215-481-9979 Español: 215-512-0039

Bus Accidents

Because buses are typically much larger than cars, bus accidents often result in more serious injuries.

Pennsylvania Bus Accident Lawyer

If you were hit by a bus while driving your own car, or while walking across the street, or even if you were a passenger on public transportation when an accident happened, you may be entitled to compensation if you sustained injuries and the accident was not your fault, 

If the accident involves a SEPTA bus or other means of public transportation, different laws and protections apply. 

If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident, Solnick Lawyers can help.

Parties Involved in Bus Accidents

A bus accident claim is different from an auto accident claim. It often involves more parties, more severe injuries, and sometimes different laws. While a car accident may only involve one other motorist, a bus accident case might have numerous parties, including the bus driver, the bus company/operator, maintenance and repair companies, and various government agencies.

Bus Driver

The bus driver may have been negligent and at fault for the bus accident. Negligence would include driving at excessive speeds, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while distracted, texting while driving, or failing to obey the rules of the road. Any bus driver who was negligent or who is found to have violated state law or federal commercial motor vehicle regulations can be named in your legal claim.

Bus Company (Operator)

Bus companies have a duty to hire experienced and skilled drivers and maintain the quality of their fleet. If they fail in these duties, and this causes an accident, they may be held responsible for injuries that result. Likewise, bus operators are generally legally responsible for the negligent driving of their bus drivers.

Maintenance and Repair Companies

Many bus operators prefer to outsource the maintenance and repair of their fleets to other companies. If these maintenance programs are inadequate and fail to identify possible defects, an accident could result. A missed tire tread separation or brake defect could prove deadly. In such cases, bus accident victims may be able to file a claim against the maintenance and repair company.

Government Agencies

Bus accidents can also result from shoddy construction, design, and maintenance of roadways. In such cases, the relevant government agency that is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and repairs of the road where the accident occurred can be named in a claim. These agencies could include the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and other local county and city organizations.

Top Causes of Bus Crashes

In 2020, there were a shocking 321 commercial bus accidents and 146 school bus accidents in Pennsylvania, including 3 fatalities. Some causes of those bus accidents include:

  • Driving too fast for the conditions
  • Failing to follow the rules of the road e.g. yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk
  • Texting or talking on the phone while driving
  • Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
  • Driver fatigue
  • Driver inexperience
  • Faulty or poorly maintained equipment 
  • Poorly maintained roadways

Common Injuries Related to Bus Crashes

The injuries in a bus accident can be more severe than those in a motor vehicle accident, and affect more people, simply due to the size of the vehicles and the number of passengers they carry. Common injuries in a bus accident include:

  • Broken bones/Fractures
  • Lacerations
  • Head injuries/Traumatic Brain Injury (T.B.I.)
  • Neck and spine injuries, including whiplash
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Burns
  • Scarring

These are only physical injuries. Many bus accident victims also suffer mental trauma and emotional distress as a result of the accident and their injuries.

How to Proceed Following a Bus Accident

If you have been involved in a bus accident, there are certain steps you should follow:

First, get to a place of safety and tend to any injuries. Call 911 if emergency medical attention is required. If your injuries do not require an ambulance, you should still see a healthcare provider as soon as possible to ensure that you are properly cared for and to document your injuries for any future claim.

Second, call the police. A police report is an important piece of evidence in any insurance or legal claim. 

Next, gather evidence at the scene. This includes contact details of any witnesses, insurance information from drivers, any operator or employer information from the bus driver or other commercial drivers, and photos or videos of the scene of the accident.

Finally, call a Pennsylvania bus accident lawyer to get reliable advice about your legal rights and help to file a claim. The time period for filing a claim can be shorter in bus accident claims than in other personal injury claims so it is important not to delay.

Compensation Available in Bus Accidents

Victims of bus accidents may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault parties. Compensation should cover past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is the term a personal injury attorney uses to refer to the physical discomfort and mental trauma that victims suffer as a result of an accident. In a bus accident case, the jury decides how much this amount is based on the evidence that your lawyer presents to them about your accident and your circumstances. It is therefore crucial that you have a lawyer who is experienced in handling bus accident cases and understands how a jury will put a dollar amount on your suffering.

Lost Wages

When you are injured in a bus crash, you may have to miss work because of your injuries or your medical appointments and treatments. You may even be unable to return to the job that you did before the accident. You are entitled to be compensated for the wages and benefits that you lose as a result of the bus accident.

