Bus Accident Lawyer

Do you need an experienced bus accident lawyer to fight for your legal rights? For nearly 30 years, the bus injury attorneys at Sokoloff and Weinstein, P.A. have perfectly combined a fighting attitude in court with compassion in consultation. 

From shuttle buses and passenger vans to party buses and tour coaches, buses are an integral part of Florida’s urban landscape. Because buses transport people from all walks of life and across the spectrum of age categories, drivers, owners, and manufacturers etc. have a profound duty of care to their passengers. 

While bus accidents are less frequent than those involving other types of vehicles, they do happen. Given the characteristics of most buses and the technicalities of bus travel, a couple of safety issues tend to arise relating to bus accidents: 

1. Buses – particularly double-deckers (yes, even in Florida) – have an increased chance of a rollover accident than regular passenger cars. 
2. Most buses lack safety features such as seat belts, airbags, crumple zones, or bucket seats. 

Consequently, accidents involving buses frequently result in significant injuries: 

• Injuries to the head, neck, and back 
• Ruptured disks 
• Fractures 
• Torn ligaments and tendons 
• Internal injuries 
• Crushing injuries 
• Paralysis 
• Traumatic brain injury 
• Burns 
• Amputation 
• Or even wrongful death. 

The expenses resulting from any of the above, coupled with loss of wages and possibly even capacity to earn in income in the future quickly adds up. 

When you are a victim of the accident, you should not have to shoulder the burden of these and other costs. 

After a collision, passengers on the bus, occupants of other cars, bikers, and pedestrians, may have a bus injury claim against the party or parties at fault. But this is where it gets complicated. Who do you sue for compensation? 

For example, if you are suing the government who may own and run the bus services, there are certain timely laws in Florida on the pre-suit requirement of putting the government and various entities on ‘notice’ prior to moving forward. 

Those responsible for causing the accident vary according to the type of bus accident and the cause of the accident. Defendants can include one or several of the following: 

• Drivers of another vehicle 
• The bus driver or driver’s supervisor 
• The bus operator – be it for a tour, school, or charter 
• The bus owner or the city, county, or state agency 
• The property owner of a bus stop 
• The maintenance companies 
• The bus manufacturer or part manufacturer. 

To claim damages, you (the plaintiff) must prove negligence: 

1. The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. 
2. The defendant breached their duty of care 
3. That breach was a substantial factor in causing you injuries 
4. The harm resulted in damages. 

It makes sense to hire the services of an experienced bus accident injury lawyer to navigate the complexities unique to an accident involving a bus.