Bradenton Bus Accident Lawyer

When we step on a bus in Manatee County, we expect to safely arrive at our destination without incident. A bus accident is a stunning turn of events that can inflict serious and even fatal injuries. If the accident was the result of negligence on the part of the bus driver, the bus driver’s employer or some other party, victims have the right to pursue compensation for the losses they have suffered.

At Kogan & DiSalvo, our lawyers are passionate about helping people injured in bus accidents and motor vehicle collisions of all kinds. An experienced Bradenton bus accident lawyer at our firm can help you fight for the financial resources you need after this life-changing experience.

We handle all types of bus accident claims for people in Manatee County and throughout Florida, including those involving popular private bus lines like Greyhound and RedCoach, public transit buses, school buses, casino buses, party buses and more. As Florida’s premier personal injury law firm, we have the experience and resources to handle the most complex bus accident claims involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.

What Type of Bus Accident Were You Involved In?

Bus accidents take many forms. Some of the most common ways people are injured in accidents involving buses include:

• Bus passenger injuries: Passengers can suffer serious injuries while boarding or deboarding buses, or while seated in bus seats or standing in bus aisles.
• Collisions involving buses: When buses strike other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists on Manatee County roads, the results are often catastrophic. A bus accident may also occur when a third-party driver strikes a bus.
• Other accidents: Bus accidents may also involve slip-and-falls on bus platforms and in bus stations, accidents involving faulty lift equipment, or assaults and robberies resulting from negligent security.

No matter the circumstances surrounding your bus accident, if your injury was caused by the negligence of another person, business, or organization, you deserve compensation for your losses. A knowledgeable bus accident lawyer in Bradenton can help you understand your rights and the potential value of your legal claim.

Who Is Legally Responsible for Bus Accident Injuries?

Determining liability in a bus accident is a complex process that calls for the investigative resources of an accomplished personal injury law firm.

At Kogan & DiSalvo, we conduct thorough investigations into the causes of bus accidents and other motor vehicle crashes in Bradenton and throughout Florida.

In some bus accidents, the liable party is a bus driver who was speeding, distracted, running red lights or engaging in other careless behavior.

In other cases, fault may lie with the business or government entity that hired the bus driver. If they failed to conduct proper background checks, or failed to implement safety protocols, they may be found liable in a bus accident lawsuit.

Fault may lie with someone not affiliated with the bus company at all, such as the driver of another vehicle, or a party responsible for road maintenance and construction. In complex cases, two or more separate parties may be found liable.

An experienced Bradenton personal injury attorney at our firm can help you identify the party or parties responsible for your injury so you can pursue the compensation you need to move on with your life.

The Unique Dangers of Bus Travel

A standard city bus can weigh as much as 20 to 30 tons. When a bus strikes another vehicle, the resulting injuries are often severe and catastrophic. All too often, bus accidents result in wrongful death.

The dynamics of bus travel expose passengers to unique risks that do not exist in conventional vehicles. Bus seats lack common safety features such as seatbelts and airbags. In the event of a collision, seated passengers can be thrown forward into the back of the next seat, resulting in head trauma, whiplash and other serious injuries.

Standing passengers fair even worse. When a bus collides with another car, passengers standing in the aisle have little to no stability, aside from holding a railing or strap. The force of a collision, or even a sudden brake, can send a passenger reeling toward the front of the bus.

Buses are also difficult to evacuate in the event of a rollover accident, fire or other catastrophic event, exposing passengers to additional injuries during the evacuation process.

Despite the dangers inherent to bus travel, Florida personal injury laws offer hope for financial recovery. A skilled Bradenton bus accident lawyer can help you pursue the maximum amount of compensation for the injuries and other losses you have sustained.

Compensation for a Bus Accident Injury

Florida personal injury laws are designed to restore an injured person to the position they would be in had the accident not occurred. While we can’t reverse what happened, we can fight to win you the compensation you need to live as comfortably as possible. We can pursue financial compensation for:

• Medical bills (including emergency room care, hospitalization, medication, home health care, physical therapy and other needs arising from your accident)
• Wage loss, past and future
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life

One of the key roles of a personal injury attorney is to assess all the ways this bus accident has changed your life. At Kogan & DiSalvo, we take this responsibility seriously and personally. We will work with you closely to ascertain the hardships you face today and will continue to face far in the future. We will listen to you and help you understand all the legal options available to you so you can make informed decisions about your legal claim.

“Should I Accept a Settlement Offer?”

Whether you were injured on a privately owned or public bus line, you will likely hear from an insurance company representative shortly after your accident.

Make no mistake, the insurance company’s goal is to settle your case for the lowest dollar amount possible. If they try to pressure you into agreeing to a lowball offer, tell them no. Even if the offer sounds attractive now, it may fall far short of what you need over the course of your life.

A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can analyze the factors involved in your bus accident to arrive at an accurate estimate of your claim’s true value. With the facts in hand, your lawyer can exert maximum pressure on the insurance company to offer you a fair settlement, or, if necessary, try your case in court.

Delays Could Prove Costly

The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Florida is two years. If you are filing a lawsuit against a government body such as the Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) system after a public transportation accident, you must meet additional timelines and filing requirements that do not apply when suing a private party. A mistake or missed deadline could derail your legal claim and leave you without legal standing.

Talk with an experienced bus accident lawyer in Bradenton as soon as you can after your accident, so you don’t lose your right to obtain compensation for your injuries.

We Are Here to Make a Difference in Your Life

At Kogan & DiSalvo, we understand this bus accident claim is not just a case—it is your life. Our Bradenton bus accident lawyers are here to handle all of the legal aspects of your claim so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Contact us today to arrange a free initial consultation with an experienced and compassionate member of our legal team.