Medical Bills

Medical bills, including hospital bills, physician bills, physical therapy fees, and costs of medication or medical equipment can be steep after a bus accident. Your past and future medical bills will be an important part of your compensation or settlement after a bus accident.

Why Work with Our Pennsylvania Bus Accident Lawyers?

Solnick Lawyers has been representing victims and their family members in bus accident cases in the Greater Philadelphia area, and throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, for more than 20 years. We are not intimidated by the tactics of aggressive corporations, insurance companies, or government agencies. We face them day after day in negotiations and courtrooms to secure justice for our clients, and we will do the same for you. We’re on your side.

Cases we handle:

  • Personal Injury Claims
  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Bus Accidents
  • SEPTA Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Construction Site Accidents
  • Dog Bites / Attacks
  • Electric Scooter Accidents
  • Insurance / Bad Faith Claims
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Premises Liability Claims
  • Rideshare Accidents
  • Lyft Accidents
  • Uber Accidents
  • Slip and Fall Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Wrongful Death

Contact Solnick Lawyers for Aid with Your Pennsylvania Bus Accident Case

If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident and would like to know more about your legal rights, please contact us today by calling 215-481-9979 or schedule a free consultation and case review. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain as we never charge a fee until and unless we obtain a settlement or award for you. Solnick Lawyers is on your side. Let us fight for you.

FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAW RELATING TO BUS ACCIDENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA. OUR FAQS CAN ANSWER MANY OF THE GENERAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE:

  1. Stay calm and remain in your vehicle unless it is too dangerous to do so.
  2. Turn on your hazard lights to caution other drivers.
  3. Even in cases in which an accident seems minor, call 911 and have the police come to the scene. Unless it is absolutely necessary to move them, leave vehicles where they are until the police arrive.
  4. When medics arrive on the scene, make sure you are examined if you have injuries. There might be something serious going on that you are not aware of because shock is masking your pain. If you have serious injuries, you may want to accept medical attention at the scene or be transported to a hospital.
  5. Write down the names and contact information of all parties involved in the bus accident, witnesses, names and badge numbers of police officers, and information about the bus driver.
  6. Take pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident from different angles. It is also a good idea to take pictures of any injuries.
  7. Even if you think you are at fault, do not admit fault. The authorities will determine fault after evaluating the entire situation. Deciding who is at fault is not your job.
  8. Immediately contact your auto insurance agency to notify them about the accident.
  9. Do not provide any statements to anyone other than the police and your own insurance agency. Anyone else asking questions may be trying to either build a case against you or cover their financial assets.

Never leave the scene of an accident!

Never agree to provide a recorded statement to the insurance company or the bus company. Never fill out or sign any forms that are sent by the bus company or their insurance agency. If the bus company is trying to get a statement from you, they are working hard to cover themselves financially and will do whatever it takes.

Contact an experienced Pennsylvania bus accident attorney if you feel like you need legal representation or if you have questions about your rights after a bus accident.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is a public transportation authority operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and there are specific rules, procedures, and time limitations to know if you believe that SEPTA is liable for your injuries. Because SEPTA receives government funding, it is provided with certain legal protections that other drivers and companies do not have.

Because SEPTA is a government agency, they must be notified of your personal injury claim within six months from the date of the accident or you may lose your right to pursue a claim or sue altogether.

The notice must include specific information including the date that the accident occurred, the injuries that you sustained, your address, and other information that may pertain to the accident.

Because of these legal protections and notice requirements, the process of pursuing a claim against SEPTA can be challenging. Other laws may also affect the process, such as rules related to common carriers.

A SEPTA injury can happen while riding on a bus, in a train derailment, falling on SEPTA property, or even while driving your own vehicle or walking or biking. For example, a bus driver, train operator or trolley driver may:

  • Hit another vehicle
  • Strike a pedestrian or bicyclist
  • Crash into a curb or fixed object
  • Drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
  • Travel too fast for conditions
  • Fall asleep while driving
  • Text or use the phone while driving
  • Fail to yield to or violate other safe driving requirements

Any or all of these issues can lead to accidents that injure SEPTA passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers and passengers of other vehicles.

Blog

Testimonials

Solnick & Associates was incredibly professional & comforting throughout my legal process, thanks so much!

Ted

Great communication with his clients—updates every process so the clients understand everything about the case. Tries his best for his clients. Very responsible. I would highly recommend this business to others.

Y. J Jo

A knowledgeable personal injury firm with staff that cares about your well being as well as your claim.

Eric Gartner