Every motor vehicle accident has the potential to produce serious injuries. Bus crashes are especially dangerous. The size and weight of a bus greatly exceed that of a car, truck, or SUV, and the lack of restraining devices, such as seat belts, increases the risks to passengers.
Following a bus accident, you might have many questions about what is next. As you deal with the pain, you could be facing hospital bills, surgeries, missed work, and other financial stressors. You deserve compensation from the responsible party for your losses. A Katy personal injury lawyer can fight for your rights and help you get paid.
The personal injury attorneys at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC, focus on bus accidents. We aim to help every injured victim who comes to us receive the compensation they deserve. We have amassed a strong track record of negotiating fair settlements for our clients, and we want to put our tools and resources to work for you.
Rather than accepting the initial offer the insurance company puts in front of you, speak with our legal team first. Let us handle the negotiations on your behalf and fight for more. If you accept what the insurance company offers, you almost always leave money on the table. This is the money you deserve as a bus accident victim.
Our legal team takes the outcome of your bus accident claim as seriously as you do. Therefore, we do not get paid until we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is free, and we conduct a thorough case review with you. When we take on your case, we will identify the responsible parties, determine the damages you are eligible for, and put together a plan to gather evidence and fight your claim.
Call our office today at 713-850-8600 to set up a time to meet with an attorney and discuss your claim in detail.
Why Should I Hire a Bus Accident Lawyer?
There are many lawyers in Katy, but choosing one who focuses on bus accident law offers many advantages.
Bus accidents tend to feature more complexities than regular car accidents, starting with the fact that more parties might be responsible. For instance, one or more of the following parties could have played a role in causing your accident:
- The bus driver;
- The driver of another vehicle in the accident, if they violated traffic laws or drove recklessly;
- The bus company;
- The manufacturer of a bus component; or
- A local or state government.
We will review the circumstances of your accident, identify all parties who might bear responsibility, and determine the evidence we need to prove our case and pursue a fair settlement.
Our attorneys handle all negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company on your behalf, ensuring you do not agree to a subpar settlement that denies you the full compensation you deserve.
What Type of Bus Accident Claim Can I File?
Depending on the specifics of your accident and who was responsible, we might file one or more of several claim types. We may use a negligence, product liability, or wrongful death claim to recover compensation on your behalf.
Negligence Claims
If the bus driver or the driver of another vehicle caused the crash due to reckless behavior, we may file a negligence claim. With a negligence claim, we are contending four things:
- The responsible party had a duty of care to you, the victim;
- The responsible party breached their duty to you;
- That breach of duty caused the bus accident and
- You suffered economic and non-economic damages as a result.
We pursue such a claim by starting with the basic fact that all motorists have an assumed duty of care to other drivers on the road. From there, we seek to demonstrate that one or more drivers in the accident breached that duty of care by exhibiting negligent behavior, such as violating a traffic law, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or driving while distracted.
We gather evidence to prove our case. Then, we use the compiled evidence to convince the insurance company to settle for a fair amount. If the insurer refuses, we will file suit and prove your case in court.
Product Liability Claims
With a product liability claim, we seek to demonstrate that a defective product caused your injuries, which caused you to suffer economic and non-economic losses. This could include a vehicle component of the bus or another vehicle in the crash.
Parties we might target with such a claim include:
- The bus manufacturer;
- The manufacturer or one or more bus components; and
- The manufacturer of another vehicle or one of its components.
We can hold the manufacturer responsible for your losses if a defective traffic signal or safety device causes the crash.
Wrongful Death Claims
A wrongful death claim seeks damages for the loss of your loved one in a bus accident. While no amount of money can bring them back, you are eligible for compensation if someone’s negligence caused their death.
How Much Is My Claim Worth?
While we cannot estimate the value of your claim without knowing the specific details of your accident—which we will explore during your free case review—many bus accident victims are eligible for some or all of the following damages:
- Medical bills, both current and future;
- Lost income;
- Reduced earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental anguish and
- Loss of consortium.
Suppose you suffered a serious injury, such as a traumatic brain injury. In that case, you may qualify for a higher settlement amount to pay for the increased impact your injury will have on your daily life.
Call D. Miller & Associates, PLLC, Today for a Free Bus Accident Case Review.
The attorneys at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC, want to help you get the compensation you deserve so you can put your life back together after a bus accident. Call 713-850-8600 today for a free consultation with a legal team member.
