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Injuries suffered in bus accidents are often severe with lifelong health consequences. In the vast majority of cases, buses don’t have seatbelts, airbags, and modern safety features found in other vehicles. Victims in bus crashes often experience debilitating injuries that prevent them from working or enjoying everyday activities for an extended period of time. If you or someone you love has suffered an injury in a bus accident, take action and deploy the full force of your legal rights.
This post explores the legal process after a bus accident and the avenues available to help bus accident victims gain fair compensation for accident injuries.
Potential Bus Accident Injuries
- Broken Bones
Broken bones are common in bus accidents. The lack of seatbelts on SEPTA and school buses means impact injuries occur with greater regularity compared with car and truck accidents. Broken bones in the lower limbs, including the femur, tibia, and metatarsal are among the most common.
- Deep Wounds
As a result of the close proximity of window panes throughout the bus, deep wounds and gashes from glass shards are another common bus accident injury.
- Internal Injuries
In serious bus crashes, victims may suffer internal bleeding and organ damage due to the significant impact of the accident.
- Injuries to the Head, Neck, or Spinal Cord
The lack of a seatbelt holding bus passengers in place can cause injury victims to experience a rapid change in direction in an accident. This leads to damage to the head, neck, and spine, which can be compressed against the seat.
In severe bus crashes, head and spine damage may result in loss of function.
- Psychological Trauma
We’re only just building our understanding of the body’s response to trauma. Landmark studies show conditions such as PTSD are prevalent after a bus accident and often require years of management alongside an experienced mental health professional.
Our recent post offers further insight regarding bus accident injuries, their impact, and the actions to take after a public transit accident.
Fault in Bus Accidents
The central element securing a fair settlement after a bus accident is proving a party’s fault for your accident injuries. Potential parties who can be held responsible for your injury compensation may include:
- The Bus Driver
The bus driver is usually the main focus on any investigation after a bus accident. The investigation will review the driver’s actions and whether they bear any responsibility. Potential claims against a bus driver might involve distracted driving, speeding, or illegal driving maneuvers.
- The Bus Company
The bus company may legally responsible if it’s proven the driver was not trained adequately for operating the vehicle. They may also be held responsible if an investigation proves the company was negligent in ensuring the safety of their buses.
- The Bus Manufacturer
In cases where the vehicle itself is the subject of a crash investigation, the bus manufacturer can be held legally responsible for your injuries. If your bus accident lawyer can prove a defective bus component led to your injury, you may sue the bus manufacturer under Pennsylvania law.
- The Bus Maintenance Company
Bus operators often have a service contract with an outside maintenance provider. When the maintenance providers fail to spot a defect or a crash can be linked to poor quality service work, both the company and the maintenance technicians within may be held responsible under the law.
- Other Drivers Involved in the Accident
The actions of other drivers may also play a role in a bus accident. For example, a driver in front of the bus might brake suddenly or swerve in front of the bus, causing the bus driver to crash. Or the other driver might be swerving around a bus and cause an injury to a bus passenger who is attempting to exit the vehicle, as was the case in a recent SEPTA bus accident in Germantown, PA.
How Philadelphia Bus Accident Firms Helps Secure Compensation
By hiring a Philadelphia bus accident law firm you’ll gain the benefit of hands-on bus accident case experience. Bus accident lawyers understand the nuances of the personal injury law and motor vehicle claims. Lawyers like Jeffrey H. Penneys also spend hours throughout their work negotiating with public transit agency SEPTA and local insurance firms to secure fair compensation for their clients.
Proactive Support based on Decades of Bus Accident Experience
If you or someone you love has suffered a recent injury in a bus accident, the insurance firms may present a first offer to you to finalize your claim for compensation. Before signing the offer proposal, speak with bus accident lawyer Jeffrey Penneys. He and his team offer a free consultation, during which they can guide you on bus accident laws and explain whether the insurance company’s first offer holds value.
In most cases, your settlement is worth far more than the first bus accident compensation offer you receive. Call the Law Offices of Jeffrey Penneys today to find out how much your bus accident case is worth, and take the next step towards a settlement for your bus accident injury. Your consultation is free and you won’t pay a penny unless Jeffrey Penneys gets you compensation.
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