Bus crashes in O’Fallon, Missouri, can be some of the most terrifying vehicle crashes, and for good reason. These large commercial vehicles often carry many passengers at once, easily tip over, and can cause serious damage to smaller cars when they collide.
Bus accidents can also lead to complicated legal cases, as multiple parties and legal principles might be involved. The parties might be corporations, government agencies, and others with legal teams and corporate insurers ready to defend accident claims.
This can put injured victims in an even more challenging situation when it comes time to seek compensation for their losses.
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Injured in an accident involving a public transit bus or school bus in O’Fallon, MO? For immediate legal assistance from an experienced O’Fallon bus accident lawyer call (636) 238-5934.
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Proper financial relief is critical when you need to pick up the pieces after a traumatic accident and serious injury that was not your fault. The good news is that our skilled legal team at Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers are ready and able to help.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can advocate for your rights. We tackle the toughest auto accident cases, including those involving complex bus crashes. Call today to get started with your free case evaluation.
Types of Bus Accidents and Their Causes
Like any traffic collision, bus accidents can happen in many ways and involve many types of vehicles. Some buses commonly involved in crashes include:
- Public transit buses: Public transit buses are common transportation for commuters in O’Fallon. Accident cases can become particularly complicated when Metro Transit is involved, often with shorter time frames.
- School buses: School buses are generally considered a safe way for children to get to and from school, but accidents and injuries certainly happen. In the event of a school bus accident, liability might involve school districts, bus drivers, maintenance providers, and more.
- Charter buses: Charter buses are common transportation for group outings, including team sports, and long-distance travel. Accidents involving charter buses can result from driver fatigue, inadequate maintenance, or other factors that compromise passenger safety.
- Greyhound: Greyhound buses provide intercity transportation services across the country. Accidents involving Greyhound buses can lead to severe injuries and significant legal challenges for victims seeking compensation.
In addition to involving different buses, these accidents can also take many forms, each with its own legal considerations for Missouri bus accident victims. First, a bus might collide with a smaller vehicle, causing injuries to both passengers on the bus and occupants of the vehicle.
A bus might be involved in a single-vehicle crash, as a driver can lose control for many reasons without another vehicle involved. A bus might hit a curb, or a tire might blow out, causing the bus to tip over. Bus rollovers can be devastating, especially since most bus passengers have no restraints.
Single-vehicle bus crashes, where no other vehicles are involved, may raise questions about driver negligence, mechanical failures, or road conditions.
Buses might also hit people walking, on bikes, or riding motorcycles. These collisions can be especially devastating, as these victims have little to no protection from the impact of such a large, heavy bus. Often, those outside of vehicles who get hit sustain catastrophic and disabling injuries, if they survive at all.
No matter how your accident happened, it is important to have our attorneys assess your rights and who should be responsible for your losses.
Common Causes
Bus accidents can occur for many different reasons, and identifying the cause is necessary to pinpoint liability.
Distracted Bus Drivers
Distracted driving is a leading cause of bus accidents, as drivers may be distracted by their phones, passengers on the bus (especially on school buses), or other factors while operating the bus.
Another Driver was Negligent
In some cases, bus accidents are caused by the negligence of another driver on the road, such as reckless driving, speeding, or failure to yield the right of way. That driver might cut off a bus or otherwise cause a bus driver to overcorrect, swerve, or lose control, leading to a crash.
Untrained Bus Drivers
Bus companies are expected to properly train their drivers and make sure they are qualified and licensed to operate buses safely. Accidents can happen more easily when drivers lack the necessary skills and experience.
Fatigued Bus Drivers
Driver fatigue is a significant risk factor in bus accidents, as long hours on the road can lead to drowsiness and impaired decision-making behind the wheel.
Negligent Maintenance by Bus Companies
A company’s failure to inspect and maintain buses can lead to serious mechanical failures that contribute to accidents. Bus companies have a responsibility to maintain fleets, including tires, brakes, and much more.
Intoxicated Drivers
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense that can lead to catastrophic bus accidents, endangering the lives of passengers and other road users. Bus drivers might be impaired on the job or other drunk drivers might cause a collision with a bus.
