Indiana Bus Accident Attorneys

The size of buses often means when they are involved in a crash, these commercial vehicles inflict more damage and injuries than standard cars, pickup trucks, or SUVs. If you are involved in a crash where a bus hit your vehicle or if you were injured as the passenger on a bus involved in a crash, then you should know you might be entitled to compensation. The truck accident attorneys at Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers want you to know that as the medical costs pile up, you don’t have to drown in financial debt or endure the situation alone.

Our experienced Indiana bus accident attorneys at Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers will competently fight for you to receive maximum possible compensation to cover your costs and losses. Do not wait any longer to get the help you need. Get started today by calling us at (219) 286-7361 or responding in our online chat to request a free consultation. We will discuss the specifics of your case, answer any case-specific questions you have, and advise on the  best next steps in your case during your consultation.

Why Do You Need a Lawyer?

Buses are no different than any commercial vehicle. This means it is a more complicated legal process to gain compensation. They often have large insurance companies behind them trying to convince victims to accept a low settlement. These low amounts usually will not even come close to covering all the medical bills that come after the injury. Indiana bus accident lawyers understand all the complexities of these cases and know the best tactics to win a favorable verdict or settlement for their clients.

Why Choose Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers?

At Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers, we understand that people injured in bus accidents are going through difficult times and have extraneous financial burdens. Our major goal is to alleviate that situation and fight for rightful compensation for our clients. We have the legal experience and knowledge to help our clients recover what is owed to them after a truck accident. Our commitment to our clients is to be with them every step of the way from the free consultation where we answer any questions they have to the end of the case.

What is Categorized as a Bus?

Buses are vehicles meant to transport multiple people, but not rideshare, to a specific destination. There are several different types of buses, but most will fit within the four categories listed below.

• School – these are your typical public K-12 school buses as well as buses owned by colleges or private schools.
• Transit – these are the buses that typically provide fixed, scheduled routes around a city or county.
• Intercity – these buses also provide transportation on fixed, scheduled routes but travel between multiple cities. They often cross state lines.
• Charter or Tour – these buses are owned by private bus companies and provide transportation to groups for an outing or event.

Certain types of buses will not fit into these categories, including church buses, correctional facility buses, or non-profit organization buses.

The reason the category of the bus is so important in a truck accident case is that it directly impacts the tactics used to fight the case. It also plays a pivotal role in determining liability in the crash.

For instance, Indiana State Police requires an annual inspection of school buses. They require a semi-annual inspection for buses that are twelve years or older. If a tire blows out or the engine fails, then it could be due to a company’s failure to have the bus inspected on the required schedule. This scenario would drastically change the tactics for the case and who would be at fault.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

A bus accident can occur due to numerous factors. Below are the most common causes of bus accidents.

• Inadequately maintained equipment
• Drowsy driving
• Failure to stop for traffic lights or signals
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Employer failed to complete appropriate background checks for the bus driver
• Faulty equipment
• Driving under the influence

Determining Fault in a Bus Crash

A lawyer is extremely helpful when it comes to determining fault in a bus accident. In some cases, there might be multiple parties to blame. One reason it is imperative to hire a lawyer after a bus crash is that they understand the intricacies of how to successfully determine fault in these types of crashes. They will complete an extensive investigation to get to the root cause of the crash.

If the school or city bus driver crashed due to speeding or reckless driving, then it might be that the company the driver works for did not conduct a thorough background check prior to hiring him or her. This could potentially blame not just the driver but the bus company as well.

However, if an intercity bus driver fell asleep behind the wheel, it could be due to the fact they were lying about or not accurately completing their required hours of service (HOS) required paperwork. The HOS is required by the federal government for bus drivers who cross state lines. It ensures they are not driving too many hours and are not fatigued behind the wheel.

Yet another scenario is if the brakes fail on a bus, then the manufacturer could potentially be at fault for selling or installing defective equipment.

All these sample scenarios demonstrate some of the numerous complexities involved in determining fault in a bus crash. An experienced Indiana bus crash lawyer will know how to find who is responsible in a case and hold the reckless party accountable for their poor choices.

Bus Accident Statistics

The weight of buses tends to be a huge factor in the destruction they cause. On average, a loaded school bus weighs 17 tons, and a loaded charter bus weighs 20 tons. To put that weight in perspective, the average car only weighs 1.5 tons.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration studied buses involved in fatal accidents over a seven-year span. They found on average, 63,000 buses were involved in a wreck every year. Of those crashes, 325 reported a fatal injury, and 14,000 reported a non-fatal injury. Additionally, in the fatal crashes, 38.1% involved school buses, and 32.5% involved transit buses.

Frequently Asked Bus Collision Questions

After being involved in a bus collision, you likely have several questions and are wondering what to do next. Below are some of the frequently asked questions we hear from people who were just involved in a bus accident. Do not worry if you do not see your question below. Simply call us at (219) 286-7361, and we will answer all your case-specific questions in a free, no-obligation consultation.

How much will a bus accident attorney cost?

At Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers, we completely understand the financial strain our clients are enduring. That is why we operate on a contingency fee. Simply put, we do not collect anything until or unless we win a favorable settlement or verdict on your behalf. We also offer free consultations where we will listen to your account of the incident and discuss your next strategies. Therefore, there are no upfront costs or fees to you.

Will the compensation cover all my medical costs?

If we win compensation in your case, then we will always fight for the maximum possible compensation to cover all your medical costs.

Here are some of the potential medical costs you could receive compensation for:

• Office visits and copays
• Diagnostic tests – i.e., x-ray or CT scan
• Surgery
• Ambulance ride
• Physical therapy
• Counseling

You might also be eligible to receive compensation to cover automotive repair or replacement, lost wages, and legal fees.

When should I hire an attorney?

Immediately after the accident. You do not want to allow too much time to pass, as this will leave room for evidence to be lost, destroyed, or forgotten. Hiring one of our experienced attorneys as soon after your accident as possible allows us to perform our own extensive investigation to clearly determine fault in the crash. This is a crucial component in the case and plays a key role in earning a favorable verdict or settlement for you.

What will I need to bring when I meet with my attorney?

It is important to bring several items with you when you initially meet with your bus accident lawyer. Below are a few items you’ll need at that first meeting:

• Any evidence collected at the accident scene – photos, witness statements, etc.
• Insurance information
• Medical bills
• Vehicular repair estimates and bills or replacement bills
• Police report – you should have received the initial report with your crash report number at the accident from the responding officer

Request a Free Consultation with an Indiana Bus Accident Attorney Today

If you were involved in a bus accident, then do not wait any longer to get the help you need. At Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers, our experienced Indiana bus accident legal team wants to take the burden off your shoulders. We will handle all the legal aspects and fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing. Request your free consultation today by calling us at (219) 286-7361, responding in our online chat box, or completing our easy contact form.