Minneapolis & St. Paul Bus Accident Lawyers
Bus accidents may be less common than passenger vehicle collisions, but every incident can have catastrophic effects on the victims. If you frequently ride the bus or see them throughout your commute, make sure you have a contingency plan ready for the unfortunate event of a bus collision. That plan starts with talking to an experienced bus accident lawyer.Â
How an Attorney Can Help You After a Bus Accident
The attorneys at Swor & Gatto have years of experience protecting their clients’ right to representation and compensation following personal injuries. An attorney can help you hold the responsible party accountable and seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses caused by the bus accident. These losses can include everything from damage to your car or bicycle to medical injuries.
The immediate aftermath of a bus collision can be overwhelming, especially if you are hospitalized or lose your primary mode of transportation. Talk to an attorney about your options following a collision and what they can do to help organize your response. This can include:
- Free consultations and translation services during the consultation.
- Helping document your injuries as evidence in a claim, lawsuit, or case.
- Talking you through different legal actions.
- Holding the line so the responsible parties can’t push you into accepting a low settlement or accepting responsibility for the incident.
Having an attorney on your side can give you great peace of mind in the days and weeks following a bus accident, and Swor & Gatto is here to help.
An experienced bus accident attorney can also move fast to make a claim and file a lawsuit. A claim is often the first step in the legal process, and it’s important to file that motion as soon as possible. An attorney can handle that process while you or a loved one are still in the hospital or at home healing. Our team makes home and hospital visits so you get the representation you deserve even if you can’t travel.
Common Bus Accident InjuriesÂ
Swor & Gatto will fight for your right to compensation following a bus accident in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Bus accidents can have catastrophic effects on passengers, pedestrians, and passengers in the other vehicle. Because many buses lack the safety restraint features of passenger vehicles, passengers are more vulnerable to whiplash-related injuries. Pedestrians and drivers on the other side of the collision can also face a greater risk of injury because of the size of the bus. Possible bus injuries include:
- Broken bones, bruises, and cuts
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Head, neck, and spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Loss of a limb or paralysis
Victims of bus accidents can also face economic and non-economic losses that aren’t injuries. These can include:
- Loss of property
- Property and vehicle repair costs
- Medical costs such as emergency room, hospital, and doctor visit bills; in-home care; physical therapy
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and lost future earning capacity
- Court costs
- Increases in insurance premiums
All these losses should be addressed, and the responsible party should pay you all due compensation following an accident. A bus accident attorney can help guide you through the process and advocate for your right to compensation through settlement negotiations, lawsuits, and other courses of legal action.
It’s important to discuss your case with experienced attorneys. The lawyers at Swor & Gatto are familiar with the short-term and long-term consequences of bus collisions that may not be immediately apparent, including ongoing medical costs or loss of future wages. They can ensure these losses are considered instead of pushed to the sidelines.
Understanding Common Causes and Responsible Parties of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents are always confusing and hectic. No matter how clear-cut an accident may seem, multiple parties are involved in the incident and behind the scenes. A T-bone collision, for example, may be the bus company’s fault for failure to maintain vehicle safety rather than a specific driver. At Swor & Gatto, our legal team can do investigative research to ensure all responsible parties are identified and considered. These responsible parties can include:
- Driver, the agency that provided the driver, and the hiring party
- Bus operator
- Bus owners and maintenance service providers in the event of mechanical failures or failed safety standards
- City, county, state, or interstate agency provided the transit service
Responsibility can also lie with other drivers and agencies responsible for street maintenance and safety. We take our job of finding all responsible parties seriously so you receive the compensation you need to recover and move on from the accident.
Take Preventative MeasuresÂ
Most bus drivers are trained professionals who know how to navigate busy roads and even unsafe weather conditions. But, as a potential passenger or adjacent driver, it’s important to remain vigilant near buses when:
- You notice the bus behaving erratically, tailgating, ignoring traffic signals, or speeding.
- The roads are narrow, overly congested, or slick.
- The bus is showing signs of mechanical failure.
In these circumstances, change lanes to move away from the bus or pull back to increase the space between you and a bus in your lane. If you notice these danger signs as a passenger, consider leaving the bus and waiting for another connection when it’s reasonably safe to do so.
Contact a Bus Accident Lawyer for Legal Representation
Attorneys represent your legal interests, and experienced attorneys can do so with the weight of years of experience and a trained legal team behind them. Contact Swor & Gatto today to discuss your options following a bus accident involving you or a loved one. Our attorneys can meet with you for an initial consultation and start preparing legal action against the responsible parties. Contact us today at (651) 454-3600 or reach us online here.