Assisting Victims of Public Transit and Bus Accidents in O’Fallon, Missouri
Did you recently suffer injuries in a Metro Transit bus accident in O’Fallon? Did your child get injured on a school bus? Whether you were on the bus, in another car, walking, or cycling, you should first get the medical care and diagnosis you need for your injuries.
Then, you should never delay in contacting an O’Fallon bus accident attorney from Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers.
Bus accident claims are often quite different from car accident claims. You are usually not filing insurance claims against an individual driver’s auto insurance, as you would in a car collision. Instead, you likely have to go up against corporations or public entities, which can be much more challenging and intimidating.
Our experienced O’Fallon bus accident lawyers will meet all the requirements of claims against public transit, school districts, or other agencies or companies. We know the unique issues in these claims and will handle them just as skillfully as we would a claim against a private party. We can also manage multiple insurance claims at once, which is common in bus accident claims.
In one case we handled, a bus passed a pickup truck in which our client was riding, cutting off the truck when returning to the right lane on a two-lane road. The bus ran the truck off the road, and our client had serious back injuries.
Our investigation uncovered that the bus company allowed the driver to drive the bus without a proper license. We handled multiple insurance claims, ultimately obtaining $500,000 for our client’s injuries after one insurer initially offered nothing.
This is only one example of our case results and how we fight for maximum compensation in every case. Consult our team for free today to learn how we might assist you.
Negligence and Proving Liability in a Bus Accident Claim
Proving negligence in a bus accident claim requires demonstrating that the responsible party breached their duty of care, resulting in your accident and injuries. Negligence is a legal concept, and proving a bus driver, bus company, or another party was negligent can be more challenging than you might think.
Further, in bus accident cases, different parties can be liable or even share liability for your losses. These include:
- Bus companies
- Manufacturers of defective bus parts
- Other drivers on the road
- School districts
- Government entities and transit agencies
School bus accidents raise unique legal questions, as liability may rest with school districts, local governments, bus drivers, or third parties responsible for maintenance and safety compliance.
We approach private school bus accidents differently than public school bus accidents, and our team has the experience to handle either type of claim.
Why Bus Accident Claims Can Be Challenging
Bus accident claims in Missouri commonly present challenges because they might involve legal doctrines like respondeat superior or sovereign immunity.
Under the principle of respondeat superior, employers can be held liable for the negligent actions of their employees committed within the scope of their employment. When bus drivers are negligent and cause accidents on the job, respondeat superior attaches liability to the bus or transit company, as well.
When the bus is a public bus or a public school bus, Missouri’s sovereign immunity laws will play a role. Missouri Revised Statute 537.600 protects government entities from certain lawsuits; however, the law does allow claims arising from negligence of public employees involving work-related motor vehicles. This means a bus accident and injury can be an exception to sovereign immunity.
Though you can file a bus accident lawsuit against public agencies like Metro Transit, there are strict requirements, such as providing 90-day notice of an expected case. You should immediately seek help from our O’Fallon bus accident attorneys so we can meet all legal requirements as needed.
Missouri Transportation Company Laws
Bus companies in Missouri are subject to state regulations governing safety standards, driver qualifications, maintenance requirements, and other factors that impact passenger safety.
These additional transportation company regulations can add another legal layer to bus accident cases, as violations can play a role in proving liability.
Additionally, school buses must adhere to strict safety regulations in Missouri, including regular inspections, driver training programs, passenger restrictions, driver records, and more. Non-compliance with state laws can often lead to crashes and injuries to student passengers.
The Importance of Acting Quickly
In Missouri, the law gives bus accident victims a limited time to file an injury lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations for bus accident lawsuits is five years from the date of the injury, with certain limited exceptions.Â
As mentioned, if your claim is against a public entity, Missouri Revised Statutes §81.060 requires you to provide notice within only 90 days. Failing to take legal action within this timeframe can result in forfeiting the right to seek compensation.
Schedule a Free Consult With Our Bus Accident Law Firm in O’Fallon, Missouri
If you have been injured in a bus accident in O’Fallon, Missouri, Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers is here to help. Our team of attorneys is committed to representing bus accident victims and fighting for the compensation they deserve.
Contact us today for a free initial consultation and let us advocate for your rights.
We’ve helped victims of bus accident injuries in cities across the state of Missouri including St. Louis, Independence, Cape Girardeau, Florissant, Jefferson City, Springfield, Kansas City, MO, and more.
