Boston Bus Accident Lawyers

Boston Bus Accident Attorneys

Colliding with a bus can be a traumatic experience. If you have been injured in a bus accident recently, contact a Boston bus accident attorney today at Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers.

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According to recent stats from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 14,794 bus accidents nationwide in 2023. Almost half of bus accident cases involve serious physical injuries. It is not difficult to imagine such accidents in Massachusetts, too, especially in Boston, as the MBTA estimates the average weekday passenger volume to be greater than a million individuals.

An unfortunate result of the increased demand for public transportation is the increased risk of injury. Hundreds of individuals riding public transportation are injured in Massachusetts each year. If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a bus accident, call our legal team today.

Our personal injury lawyers are experienced in Massachusetts law intricacies and can get you or your loved ones the settlement or court verdict they deserve. We will not allow insurance companies to take advantage of your situation. Starting with the first interaction with your case, we’ll demand they treat your Boston bus accident claim appropriately.

Bus Accident Statistics in Boston, MA

Boston bus accidents may not be as common and severe as the incidents in larger cities like New York. Yet, recent FMCSA reports show that there were 380 bus accidents in Massachusetts in 2023, out of which, 162 resulted in varying-degree injuries, and four were fatal.

Many bus accidents happen within 300 feet of a bus stop, meaning that pedestrians, cyclists, and people who do not drive a motor vehicle are the most likely victims. However, there are other potential casualties as well.

Considering these unfavorable numbers, the state government issued additional federal funding to enhance Boston area safety. The Highway Safety Improvement Program was signed to fund 90% of the related expenses.

On top of that, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority implemented additional road safety requirements for larger vehicles, such as buses. According to those, all large vehicles have to pass a vulnerable road user no closer than four feet and feature all protective devices that can prevent an incident.

Despite these innovations, regulations, and precautions, many bus accident cases happen due to speeding, reckless driving, and drunk driving. In a variety of these incidents, the responsible parties try to escape a just settlement. A dedicated Boston bus accident lawyer will help you defend your rights and ensure fair compensation.

What Should I Do After a Bus Accident?

After the accident occurred, you should try to remain calm. If you have sustained bus accident injuries, our team of lawyers suggests you do the following:

1. Seek help: The first thing to do is to ensure that everyone gets immediate assistance. Call 911 to report the incident and have all the emergency services on the scene as quickly as possible.
2. Get medical treatment: No matter the seriousness of your injuries, you should allow the medical professional to take a look at you. Some internal injuries, head traumas, and other conditions don’t have immediate signs but can cause serious harm if left untreated.
3. Gather evidence: To get a favorable settlement in a bus accident injury claim, you need enough proof to support it. Gather as much information on the incident as you can. Speak to witnesses or other victims, record their statements, and get photo/video proof of the accident. These critical details will help a Boston bus accident lawyer build a solid case.
4. Get legal assistance: Most bus accident claims are anything but straightforward. The chances are that you will face rejection from multiple parties, including but not limited to an insurance company, bus operator, or bus manufacturer. Contact your lawyer to settle the case favorably.

Common Bus Accident Injuries in Boston

Because buses are large, they carry a tremendous amount of force when they hit another vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian. As a result, the parties injured in a bus accident can very often suffer catastrophic injuries. Common traumas include:

1. Traumatic brain injury
2. Broken or fractured bones
3. Concussions
4. Paralysis
5. Death
6. Soft tissue injuries
7. Knee or shoulder injuries
8. Spinal cord injuries
9. Burn injuries

Buses make up a specific class of vehicles in Massachusetts. Most frequently, these vehicles in and around Boston and Massachusetts are classified as “common carriers.” This classification imposes a heightened duty of care on the bus drivers. Generally, common carriers owe this heightened duty to those individuals riding on the bus, other vehicles on the road, and the general public.

Who Will Pay My Medical Bills After a Bus Accident?

The medical costs associated with a serious injury can be exorbitant. Our Massachusetts bus accident lawyers will begin working immediately to ensure your medical expenses are covered. In addition, we will not rest until we have secured you maximum compensation for your lost wages and lost future earning capacity, replacement services, and pain and suffering.

If you have been the victim of a serious accident, you will need a Boston bus accident attorney who is familiar with these cases. Our legal team possesses unparalleled knowledge and experience in the field. We will help you through this challenging experience, ensuring that you receive the settlement you are due.

Types of Damages Bus Accident Victims Can Claim

When you seek compensation after an incident, you should understand that the amount of damages you can recover depends on a variety of factors. These include but are not limited to the severity of your bus accident injuries, incident circumstances, and overall impact on your life.

