Did you suffer severe injuries or was your loved one killed in a bus accident in Alabama? You are probably looking for some way to obtain the money you need for medical costs, rehabilitation, or funeral expenses from the at-fault bus company.
Serious bus crashes frequently result in fatal injuries, but even those who survive or sustain catastrophic injuries require several months, years, or even lifetimes of rehabilitation. You may be entitled to compensation for all of your medical bills, lost income, and other damages. The bus accident lawyers in Birmingham at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP have been handling various motor vehicle accident claims for over two decades. We understand how to prove a bus company’s negligence and secure maximum compensation for victims.
You are probably dealing with many other concerns. Let our firm see how we can help. You can have Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP review your case and help you understand all of your legal options when you call (205) 324-1212 to receive a free consultation.
Why Do I Need a Bus Accident Lawyer?
Bus crashes are extremely complicated. Accidents involving large carriers usually prompt federal investigations.
Buses are subject to strict state and federal regulations. Violations of these regulations may be direct factors in the causes of some crashes.
This type of evidence is not readily available or easily obtained though. You need to contact a bus accident attorney as soon as possible so the lawyer will be able to quickly investigate the accident, obtain important evidence, and identify all possible liable parties.
Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP will aggressively pursue fair and full compensation for all of your past, present, and future needs. We can make sure that every single negligent party is held accountable.
Why Choose Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP?
Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP has secured several multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. When you hire our firm, we immediately negotiate with the negligent party’s insurance company for you.
Insurers frequently contact victims and offer settlements to quickly resolve potential claims, but you should refuse any such offer as it is invariably guaranteed to be nowhere near what you are actually entitled to. Our firm will either negotiate a lawsuit that provides for all of your needs, or we will file a lawsuit.
Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP will be able to assess the true value of your case and fight to help you recover every last dollar from all negligent parties.
You should also be aware that our firm handles every case on a contingency fee basis, which essentially means that we do not get paid if we do not get you a monetary award. You have nothing to lose by calling (205) 324-1212 to schedule a free consultation.
Cases We Handle
Several companies provide local and interstate bus services in Alabama. Some of the different public and charter bus providers include:
- Birmingham Metro Area Express (MAX Transit)
- Greyhound
- Megabus
- Teague VIP Express
- New Generation Charter, Inc.
- C & S Charter and Tours, LLC
- Cline Tours, Inc.
- E & J Tours
- Thrasher Brothers Trailways
- BLS Charters, Inc.
- Southern Coaches, Inc.
- Southeastern Motor Coach, Inc.
- Kelton Tours Unlimited
- Takers Corporation, LLC
- Covenant Elite Charters & Tours, LLC
- Spirit Coach, LLC
- Colonial Trailways, Inc.
- Gulf Coast Tours, Inc.
- Wright’s Charters, Inc.
- Capital Trailways
- Vision Express
- K & S Charters/Tours, LLC
- Kingdom Coach, LLC
- Southern Charter Company
- Tuscaloosa Charter Service, LLC
- Anchor Transportation
- Autauga County Rural Transportation (ACRT)
- Baldwin County Public Transit Coalition (BCPTC)
- Baldwin Rural Area Transportation System (BRATS)
- Community Service Programs of West Alabama (CSPWA)
- Blount County Commission (BCC)
- Anniston Express
- East Alabama Regional Planning & Development Commission (EARPDC)
- Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission (ATRC)
- West Alabama Public Transportation, West Alabama Health Services (WAPT)
- Goodwater Public Transportation (GPT)
- Covington Area Transit System (CATS)
- Cullman Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS)
- Escambia County Area Transit System (ECATS)
- Etowah County Rural Transportation Program (ECRTP)
- Northwest Alabama Transportation System (NATS)
- Lawrence County Aging Rural Transit System (LCARTS)
- Lee County Transit Agency (LETA)
- Macon-Russell Community Action Agency (MRCAA)
- Huntsville Public Transportation
- Transportation for Rural Areas of Madison County (TRAM)
- City of Guntersville Public Transportation (CGPT)
- The Wave Transit
- Phenix City Express (PEX)
- ClasTran
- Central Alabama Public Transportation (CAPT)
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Determining the exact cause of a bus accident can be an extremely difficult process. Even cases involving seemingly clear driver errors may have several other contributing factors.
