Bus Accident Lawyers in Pennsylvania

There’s a certain level of trust you have when taking the bus. You believe that you’re traveling in a well-maintained vehicle operated by a trained, competent driver. And when that trust is violated, you could be left with serious injuries, and in need of bus accident lawyers.

When you get into a bus accident, you may be concerned about compensation. It’s not like when you are driving your own vehicle. Will your insurance company be paying your medical bills? How will you make up the lost time at work? And if you lost a loved one in the accident, who will pay the funeral expenses?

The Pennsylvania bus accident lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli has been helping bus accident victims throughout the Keystone State. We understand how the insurance system works in PA and will aggressively go after the responsible parties to get you the compensation that you deserve.

Bus Accidents on the Rise

Although it’s not as common as getting into an accident with another driver or a tractor-trailer, bus accidents can happen and they can be deadly.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were 15,000 bus accidents in 2015, causing 24,000 injured persons. Of that number, 257 were fatal accidents with 49 of the fatalities were bus occupants, an increase over 2014 numbers. School buses were in the majority of these fatal accidents, followed by mass transit buses and commercial buses.

In 2016, 1.3 percent of all fatal motor vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania and 397 injury crashes involved a commercial bus. This shows that when you get into an accident with a bus, the results could be fatal.

Causes of Bus Accidents in Pennsylvania

What can cause a bus crash to occur? Many of the factors are similar to any type of motor vehicle accident:

• Distracted Driving – Driving while texting or talking on the phone is a serious problem in this country. Even bus drivers are prone to look at their phone while behind the wheel.
• Driver Fatigue – Long hours behind the wheel can take their toll on anyone, especially those who drive for a living.
• Mechanical Errors – It is the responsibility of the bus company or organization to make sure the vehicles are in top shape. But sometimes, that’s not the case.
• Driver Error – The driver may not have been trained properly, was inexperienced or was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Who Is Responsible for My Injuries?

If you were a motorist involved in a bus accident, you may have serious injuries that could take months, even years to recover from. This means mounting medical bills. And by missing time at work to heal, you may have no way to pay this debt. This is the time to consider what legal options are available to you.

When it comes to a bus accident, there may be more than one party responsible for your injuries. For example, if your accident was caused by a mechanical defect in the bus, you may file a complaint against the driver, the bus company, and possibly the vehicle's manufacturer for the defect.

But what if you are a passenger on the bus? Who will be paying your bills? It all depends on whether you have auto insurance. If you are in a bus crash and you have an auto insurance policy, your insurance will pay the bills. But if you don't have insurance, the bus company's insurance will be the one footing the bills.

Why It's Important to Choose the Right Bus Accident Lawyer

These types of cases can be quite difficult, especially if you have chosen the limited tort option on your car insurance policy. By choosing limited tort, you have restricted your rights for filing a claim for pain and suffering. Many bus accident attorneys may avoid handling your bus accident case because of these restrictions.

But at Fellerman & Ciarimboli, we care about those injured by someone else's negligence. Once you hire our law firm, our Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton bus accident lawyers will go straight to work, investigating the scene, examining the evidence, and contacting your insurance company to make sure get the compensation that will cover your bills.

Remember, the statute of limitations is two years. You need to file a claim as soon as possible.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a bus accident, contact an experienced Philadelphia bus accident lawyer at Fellerman & Ciarimboli. With years of experience and a stellar track record, we will find out exactly what happened and pursue the compensation you need to handle the emotional, physical and financial consequences related to the bus accident. Contact us today for a free consultation.