Experiencing a bus accident can be a nightmare for everyone involved, including passengers, the bus driver, and others on the road. In addition to the physical injuries that commonly result from motor vehicle crashes that include a bus, psychological effects of the accident itself can also cause significant trauma. 

If you have been involved in a Philadelphia bus accident, it is important to understand the effects of traumatic stress and how to cope with them. Speaking with an experienced attorney can be a good place to start. A bus accident lawyer can answer your questions and help you understand how to proceed after a traumatic experience.

Many people who have been involved in bus accidents or witnessed them are unsure whether they have a viable legal claim. The fact is, however, that you likely have a case if you suffered injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence and can file a lawsuit against the negligent party, whether it was a driver or the company that owned and operated the bus. 

One of the most common questions that bus crash victims ask in the wake of a serious accident is: How can I find a qualified personal injury lawyer near me? To find the right attorney for your case, there are a number of steps you can take.  

1. Ask friends, family, and co-workers for recommendations: After a bus accident, it is common for victims to ask their friends, family members, and co-workers for potential legal referrals. If you happen to have a friend or family member who has been through a bus accident before, they may be able to recommend an attorney who handled their case successfully. 
2. Contact your state’s bar association or legal referral service: Each state has a bar association that is designed to protect the public from disreputable lawyers and provide valuable resources to consumers who are seeking legal referrals. You can contact these organizations directly, or they may be able to provide you with information on legal referral services in your area. 
3. Research online directories for law firms that focus on bus accident cases: There are a number of online directories out there that provide comprehensive listings for attorneys who focus their practices on different kinds of law. Using sites like these, you can find attorneys near you who handle cases similar to yours, allowing you to take the first step toward finding the right legal representation for your case.
4. Use online search engines: Searching Google for “personal injury attorneys near me” may lead you to a wealth of information that you never knew existed. There are countless lawyers listed on this search engine, and some may even advertise themselves as legal resources for bus accident victims. Although you should never choose an attorney for your case exclusively based on an ad, if you have been seriously injured in a crash, this is one of the most commonly used tools that can help you find a qualified bus accident attorney.

Once you have conducted any number of these steps, you are likely to have a list of qualified personal injury attorneys in your area who are ready and willing to help you with your case.

Top Causes of Bus Accidents in Philadelphia

Bus accidents are often severe, especially when the bus is carrying a full load of passengers. Because most buses lack seatbelts, the potential exists for victims to be ejected from the vehicle, which often results in serious injuries or death. 

Some of the most common causes of bus accidents in PA include:

• Driver fatigue
• Speeding and or aggressive driving maneuvers
• Defective equipment on the bus, such as faulty brakes or headlights
• Distracted driving, such as by a driver who is eating or using their cell phone
• Poor weather conditions 

Many people who have been involved in bus accidents or witnessed them are unsure whether they have a viable legal claim. The fact is, however, that you likely have a case if you suffered injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence and can file a lawsuit against the negligent party, whether it was a driver or the company that owned and operated the bus.

If you were injured in an accident with a public bus, such as one used by your city to transport people to work or school, you may need to file a claim with your city. If the bus company that owned the vehicle is private, however, then you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them. 

School Bus Accidents

When a motor vehicle accident involves a school bus, the school district may also be liable for the crash. The school district could be held liable under the same principles that would make any other negligent party liable for damages.

One essential issue to establish liability and demonstrate that the school district may have been at fault in a school bus accident is whether the driver of the vehicle was an employee of the school district. A skilled lawyer can provide further guidance on this point. However, when a person is hired as a driver of a school bus, they are typically not classified as an employee under the law. This distinction can become important in school accident cases, because it can affect who may be held liable for any injuries resulting from the accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus crash, call a bus accident lawyer as soon as you can to pursue the compensation you deserve.