West Virginia Bus Accident Lawyer
Buses provide a valuable means of transportation, especially for children who are transported to school each day by bus. Unfortunately, accidents involving buses can result in mass numbers of physical injuries, as well as substantial emotional trauma for those involved. Injured parties may include bus riders, occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a bus accident in West Virginia (WV), contact an experienced Martinsburg, West Virginia bus accident lawyer at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson for a free consultation on your legal options.
West Virginia Bus Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Bus accidents cause thousands of injuries and hundreds of fatalities across the United States each year. While major bus accidents do not occur often, they have the potential to harm dozens of passengers and others outside of the bus.
One of the reasons that bus accidents pose such a grave threat to passengers is that few buses make seatbelt use mandatory or even provide seatbelts to every passenger. For example, in 2020, the WV Board of Education opted not to require seat belts on public school buses, against the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Because buses are significantly larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, bus accidents can also cause serious injury or death to occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists involved in these crashes.
How a West Virginia Bus Accident Lawyer Shows Cause and Related Factors in a Crash
Identifying the cause—or causes—and other factors contributing to a bus accident is a critical step in building a strong West Virginia bus accident claim. Understanding and being able to demonstrate these factors through evidence and witness testimony is essential to proving what party or parties are liable for damages to those injured.
A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) study found that driver error is one of the most common causes of bus accidents. This includes situations where the bus driver was distracted, speeding, or driving aggressively. It also includes issues like vision impairment, hearing loss, and improper licensing of bus drivers, which should have prevented the driver from being put behind the wheel of a bus.
Mechanical problems with buses were also noted in the FMCSA’s report, including fires, brake failures, and problems with lights and signals. These can all be a sign of improper maintenance of the vehicle. Environmental factors like blind spots, ice, darkness, and generally poor road conditions were also noted as the cause of some crashes.
A skilled West Virginia bus accident attorney knows how to gather and review evidence to determine why and how a crash occurred. The attorney can then present this evidence to show that other parties involved in the crash were negligent or at fault and owe the injured party compensation.
Choose a Skilled, Knowledgeable Lawyer for Your West Virginia Bus Accident Claim
Because bus accidents can cause injuries to dozens of individual riders simultaneously, insurers and their attorneys often attempt to settle as many claims as possible for as little as possible. Representatives of the bus or insurance company may try to get you to sign a release of liability (essentially, a contract saying you won’t sue for damages) in exchange for a fast, low-ball settlement of your claim.
When these offers to settle come in the immediate aftermath of an accident, you may have no way to know how much your injuries will cost you, or even whether or not you’ve been hurt. Rarely is it a good idea to accept such an offer to settle without first discussing your options with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Bus accidents can occur for many reasons. Proving the causes of an accident and the victim’s entitlement to damages often requires the help of a skilled WV bus accident lawyer. Your attorney can also handle correspondence with insurers and other parties involved in the case, relieving you and your family members of that burden.
The dedicated and aggressive West Virginia bus accident attorneys at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson have spent decades fighting for the rights of accident victims in Martinsburg, throughout the Eastern Panhandle of the state, and in Hagerstown, Maryland and surrounding areas. Our understanding of the technical aspects of the causes of bus accidents, coupled with our skills as experienced litigators, make us the right choice to represent you in a West Virginia bus accident claim.
Contact a West Virginia Bus Accident Lawyer Today
For dependable, professional, and knowledgeable legal help after a bus accident, contact a West Virginia bus accident lawyer at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson for a free consultation on your case by calling 304-263-0900 or completing this online contact form. We are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.