Oakville, MO Bus Accident Lawyer

Oakville, MO Bus Accident Attorney

Charter buses  are safer than just about any method of highway transportation. However, when they are involved in crashes, they usually involve many victims and get a lot of publicity.  Charter buses have commercial insurance and often referred to as common carrier crashes. If you are injured in a charter bus incident, insurance adjusters for the common carrier are usually quick to make offers and get you to sign releases.  These attempts are made with the pretense of good customer service; however, they are anything but in your best interest. You should remember that insurance companies are in business to make money like any other business. However, when your injuries and their willingness to pay out fair claims conflict, it will not be in your favor without legal help.

If you were involved in a bus accident, there may be options to compensate for your injuries. An Oakville, MO, bus accident lawyer can help with these often complicated claims and secure the highest amount of damages available in your situation.

The Cagle Law Firm: Protecting Victims of Bus Accidents

Charter bus accidents can have multiple causes depending on how many vehicles are involved and the actions of the drivers involved.  In serious charter bus crashes, a charter bus driver can make an error resulting in a serious crash or a charter bus can even be involved in collisions with other vehicles.  Ultimately, as an injured passenger on the charter bus, you are interested in receiving fair compensation for actual physical injuries you sustain.  Your claim may be against another vehicle and against the insurance carrier for the charter bus. At The Cagle Law Firm, we have decades of experience in personal injury claims involving charter bus accidents.

When you are injured, you should not have to deal with an insurance adjuster trying to limit their liability or devaluing your injuries.  Do not call and update the insurance adjuster about your injuries assuming they care or are in any way looking out for you. By working with our team, we negotiate for you, allowing you to take essential time to physically recover. We hold the at fault parties liable for damages, like medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.

What Makes Charter Bus Accidents More Complicated?

One of the primary reasons you need experienced attorneys to handle your charter bus accident injury case is due to the significant regulations both state and federal that apply charter buses.  Charter bus companies must comply with state and federal regulations (FMCSA), and it is critical for your attorney to know these regulations in order to ensure proper investigations are completed.  Established guidelines for charter buses include:

• How long bus drivers can work and operate the vehicles- hours-of-service
• The registration of buses
• Regular maintenance for buses
• Passenger capacity limits
• Checking bus tires
• Safety features within the bus
• Training and capabilities of bus drivers
• Drug and alcohol tests for bus drivers
• Specific procedures after a bus accident
• Required liability insurance

If these regulations were violated by the bus driver, bus owner, or the bus company, this may have led to an accident or the injuries that an individual suffered. Violations of any of these regulations are imperative for your attorney to discover in proving negligence for your injury.

These regulations exist to improve safety and reduce the number of fatalities caused by commercial vehicles if they are not properly maintained and carefully operated. This is also what makes bus accident claims more complicated in that conducting these investigations and subpoenaing these documents are terrible difficult unless you are a skilled commercial accident lawyer and are not completed consumed with trying to recover from serious physical injuries. .

Compensation Available in a Charter Bus Accident Claim

The amount of compensation you can recover in a bus accident claim in Oakville, Missouri, will depend on the severity of the physical injuries.  Charter bus companies have common carrier insurance which is quite different than the state minimum coverage required by passenger vehicles. This only makes sense due to their size and their capacity to injure or kill many people in one incident. The compensation you can recover will rely on the specific damages you suffered in the accident. You may be able to recover the following damages:

• Medical Costs: These include past bills for emergency transport, medical care, and prescriptions. They also include future costs for visits, rehabilitative care, and expected complications. Typically, the more serious your injury is, the more expensive medical bills are and the higher the compensation you can recover.
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: When your injury prevents you from going to work for some time as you recover, the wages you would usually have earned during that time can be part of your claim. If you are disabled by your injuries and cannot return to employment, you could recover the wages that you should have earned throughout your life.
• Pain and Suffering: These and other noneconomic damages recover the mental, emotional, and psychological damage from an injury. This includes mental distress, loss of quality of life, and physical pain.

Many people underestimate the amount of damages they are entitled to in an insurance or civil claim. An attorney has experience calculating these damages, allowing them to determine the full scope of your compensable losses.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations on a Charter Bus Accident in Missouri?

A: The statute of limitations on a personal injury bus accident claim in Missouri is five years, There are very few exceptions to this statute of limitations. As there are usually many people seriously injured in charter bus accidents, it is t important to talk with an attorney soon after the incident.

Q: How Do You Prove Liability Through Negligence in Missouri?

A: To prove that a party is liable for your damages due to their negligence in Missouri, you must establish the following:

1. Duty: The other party owed you a duty of care to act reasonably to prevent harm.
2. Breach: The party breached this duty of care by negligent action or inaction.
3. Cause: Their breach of care was the actual cause of the injury.
4. Damages: Because of the injury, you suffered economic and noneconomic damages.

Q: How Can an Attorney Help After a Charter Bus Accident?

A: An attorney can help after a bus accident in many ways, including:

• Determining the cause of the accident
• Gathering evidence against the negligent party and in support of your damages
• Protecting your rights and interests against an insurance carrier
• Filing a personal injury claim and or lawsuit against the liable party
• Calculating the extent of your damages from the accident
• Negotiating a fair settlement
• Litigating the case when needed.
• Providing you with legal support and answering any questions you have

Q: What Should You Do After a Charter Bus Accident?

A: There are several steps you should take after a bus accident if you are physically able to do so, including:

1. Call 911 immediately even if you are not driving
2. If you are in a dangerous location, get somewhere safe.
3. Do not leave the scene of the accident.
4. Get medical attention as soon as you can.
5. Collect the contact information of others on the bus, other drivers, and witnesses to the accident.
6. Take pictures of the accident.
7. Provide a report to the police.
8. Contact an attorney.

Finding the Right Oakville Charter Bus Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one was involved in a charter bus accident, The Cagle Law Firm can help. Contact our team today to determine if you have a viable claim for your injuries.