Atlanta Bus Accident Attorney
Bus accidents can lead to devastating or even life-threatening injuries for everyone involved. Whether you were in a vehicle hit by a bus or injured while riding a bus that collided with another vehicle, these injuries could result in chronic pain, costing thousands in medical bills and even making it impossible to return to work. The good news is that you have options when it comes to seeking compensation for your injuries.
If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a bus crash, the team at Mabra Law is here to help. You deserve justice, and our Atlanta bus accident attorney team is ready to work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us right away for a free consultation.
What Damages Are Available in My Case?
If you are considering legal action due to a bus accident injury, you likely have questions surrounding the value and types of financial compensation your case might garner. These accidents can result in tremendous physical, emotional and financial hardships. A settlement or trial verdict could provide you with the resources needed to cover your out-of-pocket expenses, while compensating you for other losses. Some of the types of damages you could receive include:
- Medical Costs
Costly medical care is a major concern for people harmed in Atlanta bus accidents. Emergency care alone can have a tremendous impact on a person’s finances. Anyone living with serious ongoing medical issues could require treatment for months and years to come. A successful civil suit could provide an injury victim with the resources to pay for past and future medical needs.
- Lost Wages
Another important consideration is the loss of income that can follow a serious bus accident injury. If you are too hurt to work, you may be facing a sudden and unexpected loss of income. Pursuing legal action could replace the wages you lost after the accident, during legal proceedings and anticipated future lost income as well.
- Diminished Future Earnings
Serious injuries can forever impact some people’s ability to maintain employment. Even if you ultimately are able to return to the workforce, your condition could limit the kind of tasks you are physically able to perform. This can lead to reduced employment options and the diminished earnings that come with it.
- Property Damage
In addition to recovering a monetary award based on your physical injuries, you might also have a claim related to your property losses. Typically, this involves compensation for the damage that was done to your vehicle. You may be able to secure a monetary award to cover the cost of either repairing or replacing your damaged car or truck. For bus passengers, your damages might include lost or damaged items such as eyeglasses. laptops or cellphones.
Who Can I Sue Following a Bus Accident?
One of the most important steps for an Atlanta bus accident attorney is determining who was at fault for the accident. While it is easy to place the blame on the operator of the bus, there are other parties that might also share fault.
It is worth noting that you are not limited to seeking compensation from a single person or entity. If multiple parties were at fault, you have the opportunity to pursue your case against each of them. Some of those parties could include:
- The Bus Driver
Human error is often the most likely cause of a bus accident. Buses are large vehicles that can be challenging to navigate under the best of circumstances. When drivers are careless or reckless, the damage they can cause is often significant. Some ways a bus driver can cause a crash are by driving at unsafe speeds, failing to yield the right-of-way or operating the bus under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Bus Owners
The owner of the bus might also share in the liability for an accident. They could be vicariously liable, meaning that they are on the hook for any damage the bus driver caused while acting within the scope of their employment. Employers also can be held accountable if their negligent hiring or training practices ultimately result in a crash.
- Vehicle Manufacturers
There also are times when bus accidents happen outside of human error. A common example involves defective vehicle parts causing a bus to crash. In this scenario, you could pursue legal action against the manufacturer of the defective product. Instead of using the traditional negligence standard, such companies are held to a higher burden known as strict liability.
- Other Third Parties
You might also have a viable case against other parties. For example, a mechanic who performed improper repairs to the bus might have impaired the vehicle’s ability to operate safely. You have the right to seek compensation from any party that was at fault for the accident, including individuals who were not directly involved in the crash.
Our Atlanta Bus Accident Attorney Team Is Ready to Help
Personal injury cases are complex. Rest assured, the defendants will have the support of attorneys and insurance companies. You will need your own knowledgeable, experienced legal counsel to even the playing field and secure a fair outcome for your case. Some of the ways an Atlanta bus accident attorney can help include:
- Investigate the Accident
One of the ways we can help early on in the process is investigating how your bus accident occurred. This typically starts with a review of the accident report, but we will evaluate all of the relevant evidence along the way. This could include interviewing witnesses, reviewing dash camera footage and evaluating medical records.
Our efforts are about more than determining who was at fault for the accident. We will also collect evidence to establish what your claim is worth. Some examples could include your medical bills or vehicle repair invoices.
