Many people rely on mass transit and public transport vehicles for their daily commutes or the transportation of goods. Unfortunately, collisions with large vehicles are more likely to result in extensive property damage and severely injure those involved. In bus accident cases, the extent of injuries will vary depending on the collision's severity, but they are likely to injure more civilians than other motor vehicle crashes due to the greater number of passengers on board.
If a bus accident injured you or your family, find the right legal advocate to assist with the recovery of damages. Experienced Atlanta bus accident attorneys can help you pursue your claim effectively. Our Atlanta bus accident lawyers at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group can help you from the start to the finish of your case.
The Bus Accident Attorneys at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group Are Here to Help You
The team of experienced Atlanta bus accident lawyers at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group is here to help if a bus accident injured you. Our lawyers have experience with the entire process involved with accident claims and lawsuits. We know how to handle both the insurance companies and bus companies, and we can fight to see you recover proper compensation.
Here are a few reasons to choose our team:
- We put client service first. We are committed to seeing you receive the best experience imaginable when you work with us. We know how important it is to be supported after you have been in an accident. That’s why we make it our duty to treat you compassionately and be there for you throughout the entire process.
- A track record of results. Our attorneys have won six-figure awards and settlements for past vehicle accident clients, including $650,000 for a head-on collision victim and $908,334 for a rear-end collision victim.
- 5-star rating. We’re proud of our 5-star rating on Google Reviews, where clients have noted their satisfaction with their experience.
For more information on what makes our team at Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group unique, check out our seven guiding principles. We have built our firm on them, and they allow us to help you through your most difficult time.
Testimonials From Our Past Clients
Don’t take it from us. Take a look at these testimonials from past clients to get a sense of what it’s like to work with our team:
- One injury victim noted that our firm offered the highest level of professionalism, especially noting the help of Whitney, Edward, and others from our team. This client noted that her experience with Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group was stupendous, and highly recommends our services. —Paraphrased testimonial from Tanika
- Another past client noted that our team was responsive and friendly throughout her case, keeping her updated throughout the process. This client stated that she received a level of attention that made her feel like she was the only client at the firm. She wrote that our team aimed for the most money available in her case. —Paraphrased testimonial from Antoinette
Filing a Claim or Lawsuit for Bus Accident Injuries
If an individual sustains injuries from a bus accident, they may have a viable bus accident claim for compensation. Under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), a party can owe others a legal duty of care. In short, they must refrain from harming others. If they breach that duty in a way that injures you, you may recover damages from them.
However, your legal options will depend on the party or parties responsible for the accident and the specific circumstances of the bus collision. In bus accident cases, you may hold the driver, the bus company, the manufacturer, the maintenance and repair company, and other motorists liable for damages if their negligence contributed to the accident.
An attorney from our team could help an injured party identify the appropriate defendant and file a strong claim to seek compensation.
Statute of Limitations in Georgia
The statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit following a bus accident is two years under Georgia law. If you do not adhere to the statute of limitations, then it may affect the compensation you receive following your bus accident, and it could impact your ability to take your lawsuit to court.
Adhering to the statute of limitations while you try to recover from your injuries can lead to unnecessary stress and delay your healing. With our team by your side, you can relax and recover from your injuries knowing that we can file your lawsuit on time.
The Dangers on Atlanta Roadways
Atlanta is the seventh most dangerous city in the United States for drivers. Of all residents who get into car accidents, there are about 11 fatalities per 100,000 people. The average Atlanta driver is likely to be involved in an accident every seven years. If you were in a crash in Atlanta, you are far from alone.
According to a report by WSB-TV in Atlanta, the five most dangerous intersections in the city are:
- Memorial Drive and North Road, Stone Mountain
- East Park Place and Stone Mountain Highway, Stone Mountain
- Covington Highway and Lithonia Road, Lithonia
- Cobb Place Boulevard and Earnest Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
- Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross
Our attorneys are all too familiar with these and other dangerous intersections in Atlanta. Our local experience and resources allow us to gather strong evidence of how your accident happened—and therefore, prove that you deserve fair compensation.
Seeking Financial Compensation For Atlanta Bus Injuries
One of the biggest mistakes that someone can make after they have been in an accident is accepting a settlement too quickly. Insurance companies may try to get you to settle for much less than you deserve. Without a legal team behind you, you could find yourself accepting a sub-optimum sum of money that may seem acceptable, but is far less than you are due.
We can help prevent this so that you can rest assured the settlement you take is fair. Our Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers can also help you determine all available forms of compensation you could recover, including both economic and non-economic damages.
How to Properly Assess Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages are quantifiable and have a monetary value associated with them, including:
- Medical expenses: Bus accidents can be devastating. You could recover the costs to treat your injuries, including bills for hospitalizations, diagnostic tests, medications, surgeries, ambulance fees, physical therapy, and more.
- Property damages: If you are driving your car or riding a bicycle when you are in a collision with a bus, then any damages to your property would fall under economic damages.
- Income losses: In addition, economic damages include wages you lost while you recover from your injuries and even lost future earnings.
After an accident, keep records of all expenses. We can use these records to build your case and help you receive optimal compensation.
How to Determine Non-Economic Losses
Non-economic losses can be more difficult to place a number value on. However, these damages can hold a significant monetary value when you seek a settlement or award.
These include more emotional or psychological consequences of an accident, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Mental anguish
- Loss of limb
- Reduced enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement or scarring
The truth is, many people will suffer intangible effects from their accident years after its occurrence, and the at-fault party should bear the burden of this pain and suffering.
