When you hop on a bus, you probably don’t expect to get into an accident. After all, bus drivers must undergo rigorous training before they obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Unfortunately, bus accidents are still far too common across New York – including right here on Long Island.
Whether you are hopping on a Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE), Suffolk County Transit, or MTA bus, there is a risk of being in a bus accident – and suffering serious injuries as a result. If the bus company, the bus driver, or another party was responsible for the crash, then you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against them. Through this type of claim, you can recover financial compensation for your full scope of losses, including lost wages, pain and suffering, medical bills, and more.
At The Odierno Law Firm, we are fierce advocates for victims of all types of accidents – including bus crashes. We offer free initial consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a Long Island bus accident attorney, reach out to our law offices today.
Dedicated Bus Accident Team on Long Island
Were you injured in a bus accident? While buses are much larger than standard passenger vehicles, there is still a high risk of injury in a bus crash. This is often due to the fact that buses typically do not have seat belts or other safety features like airbags. In addition, the size of buses makes them more likely to roll over compared to many other types of vehicles.
Sadly, this means that the victims of a bus accident often suffer severe injuries such as:
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Cuts and bruises
- Brain trauma
- Internal organ damage
In some cases, bus accident injuries are so severe that victims are left with long-term disabilities. Some bus accident injuries are even fatal.
At The Odierno Law Firm, our attorneys are highly experienced litigators. We will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident to determine who was at fault for your bus accident injuries. Our bus accident lawyers will then work hard to help you achieve justice for your losses.
As personal injury lawyers, we know that a debilitating accident can have long-term health implications that will require ongoing medical treatment and care. Our firm feels very strongly that you should receive compensation for any injury-related expenses and losses that you suffered because of someone else’s negligence.Â
In cases of wrongful death, we can help the victim’s family seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, and medical bills. We are passionate about the work we do on behalf of our clients and will take whatever legal actions are necessary to help you recover monetary damages for your injuries.
When Can You Sue for a Long Island Bus Accident?
Whenever a person is injured in a motor vehicle accident, they may be able to file a claim against the at-fault party. These cases are often based on a theory of negligence, or carelessness. In legal terms, a person or entity is negligent when they fail to use the level of care that a reasonable person would use in a similar situation.
Both private and public bus companies have a legal responsibility to ensure their passengers’ safety. When a bus company’s negligence results in an accident, it can result in severe and even deadly injuries. If you can demonstrate that a bus company, driver, or other person was negligent, then you may be able to file a lawsuit against them.
There are many reasons why bus accidents occur, including acts of negligence such as:
- A poorly trained bus driver
- A driver that didn’t follow highway traffic and safety laws
- Inattentive driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Inadequate or improper vehicle maintenance
- Dangerous or defective parts or products (such as faulty brakes).
Consider a situation where a bus crashes after one of its tires has a blowout while traveling on a highway. If the bus company knew that the tires were old and didn’t replace them because they wanted to cut costs, they could be held liable for the crash. If the tires were defective, then the manufacturer of the tires could be sued in a product liability claim.
Many bus accidents are the result of the bus company or driver’s negligence, but they can also be caused by the negligence of another motor vehicle, a manufactured part that was installed on the bus, or a poorly maintained road. In some cases – such as driving under the influence – the case will be based on a theory of intentional or reckless conduct.
If you were injured in a bus accident, a Long Island injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and options for pursuing a claim. They will give you a ballpark estimate of the value of your case, and advise you on who may be liable for your injuries.Â
Most insurance carriers will do everything they can to stall payment on a claim and will even go so far as to deny the merits of a valid case. Fortunately, you don’t have to take on the insurance company alone. With the help of a knowledgeable compensation attorney, it will be much easier to overcome administrative hurdles and achieve a just settlement.
A lawyer will handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf, protecting your interests and allowing you to focus on what is truly important: getting better. They will also perform a full investigation to determine who was at fault for the accident, and then work to hold those parties liable based on the facts of the case and New York law.Â
Your bus accident attorney will never accept a lowball settlement offer from the insurance company. Instead, they will fight to get you max compensation for your injuries. In most cases, a bus accident claim can be resolved via settlement. If necessary, the seasoned trial attorneys of The Odierno Law Firm are well-equipped to take your case to trial to get you the money that you deserve for your injuries.
Compensation in a Bus Accident Case
In a bus accident case, you may be able to recover three types of damages:Â economic, non-economic, and punitive. Economic and non-economic damages compensate accident victims for their losses. Punitive damages are awarded in cases where the at-fault party acted intentionally or recklessly.
Economic damages include money for direct financial losses. They are usually easy to prove with medical invoices, pay stubs, and other documentation. Examples of economic damages include:
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Medical equipment
- Future medical treatmentÂ
- Necessary modifications to your home and vehicle in cases involving permanent disability
By comparison, non-economic damages cover intangible losses. These damages can be harder to prove because you won’t get a bill for something like emotional distress. An experienced Long Island bus accident lawyer will work with experts and use their own knowledge of similar cases to put together a claim for losses such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive damages may be available in cases where the bus company, driver, or other party acted intentionally or wrongfully, such as in a drunk driving accident. They are not awarded in cases involving negligence. The goal of punitive damages is to punish a wrongdoer and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct.
If a loved one dies as a result of a bus accident, then the personal representative of their estate can file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf. Through this type of claim, the deceased person’s heirs may recover money for funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses related to the accident, and any pain and suffering that their loved one experienced prior to their death. Other damages in a wrongful death case may include:
- Any financial support that the deceased person would have provided;
- The value of support and services that the deceased person would have contributed;
- The value of parental nurturing, care, and support; and
- Lost inheritance
An experienced Long Island bus accident attorney can help you understand the value of your claim. They can also explain the personal injury lawsuit process, including the potential for a settlement versus the likelihood of going to trial.
How a Long Island Bus Accident Lawyer Can Help
Bus accidents can lead to devastating, life-changing injuries. If you have been hurt in a crash on a NICE bus or any other bus system, our law firm can help. We will fight for your right to full compensation.
Based in Melville, The Odierno Law Firm represents accident victims throughout Long Island. We offer free initial consultations and handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a New York bus accident attorney, give us a call at 631-973-6221 or fill out our online contact form.
Dedicated To You
We are committed to getting you the compensation you deserve for the injuries you have sustained. We are determined to fight for you. We have a no recovery, no fee policy, so you don’t pay unless we win.
Why Us?
You Will Not Pay Us Unless We Win Your Case- Our Firm is Backed By Trial Success & Client Satisfaction
- We Will Review Your Personal Injury Claim For Free
- We Have Over 150 Years of Combined Legal Experience
You Will Not Pay Us Unless We Win Your Case