- Identify the Liable Parties
At the conclusion of the investigation, we will use the evidence we have secured to determine who was at fault. In some cases only one person is to blame. In other scenarios, multiple parties might share liability for your accident. The team at Mabra Law is ready to hold all of them accountable.
- Negotiate a Settlement
Many bus accident injury claims are ultimately resolved through a negotiated settlement agreement. While offers in these cases are common, many are not worth accepting. In fact, insurance adjusters often make unreasonably low offers when they know the injured party is not represented by an attorney.
Our team can handle every aspect of these negotiations. Not only can we put our experience to use helping you get the best possible offer, but we can advise you on when not to accept in your best interest. The decision is yours to make, but we can provide you with all of the information you need.
- File a Lawsuit
Not every case will end with a negotiated settlement. You may need to sue for what you deserve. When litigation represents your best chance for a favorable outcome, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf and represent you in court. Throughout the process, we will keep you updated on the status of your case so that you are always prepared for what comes next.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
If you are considering legal action following a bus accident, you should be aware of a legal deadline known as the statute of limitations. This deadline applies to every injury case, and it is one of the major pitfalls that can derail an otherwise strong case for compensation.
In general, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. If you wait too long to bring your case, the statute will expire, and a judge may have little choice to dismiss your case with prejudice. That means not only does your lawsuit come to an end, but you also lose any chance of refiling it in the future.
While this deadline is rigid, there are some situations where the statute of limitations can be paused.These circumstances, known as “tolling the statute of limitations,” could provide you with additional time to file a lawsuit. It may be possible to toll the statute if, for example, the defendant abruptly left the state. Before you assume these exceptions apply in your case, it is in your interest to speak to an attorney first.
You do not have to manage these important deadlines on your own. An Atlanta bus accident lawyer from Mabra Law can help you navigate the litigation process, including managing the statute of limitations in your case.
What Does a Bus Accident Lawyer Cost?
It is natural to wonder about the cost of hiring legal counsel in the aftermath of a bus crash. The financial strain that can follow these accidents is often overwhelming, and the thought of additional legal expenses may seem like too much to bear. In reality, hiring an Atlanta bus accident attorney can be more cost effective than you realize.
At Mabra Law, we handle bus accident injury cases on a contingency fee basis. Instead of charging fees upfront or billing by the hour, we keep a percentage of anything we recover in your case. This approach is a best-case scenario for most people injured in an accident, because it means we will get to work without requiring any out-of-pocket payment.
What’s more, we carry the risk when it comes to serving as your lawyer. In the rare cases where we are not successful, our firm walks away without collecting a fee. You will only pay us if we win, and those funds will come from your settlement or verdict award.
Have Your Questions Answered During a Free Consultation
At Mabra Law, we offer people injured in a bus accident the opportunity to consult with our firm for free. We understand that hiring an Atlanta bus accident attorney is an important decision, and we are proud to provide you with any information you need to make that choice.
A free consultation is a valuable opportunity. You can discuss your case with our attorneys and learn more about our approach to personal injury law. We can also provide insight into what to expect from the process.
It is a good idea to come into these consultations with your questions written down. This gives you the chance to ensure you have all the answers you need when making your final decision. Some of the questions you may have include:
- How long has your firm practiced injury law?
- Have you handled bus accident cases before?
- What is your fee structure?
- How many attorneys will work on my case?
- What is my case worth?
Common Bus Accident Injuries
Countless individuals are hurt in bus collisions each year. From riders to other motorists, these injuries can range from minor wounds to life-altering conditions. Pedestrians and cyclists also are at risk of suffering catastrophic injuries when they are struck by a bus. Some of the injuries that are common in these cases include:
- Broken bones
- Severe burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
- Amputation
- Spinal cord injuries
Your potential settlement or award is directly impacted by the nature and extent of your injuries. It is important that you seek medical care immediately following a bus crash and that you continue to follow the treatment plan provided by your doctor. Failing to do so could not only impact your health, but could hinder your chances for a full financial recovery as well.
Get Help With Your Bus Accident Claim – Call Mabra Law
Before you consider handling your case on your own, consider discussing your options with our firm. The team at Mabra Law knows how to build a winning claim for negligence. We look forward to the chance to help you pursue the justice you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our Atlanta bus accident lawyers.