Webster Groves Charter Bus Accident Lawyer

Webster Groves Charter Bus Accident Attorney

When you are hurt in a car accident, you can pursue compensation to recover your financial losses. This also applies to private bus crashes, such as charter or party buses. Although these accidents aren’t as common as other vehicle crashes, they can be serious. After such an accident, it is crucial that you work with a knowledgeable Webster Groves charter bus accident lawyer. Finding a responsive and expert attorney can help you get coverage for your injuries.

The Cagle Law Firm: Your Private Bus Crash Attorneys

Commercial bus companies are covered by commercial insurance, and these insurance carriers have substantial resources. They use these resources to argue their liability and financial responsibility in whatever way they can. You may be approached soon after a collision with waivers under the guise of effective customer support. It is not in your best interest to accept these offers, as it can prevent you from pursuing the compensation you deserve. Those seriously injured really have no idea what their physical recovery will entail in the first days and weeks after a crash. Premature settlements are designed to limit your compensation. The insurance carrier knows that once an offer is accepted, you can make no further claim regardless of the future medical needs you discover in the weeks following the crash.

At The Cagle Law Firm, we have dealt with commercial carriers for many years in our decades of personal injury law experience. We understand these complex cases and know how to build a case supporting fault and help you recover physically and financially from your injuries. When you are a passenger on a private bus, you rarely have to be concerned about your liability. You are instead concerned about how you can get financial recovery. The Cagle Law Firm wants to help you.

How Are Charter Bus Accidents More Complex?

Charter bus crashes are more complicated than other types of vehicle accidents because significant federal and state regulations affect these buses. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations apply to all commercial vehicles. If a company, driver, or other party in the bus company does not follow these regulations and an accident is the result, they be liable for additional damages. Regulations for buses address aspects like maintenance, weight and capacity limits, bus driver hours-of-service, bus registration, and safety features.

Also, charter buses involve commercial insurance carriers with far more legal resources than those involved in a passenger vehicle crash. Commercial coverage usually involves policy limits beginning at a million dollars. Thus, insurance carriers begin working immediately to mitigate their costs. Working with an experienced attorney is especially important for these cases because they know what to look for when ensuring bus companies comply with regulations. Likewise, a skilled attorney has the tools and resources to investigate these companies which is something you simply cannot do as an unrepresented individual. Proving that a party was negligent and that it caused the accident is critical to prove if one party was at fault. Attorneys with experience in these cases have the resources and knowledge needed to subpoena important documents to investigate potential fault.

What Are the Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Webster Groves?

Commercial bus accidents in Webster Groves can occur for the same reasons as other vehicle collisions, but some of these risk factors can be increased. Both bus drivers and drivers of other vehicles could potentially be at fault for a crash. Some of the frequent causes of charter bus crashes include:

• Driver negligence. Both bus drivers and other vehicle drivers can behave negligently, such as by driving recklessly, speeding, driving intoxicated, driving too fast for conditions, or driving while distracted.
• Lack of experience. Bus transportation companies must ensure proper training and experience for their drivers. Inexperienced drivers can cause serious accidents, and the company can be held responsible for their failure.
• Fatigue. Fatigued driving can be incredibly serious and increase the risk of an accident. The regulation requires bus drivers to take certain rest, and meal breaks to prevent this. Commercial drivers must adhere to regulations regarding hours of service and are required to keep driver logs. If the bus company encourages or fails to monitor hours of service or encourages drivers to ignore these breaks, the company’s insurer can be held liable if the fatigued driver causes an accident.
• Improper maintenance. Regulations also require regular maintenance and inspections of private buses. If the company failed to perform this maintenance or maintenance was improperly done, it can lead to an accident. Examples of potential failures to maintain include tire blowouts and brake failures.

Investigating the accident to determine the cause can point to which party’s insurer can be held liable. Your attorney could then hold that party responsible for your injuries.

FAQs About Webster Groves, MO Charter Bus Accident Laws

What Is the Compensation for Bus Accidents?

Compensation for charter bus accidents varies based on how serious your injuries are and whether you work with legal counsel who understands how to approach bus accident cases. If you are a bus passenger in a private bus accident, you can likely pursue a case with the at-fault driver’s insurance or with the bus company’s insurance carrier.

More serious injuries result in more extreme financial losses like medical bills and lost income while you recover, so higher compensation is necessary to make up for those losses.

How Do I Pursue Compensation for an Injury After a Bus Accident?

Pursuing compensation after an injury from a bus accident may involve a civil case against the bus company and their insurance carrier. To begin securing compensation, you want to work with a charter bus accident attorney. They can help you gather available evidence, build your liability case, and negotiate with that party to reach appropriate compensation. If fair compensation can’t be reached through negotiations with the carrier, then your attorney may file a civil lawsuit. Depending on the facts of the crash and your injuries, your attorney may begin your legal representation with a lawsuit. An attorney can help you every step of the way.

How Long Do I Have to Pursue a Case After a Bus Accident?

How long you have to pursue a case after a charter bus accident is based on the civil statute of limitations, which is five years for injuries in Missouri. You must file a lawsuit in the appropriate court within the five years of the date of your injury. You cannot pursue a civil case after the five-year statute of limitations, regardless of the merits of your case. You want to work with an attorney as soon as possible after a crash.

How Does an Attorney Help After a Bus Crash?

An attorney can help after a charter bus crash by protecting your rights and negotiating with commercial insurance carriers. These carriers do not have your best interests in mind and may try to provide you with minimal compensation or deny your injury claim altogether. An attorney can ensure you get compensation for your injuries. Working with an attorney also means that you won’t have to focus on these complex legal issues and can take the time you need focus on your physical recovery.

Contact Experienced Charter Bus Crash Attorneys

A private bus crash can cause serious injuries to many people. If you or someone you love was involved in a crash, do not negotiate with the insurance carriers until you have expert legal representation. Contact The Cagle Law Firm today.