Bus Accident Attorneys in Atlanta, GA

Thousands of individuals in the Atlanta area travel by bus each day. We trust buses to bring our kids safely to and from school, and many of us commute to and from work riding a MARTA bus. Buses are often chartered to bring groups to and from their destinations for sports outings and other special events, and many Americans still travel long distances by Greyhound or a similar service.

Buses are large vehicles that most of us assume are safe. But unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are hundreds of bus crashes in Georgia each year, and although thankfully the number of fatalities in these crashes is relatively low, these types of accidents can still result in a lot of serious injuries. If you or a loved one suffered injury in a bus accident, you need strong legal counsel by your side working hard to obtain the just compensation you deserve.

At Stein & Fox Accident Attorneys, we have extensive experience representing clients who have been injured in all types of motor vehicle accidents in Atlanta. Our firm is focused exclusively on personal injury law, and we have in-depth knowledge of the complexities involved with bus accident claims and other complicated cases. We have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients, and we are dedicated to ensuring that our clients recover maximum compensation for their injuries.

Here are some of the benefits bus accident victims receive by working with Stein & Fox Accident Attorneys:

• Our consultations are always free
• We have won millions of dollars in compensation on behalf of our clients
• We fully utilize the most up-to-date technology to help ensure a smooth and seamless legal process
• We do not charge any attorney fees unless we win your case

TYPES OF BUS ACCIDENTS

As we talked about earlier, buses are very large vehicles, and they can be difficult to maneuver, especially in tight spots. There are several different types of accidents that may involve a bus, these include:

• Bus-Vehicle Accidents: The most common type of bus accident is one in which the bus collides with another vehicle or multiple vehicles. During the collision like this, the bus driver and other drivers involved will be looked at as potential responsible parties.
• Bus-Bicycle Accidents: Because of Atlanta’s warm climate, many people ride their bikes to and from work. While this is great exercise and good for the environment, bicycle riders can end up with serious injuries if they collide with a bus or another vehicle.
• Bus-Pedestrian Accidents: Another type of accident that can have catastrophic results is a bus colliding with a pedestrian. This can often happen with school buses when they are trying to navigate the roadways while there are several kids walking to school or walking to the bus stop. School bus drivers need to be especially careful with all of the children around and their unpredictable nature.
• Single Vehicle Bus Accidents: Like tractor-trailers, buses are long vehicles and they have a higher center of gravity. This makes them more susceptible to tipping over if they turn too fast, or if they encounter high winds, icy roads, or other adverse weather conditions.

PURSUING A BUS ACCIDENT LEGAL CLAIM IN GEORGIA

Individuals who are injured in bus accidents can file a claim for damages, which may include not only compensation for direct monetary losses such as medical bills and lost earnings, but also for noneconomic losses such as physical and emotional pain-and-suffering, diminished quality of life, and permanent injury. It is very important for injured individuals to seek immediate medical treatment and to follow through on all advice given by the medical professionals that they consult.

Getting to the bottom of how a bus accident occurred is usually a lot more complicated than with a standard auto accident case. Negligence on the part of the bus driver and other drivers involved is always the first thing that is looked at, but there could be outside parties that share the blame for the accident as well. This may include the bus company, the party responsible for maintaining the buses, a public or government entity, or the manufacturer of a defective vehicle or vehicle part.

If you are dealing with a government entity, special rules will apply. For example, you are not able to sue a school district or its employees in Georgia because of a legal doctrine known as “sovereign immunity”. However, most school districts (including those in the Atlanta area) carry insurance to cover injuries resulting from school bus accidents, and the district or county may still be liable up to the amount of insurance that they carry.

It is important to note that if the bus accident was caused by the driver of a private bus company, another driver, or a third party such as a product manufacturer, then standard personal injury laws still apply and you would be able to bring a lawsuit directly against the responsible party. This is why it is absolutely crucial to have an experienced lawyer by your side in cases like these, so you will know which legal avenue to pursue and what procedures need to be followed.

One more thing to mention with regards to Georgia bus accident cases is the statute of limitations. For most personal injury lawsuits in the state, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury. However, if you are bringing a claim against a government entity, you may have as little as six months, and there are special notices that need to be filed. If you fail to bring an injury claim before the statute of limitations expires, there is a very good chance that you will not be allowed to move forward with your case.

CONTACT STEIN & FOX ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

If you or someone close to you got injured in a bus accident in Atlanta, contact Stein & Fox Accident Attorneys for assistance. Get in touch with us today by calling 770-961-1700 or messaging us online. We look forward to serving you!