Bus Accidents: A Quick Guide

No can say that they are the “best” bus accident lawyer Rockville MD has to offer, but at Cohen and Cohen, P.C., our legal team is dedicated to providing exceptional service to victims who have been injured in bus accidents.

These types of traffic accidents can be especially complicated and may result in severe injuries for passengers on board — as well as for occupants in any other vehicles involved. The long-term consequences of a bus accident may be drastic and could affect victims for their entire lives. The team at Cohen and Cohen, P.C. believes that it’s essential for legitimate accident victims to receive the compensation that they rightfully deserve. Although no amount of money can make up for long-lasting pain and suffering, it can still provide peace of mind for the victims and their families.

Many injured passengers seek help from a bus accident lawyer Rockville MD trusts because bus accidents — and subsequent injury settlements — can be very complicated.

Bus Accident Injuries

Whether riding a bus that is chartered through an independent company or is operated by the government for public transportation, passengers can still encounter serious injuries if an accident occurs. These injuries might include:

• Whiplash, or other injuries to the neck and spine
• Brain injuries, such as concussions
• Broken bones
• Bruises, cuts, and lacerations
• Soft tissue injuries
• Psychological trauma

For the occupants of other passenger vehicles, very severe injuries and property damage can occur when the vehicle collides with a bus — especially if both vehicles were in motion. Buses are generally heavier than other types of passenger vehicles. A lighter, smaller car is more likely to sustain more damage than a bus when the two vehicles collide. Passengers inside the car are also at a high risk of suffering from severe injuries, and potentially even fatal injuries.

Any experienced bus accident lawyer Rockville MD can provide will agree that bus accidents have the potential of being some of the most traumatic auto accidents on U.S. roads today.

Bus Accident Liability

Depending on what happened in a certain accident, multiple parties could potentially be held liable for an accident involving a bus. The driver may be held responsible if he or she displayed negligence or made a clear error while operating the vehicle. Proving negligence on behalf of the bus driver may not be easy, so it is important for injured plaintiffs to work with a skilled bus accident lawyer in Rockville MD who is knowledgeable about proving negligence in a court of law.

However, the company that owns the bus may also be held liable in court. If the bus is a school bus, for example, the school district that owns and operates the bus may be held liable. For a tour bus accident, the company that owns the bus or the company operating the tour might be held liable. In accident cases involving very severe injuries, claimants might be able to receive higher settlements for their injuries if they pursue damages from the company responsible for the bus instead of from the driver.

Additionally, if a bus accident is caused by defective equipment in the vehicle, other parties could potentially be held liable. In a case where defective parts caused the accident, a claimant may be able to seek damages from the company that designed the part, sold the part, or sold the vehicle. If a bus company depends on an independent contracting service for inspections and repairs, this third-party company might be held responsible.

Each case is unique and it’s easy to see how liability disputes could potential get out of hand. When this happens, injured victims may benefit from assistance from a skilled bus accident lawyer Rockville MD can offer. A lawyer may be able to help the victim determine who should be held accountable for the accident and then seek financial damages from that party (or multiple parties).

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Claimants often contact a bus accident lawyer Rockville MD can trust when they are having trouble receiving compensation from an insurance company. Regardless of how the accident happened, if an injured passenger rightfully deserves financial damages for the harm caused by a bus accident, insurance companies may try to avoid paying settlements. Any experienced bus accident lawyer Rockville MD can provide may attest that it is common for injured passengers to encounter difficulties when dealing with an insurance company.

In these cases, even when a claimant only has a minor injury, it could be in his or her best interest to contact a bus accident lawyer Rockville MD trusts. If the insurance company insists that the claimant was partly liable for causing the accident, it might attempt to pay a settlement that is far lower than what a fair settlement would be. Regarding bus accidents, an insurance company might try to argue that a passenger was partly responsible for injuries because he or she failed to wear a seatbelt while riding the bus. A particularly difficult insurance company might even attempt to pressure a claimant into taking a low settlement — or even admitting partial responsibility — if the claimant isn’t fully aware of the long-term consequences of certain injuries.

Contact a Rockville MD Bus Accident Lawyer Today

At Cohen and Cohen, P.C., we understand that bus accidents can be incredibly traumatic. These accidents can potentially lead to multiple fatalities; and the families of victims may wish to pursue damages through a wrongful death case. Victims who survive a bus crash may still be left with disabling injuries that last for months — or even years — and leave the individual unable to work or enjoy life normally.

Our legal team at Cohen and Cohen, P.C. believes that the victims of bus accidents deserve to receive compensation for their injuries. Whether a victim was injured as a passenger inside the bus or was injured while riding in another vehicle during the collision, it is important that bus companies and bus drivers are accountable for severe accidents. To schedule a free case evaluation with a bus accident lawyer Rockville MD residents can truly depend on, call the law firm of Cohen and Cohen, P.C. today.