Our attorneys know how to gather evidence to demonstrate these kinds of losses. For instance, if you suffered from PTSD, we can gather evidence of your diagnosis and testimony from a psychological expert or your own doctor.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Although bus collisions tend to be more complex and destructive than other vehicle accidents, the causes of each are often similar.
Common causes of bus accidents include:
- Insufficient maintenance or failure to repair
- Vehicle manufacturing defects
- Impaired drivers (fatigued, intoxicated, distracted, etc.)
- Negligent or reckless motorists
- Difficult driving conditions (poor weather, heavy traffic, or bad roads)
- Speeding
- Improper loading or overloading
While these are just some of the more frequently occurring causes of bus collisions, other factors and elements could also contribute to a wreck. A local lawyer with experience handling bus crash cases could analyze the facts of an injured party’s claim to determine which parties involved in the accident may be held liable for damages.
Types of Bus Accidents
Atlanta is a bustling city for both its residents and tourists. As a result, there are many buses on our roads at one time. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) buses help people get around the city, school buses provide much-needed transportation to our city’s children, and tour buses help tourists experience the best of local attractions.
Buses can improve lives, but accidents do happen—and when they do, you can hold the drivers and companies responsible.
Bus Drivers Are Common Carriers in Georgia
Georgia considers bus drivers common carriers, so they must exercise extraordinary diligence while operating their vehicles. This law holds buses to a higher standard than all other vehicles on the road because they offer transportation to the public. This law ensures that injury victims can recover damages caused by negligent bus drivers.
Bus drivers and/or bus companies are also required to take care of their vehicles, keeping them in working condition while they operate.
MARTA and School Bus Accidents
MARTA buses are public vehicles, and as such, there are several unique considerations when you bring a lawsuit after a MARTA accident. First, you may be able to file a lawsuit against both the driver and the government entity responsible for running and operating MARTA vehicles. Secondly, you may be dealing with a different statute of limitations deadline. Filing a lawsuit against a government entity can reduce your filing time to six months after the crash.
Some bus accident cases involve sovereign immunity, meaning that you cannot sue the government unless it waives its immunity from lawsuits. You may confront sovereign immunity protection in school bus accident cases, for instance. This does not mean that if you or your child were in an accident with one of these buses you should give up hope.
Our lawyers can help you determine if the bus driver was negligent in their actions and failed to provide you or your loved one with the proper amount of care as required by law. We can also help you determine if you can bring a claim or lawsuit against a government entity or another party responsible for the bus crash.
Who We Can Help With a Bus Accident Case
Our attorneys can help you no matter how a bus accident injured you.
We can help victims who were:
- Bus passengers
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Vehicle drivers
- Motorcyclists
Each of these bus accident claims may have unique factors that could influence their outcomes. We can help you understand your legal options whether you were in a crash as a bus passenger or another vehicle driver.
What Types of Injuries Can Occur as the Result of a Bus Accident?
Depending on the nature of your accident, there are a variety of injuries you could have suffered.
Here are some of the most common types of injuries associated with bus accidents:
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Bruises and lacerations
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputation
- Traumatic brain injuries
While the above ailments often appear immediately following a bus accident, so do psychological issues. You may experience memory loss, depression, anxiety, and other forms of psychological trauma.
Symptoms of these issues might take time to develop after the crash. Never disregard these ailments. Seek immediate medical attention. You can include the costs and losses associated with your injuries—both physical and psychological—in your final settlement or award.
What Do I Do Following a Bus Accident?
- File a police report. First, you will want to file a police report to ensure that you protect yourself and properly report your accident.
- Get medical care. If you are injured, make sure to receive proper medical treatment as soon as symptoms occur. This will allow you to start treating your injuries and put your medical condition on record for your injury case. If your doctors recommend follow-up care or ongoing treatment, follow your doctors' orders.
- Keep any insurance company communications brief. If you find yourself talking to an insurance company, never divulge too many details. Explain what happened in the accident, but never accidentally admit fault. Do not over-explain. Anything you say to an insurance company, it can use against you later on.
- Hire a lawyer from our team. To prevent any potentially damaging conversations with insurance companies, hire a lawyer. Not only can a lawyer from our team help you seek fair compensation, but they can help you avoid any mistakes throughout the process.
By working with the Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group, you will understand the best practices for speaking with insurance companies. In addition, we can work with them while you recover from your injuries.
Insurance companies will often do everything to pay as little as possible. With detailed records from your accident and strong evidence for your case, however, we can work to ensure that they provide you with the compensation you deserve.
Reach out to Our Atlanta Bus Accident Attorney’s Team
A motor vehicle accident can be traumatizing. When the collision involves a bus, however, the crash can have an even more devastating impact on the physical and mental well-being of everyone affected. Do not feel hopeless. You have options for moving forward and getting back to your life.
If you have suffered injuries from a bus collision, you may have a valid legal claim to recover damages for the full extent of your losses. With an Atlanta personal injury accident lawyer on your side, you could improve your chances of receiving fair compensation and finding peace of mind. Contact us today at (404) 609-1724 for a confidential consultation from the Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group.
We proudly serve the entire Atlanta area, including neighborhoods like Brookhaven, Druid Hills, Buckhead, Chastain Park, Garden Hills, Piedmont Heights, Midtown, Downtown Atlanta, Grove Park, Inman Park, South Atlanta, East Atlanta Village, West End, and Atlantic Station.