1. Medical costs: Severe injuries may require immediate treatment and even complex surgeries. All the medical bills, past and future, should be settled by the at-fault party.
2. Lost income: Often, bus accidents force you to take some time off work. Some severe traumas even have a long-term impact on your earning capability. On top of the lost income, an experienced Boston bus accident lawyer can help you compensate for future lost wages that are a direct result of the accident.
3. Pain and suffering: Economic damages aren’t the only compensation injured victims can seek. You are due a fair settlement for the pain you’ve suffered, emotional distress, and other inconveniences.
4. Property damage: Personal belongings, such as valuable digital devices — smartphones, laptops, etc. — damaged in an accident can and should be compensated. In case your car was involved in a bus accident, the responsible party will have to cover partial/full repairs or replacement of the property.
5. Wrongful death: The most tragic accidents usually force the family members to initiate a wrongful death case. Such bus accident claims result in corresponding reimbursement of funeral expenses, loss of financial support, or loss of a loved one.

How Much Can a Boston Bus Accident Case Be Worth?

Each bus accident claim is different, and it takes a trained legal expert to assess your bus accident claim fully. When calculating a fair settlement, an experienced bus accident lawyer will combine all medical treatment costs, potential rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and compromised earning capacity, along with the mental and emotional effects of the incident.

However, there are a few more factors that will impact the sum of the maximum settlement that you claim for:

• Shared liability: In some cases, there is more than one party to blame. If other drivers are partially responsible for the accident, the compensation amount will be divided between all the guilty parties involved.
• Insurance coverage: Each bus company or other liable entity has a set coverage that is paid to the injured if there’s an incident. It takes proper policy evaluation to determine the precise sum of the settlement, and a skilled bus accident lawyer can assist you in deciphering those limits.
• Jurisdiction: Different jurisdictions have varying laws and regulations that will affect the compensation available. Legal representatives can help you navigate those effectively as well.

How to Prove Negligence After a Bus Accident in Massachusetts?

To succeed with your case, you must prove that the other party is at fault. Although a negligent bus driver is one of the leading causes of bus accident injuries, there may be other liable parties to initiate a claim against:

1. Government transportation authorities
2. Maintenance companies
3. Vehicle manufacturer
4. Reckless drivers
5. Private companies
6. Pedestrians
7. Cyclists.

In case the bus driver is the sole party at fault, the company will have to compensate for the damage. Private companies abide by their insurance policy laws, but most city buses in Boston are subject to city government, and the city will have to compensate for your injury.

There are a few steps to take to support and consequently win the claim:

• You have to prove that the at-fault party is subject to the legal duty to drive safely — the duty of care. In the case of bus drivers, they owe their duties to their passengers in the first place, but also to other parties on the road.
• You need proof that a bus operator breached the duty by speeding, running at the red lights, etc.
• You should present evidence of actual damage — financial or non-financial losses.

Massachusetts Statute of Limitation for Bus Accidents

After a bus accident, you have a limited time to file a personal injury compensation claim. In general, the state law gives you three years to issue a claim.

However, this period applies to cases involving private companies or at-fault drivers. If you’ve been involved in an accident where the city bears full incident responsibility, you have even less time to act — only two years since the date of the accident.

At first, even two years seems like a fair deadline, but professional Massachusetts bus accident lawyers know that critical evidence may be lost if you postpone the claim for too long. If the submission deadline is missed, you will be refused any compensation, not to mention a maximum of one.

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Causes of Bus Accidents

The Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers team conducts all-encompassing accident scene investigations and will get to the bottom of who is liable for your injuries. In the event the operator of a commercial bus was at fault, there is likely a large insurance policy responsible for paying those who were injured.

Although a plethora of reasons can cause bus accidents, they occur most frequently as a result of:

How Our Bus Accident Lawyers Can Help

Dealing with the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of a bus accident in Boston on your own may be incredibly challenging. We offer legal services that minimize client involvement and optimize settlement negotiations. Here’s how our team can assist:

• Unparalleled legal expertise and experience

  Our attorneys possess an in-depth understanding of the legal process with all its ins and outs. We have a proven successful case record that speaks of dedication and skill.

• Thorough investigation

  Your injury claim is as good as the evidence that proves its seriousness. Our personal injury lawyers will investigate the case thoroughly, gathering undeniable evidence to make sure that you receive maximum reimbursement for your suffering.

• Claim evaluation

  We offer a free case evaluation to determine its worth and whether it is wise to pursue it. Besides, our team will calculate all past and future expenses to ensure the fairest settlement based on the damage you suffered.

• Determining negligence

  Bus accidents are intricate in terms of liability. Finding a responsible party will solidify your claim with consequent compensation.

• Attorney-client relationship

  We practice a compassionate legal advice approach, ensuring that no client is intimidated by the complexities of the case and the overall intricacy of the legal system.

Contact Our Boston Bus Accident Attorneys

Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers not only deals with bus accidents in Boston but also all over Massachusetts. We represent clients from Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, Mattapan, Lowell, Salem, Brockton, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Brookline, Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Chelsea, Everett, and many other locations.

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a bus accident, contact our Boston bus accident lawyers to schedule a consultation. We would be happy to travel to a place convenient for you to perform this service, and we regularly conduct off-site consultations in homes, apartments, coffee shops, or restaurants to make our clients’ lives a bit easier.

Maybe you need a trucking accident lawyer or any other legal representative? Call us today at (617) 444-4444 or fill out the free consultation form, and together, we’ll hold negligent parties accountable!

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