Bus Accident Lawyer

A Bus Accident Attorney in Miami Committed to Protecting the Rights of the Injured

As is the case in any other major city, buses move thousands of people from place to place in Miami and the surrounding areas every day. In addition, long-distance travel by bus is a common and inexpensive way to get from city to city or even state to state. Unfortunately, like other vehicles, buses can get into serious accidents, often injuring dozens of people.

If you have been involved in a bus accident, it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced lawyer right away. At the Iscoe Law Firm, we will review the facts of your case at no charge and let you know whether we believe you have a claim. If you choose us to represent you, we will only collect legal fees if we win your case. To schedule your free consultation, call our office today.

Who Gets Hurt in Bus Accidents?

When you think about injuries from bus crashes, you likely first think of the bus passengers. This makes sense since bus passengers do frequently sustain serious injuries in bus accidents. Passengers rarely have safety restraints and might even be standing at the time of the crash. People on the bus can collide with one another, hit parts of the bus, or even get trampled if they fall to the floor. Rollover accidents can cause particularly severe and widespread injuries to bus passengers. 

However, bus riders are far from the only people who can sustain injuries in a bus accident and have a legal claim. Other possible victims include:

• Bus drivers
• Drivers or passengers of other vehicles involved
• Pedestrians
• Cyclists
• Scooter or motorcycle riders

Buses drive alongside many other types of vehicles and people traveling near the roads, and anyone in the vicinity might suffer injuries if a bus crashes. No matter how you were traveling when the accident happened, always seek medical attention immediately if you believe you were injured, and then discuss your legal rights with a Miami bus accident lawyer. 

Who Can Be Held Liable for Bus Accidents?

Just like bus passengers are not the only ones who might be injured, bus drivers are not always the only ones liable for a bus crash. Of course, many accidents happen because of driver error, which might include:

• Distracted driving
• Fatigued driving
• Speeding
• Improper lane changes
• Following too closely
• Violating other traffic laws
• Impaired driving
• Driving without the proper qualifications

When a bus driver is at fault for causing a crash, everyone injured will not simply go after the individual driver’s insurance. Instead, the employer of the bus driver is also held vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence on the job and harm caused. Employers might include private charter bus companies, tour bus companies, school districts, Metrobus, or any other type of operation that was in charge of operating the bus that crashed and that hired the driver.

In addition, some bus accidents are not the fault of the bus driver at all. Other parties that might be negligent and cause bus crashes include:

• Other drivers who violate traffic rules
• Pedestrians that dart out in front of a bus
• Bus or tire manufacturers if a defective part or tire caused the crash
• Government agencies or construction crews if a road hazard caused the crash

As you can see, liability can be a complicated matter, and you want to make sure you are filing all of the appropriate insurance claims. Always have a Miami bus accident attorney identify the liable parties in your bus crash case. 

Special Rules Apply to Claims against Metrobus

Miami’s Metrobus system is operated by the Miami Department of Transportation and Public Works. If your accident involved a Metrobus, it’s important to be aware of the fact that your claim is subject to special rules that apply to claims against the government.

Under a legal doctrine known as sovereign immunity, the government cannot be sued unless it has consented to such lawsuits. Fortunately for people who have been injured in Metrobus accidents, Florida Statutes Section 768.28 waives sovereign immunity for tort claims, but only to a certain extent. For example, you need to present the claim in writing to the appropriate agency before filing a lawsuit, and your damages are capped at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. 

Why You Need a Miami Bus Accident Attorney

Bus accidents can be complicated, and the insurance companies that cover bus companies and drivers are ready at the drop of a hat to deny claims and minimize settlements. For this reason, it’s in your best interest to retain an attorney to represent you after a bus accident. Some of the specific ways that a bus crash lawyer in Miami can help protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve include:

• Determining whether and against whom you may have a claim
• Filing notice of your claim
• Evaluating your economic and non-economic damages
• Preparing and filing your claim paperwork along with a demand letter clearly setting out your losses
• Attempting to negotiate a settlement on your behalf
• If necessary, taking your claim to court
• If you have an adverse outcome at trial, appealing your case

After an accident, you should be focusing on your health and well-being, not the legal process. For this reason, you should call an experienced lawyer as soon as you can after a serious bus crash.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Bus Accident Attorney in Miami

If you have suffered injuries in a bus accident, it’s critical that you retain legal counsel as soon as you can. At the Iscoe Law Firm, we understand how serious bus crashes can be and do everything we can to ensure that our clients obtain the full value of their claims under the law. To schedule your free case evaluation with a member of our team, call our office today at 800-800-6500 or contact us online. We are available to answer your call 24/7, 365 days a year.