible to predict what a typical bus accident case is worth without knowing the details of a case. However, in general, the more severe your injuries and extensive your losses, the more compensation you could claim.
Depending on the circumstances of your bus accident case, you might be able to recover compensation for:
- Present and future medical expenses related to your injuries, including hospital bills, rehabilitative care costs, surgery expenses, prescription medication costs, and more
- Lost earnings, if you can’t work while you are recovering from your injuries
- Future income loss, if a temporary or permanent disability prevents you from carrying out your typical job duties.
- Pain and suffering caused by the accident, including physical pain, emotional anguish, psychological distress, loss of quality of life, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Property damage, such as damage to your vehicle
Our bus accident attorneys can help you estimate your claim’s potential value and can also help you quantify your non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering.
How Can I Prove Negligence in a Bus Accident?
In a bus accident case, proving liability is often challenging because multiple parties may have contributed to the crash. By establishing the facts of your case through a comprehensive, independent investigation, our attorneys can identify the responsible party or parties who caused the accident.
For instance, if you were riding in a bus and the bus driver was negligent in some way, the bus driver and the driver’s employer could be liable for the accident. If the bus company failed to inspect or maintain its fleet of buses properly, the bus company could be liable. If your bus was hit by another vehicle, then the driver of that vehicle could be liable. If you were riding in a car that was hit by a bus, any number of parties could be liable, including the bus driver, the bus company, the bus owner, third-party maintenance companies, and others.
Once you identify the party or parties who contributed to the accident, you will need to demonstrate that the at-fault party was negligent in some way. For instance, if you were a passenger on the bus and the bus driver was texting at the time of the crash, that could qualify as negligence.
You’ll need to show the at-fault party caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. In the above scenario, you could use cell phone records or traffic camera footage to show that the bus driver caused the crash because they were distracted by their phone.
Lastly, you will also need to show that you suffered losses from the accident. Losses might include medical expenses, personal property damage, lost earnings, and more.
Statute of Limitations on Clayton, MO Bus Accident Claims
There is a five-year statute of limitations on bus accident cases in Clayton, MO and throughout Missouri. If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party, you must initiate legal action within that time. Otherwise, the court will probably dismiss your case, eliminating your ability to pursue compensation through the court system.
Contact Sumner Law Group
If you were injured in a bus accident due to someone else’s negligence, reach out to the dedicated Clayton, MO bus accident lawyers at Sumner Law Group, LLC. Our team has the necessary tools to help you prove your case, pursue compensation, and hold the at-fault party accountable for their misconduct.
Contact us for a free, no-risk initial case review.