Bus driver error is a common crash cause, but other potential causes include:
- Driver Fatigue — Commercial drivers are subject to strict limits on the number of hours they can work consecutively in a given week. Some drivers falsify logs to cover up possible driving-time violations, and those who work excess hours are much more likely to fall asleep while at the wheel.
- Failure to Maintain — Bus companies must ensure their vehicles are safe for transporting large numbers of the public. Any company’s lack of proper bus maintenance could make it liable when these failures cause traffic accidents.
- Defective Parts — Mechanical components within a bus may fail without reason, possibly causing crashes. If a manufacturer produced defective brakes, tires, or other bus parts, they could be liable for damages.
- Road Conditions — Even in adverse weather conditions, bus drivers must operate their vehicles responsibly to prevent accidents. When a dangerous roadway or uncorrected hazard causes a bus accident, governmental entities might also be liable.
- Other Vehicles — Some bus accidents are actually the fault of other drivers. The involvement of multiple vehicles only further demonstrates the importance of having legal representation.
Liability can also be far more complicated in bus crashes than it is in most car accidents. Various factors could lead to naming a bus driver, bus company, maintenance company, parts manufacturer, and governmental agency as defendants.
Everything You Need to Know About Claiming Compensation After Bus Accidents
Frequently Asked Questions
Most people accused of any kind of negligent conduct in a tort claim respond by saying that the other party was at fault. Alabama is one of only five U.S. states that allows defendants in civil cases to assert the affirmative defense of contributory negligence. If a victim’s negligence directly contributes to their injury, they can’t recover any damages due to contributory negligence. This is true even in cases where a bus driver or bus company is 99 percent at fault and the victim is only 1 percent at fault. You will want to contact Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP before talking to any insurance company agents in order to avoid saying anything that might be construed as contributory negligence.
Even if you don’t feel hurt, you should still go to a hospital. You will want to have a medical professional evaluate your condition in case you suffered an injury with more delayed symptoms. Additionally, the creation of a medical record immediately after a bus crash avoids any issues with insurers related to delayed treatment. If possible, you should try to take pictures of your accident scene. Get as many photographs as possible, from varying angles and distances. Also, collect contact information from all of the potential witnesses at the scene. Writing down everything you remember about your accident is beneficial, as memories of crashes can quickly fade. Finally, you should avoid speaking to any insurance company until you have legal counsel. Make sure you contact Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP.
A lawsuit filed against a municipality or a county is subject to a different statute of limitations and different damage limits. Alabama Code § 11-47-23 states that any tort claims against a municipality must be presented to the clerk within 6 months and claims against counties must be presented within 12 months under Alabama Code § 11-12-8. Under Alabama Code § 11-47-190 and Alabama Code § 11-93-2, damages against a municipality or a county, respectively, cannot exceed $100,000 for bodily injury or death to one person and $300,000 in the aggregate when more than two persons have claims or judgments.
Bus Accidents Statistics
According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, more than 350,000 students ride Alabama school buses to and from school every day. This translates to more than 450,000 miles traveled daily by school buses statewide. In one recent year, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported 565 school bus accidents throughout the state, one of which resulted in a fatality.
Per a recent report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:
- In 2020, there were 155 fatal crashes nationwide involving buses, a 34 percent decrease from the 234 bus crashes in 2019. This was the lowest number on record since 1975.
- In 2020, 156 buses were involved in fatal crashes, down from 235 in 2019.
- There were 16 bus occupant fatalities in 2020, down from 35 in 2019.
- Also in 2020, 176 total fatalities resulted from bus crashes, down from 261 in 2019.
- From 2010 to 2020, intercity buses accounted for 11 percent of buses involved in fatal crashes. School buses accounted for 38 percent, and transit buses accounted for 35 percent.
- In 2020, 46 school buses, nine intercity buses, and 86 transit buses were involved in fatal wrecks.
- Also that year, there were 7,000 injury crashes involving buses, down from 13,000 in 2019.
- Also in 2020, 14,000 persons were injured in bus crashes, down from 25,000 in 2019.
Contact a Bus Accidents Lawyer In Birmingham Today
The bus accident lawyers in Birmingham of Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP have been loyally serving clients in communities all over Alabama for over 20 years. We understand the confusion that many victims feel after bus accidents and work to provide real solutions so you can move on with your life.
Did you sustain serious injuries or was your loved one killed in a bus crash in Jefferson County? Contact our team at (205) 324-1212 to have someone from Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, your local Birmingham personal injury law firm provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free consultation.
