A Florida bus accident attorney might be your best ally in looking for financial restitution if you were the victim of a bus accident. However, you need to remember many aspects when getting into the legal process, such as how much time you have to file a claim and which elements you need to prove.
Bus accidents can cause severe injuries to the victims, leading to a huge debt. Still, a Florida truck accident lawyer is ready to look at your case and find the best solution to recover compensation for all your damages, either in a financial agreement or a court verdict. Here are some things you need to know before filing a claim.
Understanding Bus Accidents in Florida
Bus accidents are very similar to car accidents in many ways. But they can also differ in very important aspects. One of the main reasons why victims should get a lawyer after an accident is liability. In a bus accident, many parties can be considered liable, and in most cases, it is necessary to investigate to determine who is at fault.
The driver’s negligence causes most bus accidents, but not all of them. Some accidents can be traced back to a defective bus part, a negligent bus company, or even bad road conditions. Your Florida personal injury lawyer will help you determine who is liable and then demand compensation from them.
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Common Types of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can happen in a wide variety of ways, and the circumstances surrounding a crash often determine who can be held legally responsible. Some of the bus accident situations our attorneys frequently encounter include:
- Rear-end collisions: When a bus driver follows other vehicles too closely or fails to brake in time, the resulting impact can be highly injurious for both bus passengers and the occupants of the vehicle ahead.
- Intersection accidents: Buses that run red lights or fail to yield at intersections put everyone in the vicinity at serious risk. These collisions often occur at high speeds and can result in devastating injuries.
- Sideswipe and lane-change accidents: Due to their size and limited visibility, buses that drift into neighboring lanes or merge without sufficient clearance can cause significant damage to nearby vehicles.
- School bus accidents: When a school bus driver acts negligently or the driver of a nearby personal vehicle fails to stop for a loading bus, children and other road users can suffer serious harm.
- Passenger falls and onboard injuries: Not all bus accident injuries occur from vehicle collisions. Sudden stops, sharp turns, or unsafe boarding conditions can cause passengers to fall and sustain significant injuries without any other vehicle being involved.
- Accidents caused by mechanical failure: Defective brakes, tire blowouts, or other equipment failures can cause a driver to lose control entirely. In these cases, a vehicle manufacturer or maintenance provider may share liability alongside the bus operator.
- Government or transit agency negligence: Public buses operated by city or county transit authorities introduce an additional layer of legal complexity, including special notice requirements and shortened deadlines that make acting quickly essential.
No matter how your bus accident occurred, the underlying question is always the same: Was someone’s negligence responsible for your injuries? If so, you may have the right to pursue compensation, and our bus crash attorneys in Florida are ready to help you find out.
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How Can An Experienced Bus Accident Lawyer Help You?
Bus accident claims are among the most legally complicated personal injury cases in Florida. Multiple parties may share responsibility, including the bus driver, the company that employs them, a government transit agency, a vehicle manufacturer, or another motorist. Each potential defendant brings its own insurance policies, legal defenses, and procedural requirements. You cannot be expected to handle all of these details, alone, especially while recovering from a serious injury.
At Fasig | Brooks, our Florida bus accident attorneys take that burden off your shoulders from day one. We conduct a thorough investigation into your accident, gathering evidence that insurance companies would prefer to keep hidden (surveillance footage, driver logs, maintenance records, etc.). We work with qualified experts to document the full extent of your injuries and calculate what your claim is truly worth, including medical expenses, lost income, and the long-term impact on your quality of life.
When it comes time to deal with the insurance company, you will not be doing it alone. We can handle every communication and negotiation on your behalf, making sure you are never pressured into settling for less than you deserve. If the at-fault party refuses to offer fair compensation, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial and argue confidently before a judge or jury.
With more than 30 years of experience and a track record of recovering millions for injured Floridians, Fasig | Brooks has the resources, knowledge, and determination to stand up to even the most well-funded opponents.
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Common Injuries in Florida Bus Accidents
Victims of bus accidents can present many types of injury, ranging from bruises to invalidating injuries. Some of the most common injuries our attorneys have found in bus accident cases are:
- Cuts and bruises
- Broken bones
- Head and neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Internal damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
Many injuries can cause pain and suffering for months or even years, and treatments can be extremely costly. That is one of the main reasons to talk to your attorney as soon as possible. They can help you determine the value of your injuries and demand compensation to cover all your damages.
What to Do After a Florida Bus Accident
Our experienced Florida bus accident lawyers have solved hundreds of bus accident cases. And we have seen many victims losing their right to claim damages by doing some–seemingly innocent–things. These are the ways you can protect yourself physically and legally after a bus accident:
Check for injuries. One of the main concerns after a bus wreck is to ensure everyone in your vehicle is safe. Getting medical assistance, even if you feel fine, is important because many injuries can take days or weeks to show symptoms.
Call emergency services. Calling 911 is the best way to treat your injuries and your passengers. But it is also legally wise since EMTs will file a report of the accident and your injuries, which is valuable evidence to support your case.
Take photos and videos. If you can move around after the accident, you can use your phone to record the scene of the accident or take photos. Focus on your injuries, the cars and buses involved, and any other relevant detail, such as a broken traffic light.
Do not engage with insurance adjusters. Insurance adjusters can ask you for an official statement at the accident site. However, it is better if you call your attorney first. The reason is people are often in shock after an accident, and adjusters can use what you say against you later to deny your claim.
Wrongful Death in Bus Accidents in Florida
According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projections for traffic fatalities, more than 42,000 people died in traffic accidents in Florida in 2022, and many of those accidents were caused by a bus. In those cases, surviving family members can help you file a claim for the wrongful death of your loved one.
Still, you may need an experienced Florida bus accident lawyer to pursue damages for your relative’s wrongful death since there are many things to consider. For instance, not all relatives can file a claim. Spouses, parents, and adult children are usually entitled. Although, a legal representative of the victim can also file a claim for their wrongful death.
How Much Is My Bus Accident Case Worth in Florida?
A bus accident can have devastating consequences for all the victims involved. Some injuries caused by a bus accident can be very costly to heal. And many of those injuries will also require extensive, long-term treatments that can extend for decades.
Compensatory damages should cover all those expenses. And depending on the case and your lawyer, you can also recover compensation for non-economic damages, such as your pain, suffering, and discomfort. Some of the damages our attorneys recover consistently for our clients include:
- Emergency services
- Ambulance rides
- Damage to your property
- Hospitalization
- Surgeries
- Rehabilitation treatments
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
It is important to remember Florida hospital bills rank among the highest in the nation. So claiming damages may be necessary to continue your treatment. But you need to talk to your bus accident lawyer to determine how much your case is worth.
Florida Bus Accident Statute of Limitations
In theory, bus accident victims have up to two years to file a claim for damages, according to the Florida Statute of Limitations. But in practice, that period can be altered and even shortened by some circumstances. For instance, when a government entity is liable.
Even though you have two years to file a claim, it is important to talk to your attorney as soon as possible, since they can negotiate an off-court agreement with the liable parties, so you don’t have to go to trial. But to do so, your bus accident lawyer needs time to investigate and build a strong case.
Florida Bus Accident Lawyers Near Me
If you were involved in a bus accident, you may be entitled to pursue compensation to cover your damages. But the road there implies several steps that may be complicated to take alone. Your Florida bus accident attorney can help you build a case while recovering from injuries. Fasig Brooks attorneys are ready and waiting for your call. We can answer all your legal questions and show you the shortest path to financial recovery. Contact our bus accident attorneys today, and let’s talk about your legal case in strategic consultation, free of charge.
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