Tacoma Bus Accident Lawyer

Many of us rely on public transportation to get to work or school every day. And the data shows that riding a bus is generally a safer bet than driving a car. But what do you do if the unthinkable happens and you’re injured in a bus accident? You should call a Tacoma bus accident lawyer for help.

It’s always free to talk with one of our lawyers. We can hear what happened to you and let you know if we can help you with a claim. Filing a claim is the action you would need to take to receive compensation. While a settlement can’t fix everything, it can help cover the medical bills and lost wages you’re facing.

We’re glad you’ve found our page today. Please, read on to learn more about what makes bus accidents unique and how we could help you.

Bus Accident Claims Can be Complex

The first thing to note is that a bus accident claim is almost always going to be more complicated than a motor vehicle accident claim.

Why? Here are a few reasons?

Serious injuries. Bus accident injuries tend to be serious, or even fatal. The higher the medical costs, the higher potential value of your claim. And the higher value of your claim, the more the insurance company is likely to fight.
Multiple at-fault parties. In a bus accident, there may be more than one at-fault party. It’s important to accurately identify who’s responsible to pursue all potential sources of funds.
At-fault party could involve government. Have you been struck by a Pierce County Transit, Sound Transit, or Tacoma Public Schools bus? If so, you might need to pursue a claim against a government agency. A claim against an agency involves specific procedures and timelines that must be followed. Your claim can be thrown out if you fail to get it right.
Multiple victims. It’s possible there are several victims all pursuing claims against the same insurance carrier.

Given the many moving parts and parties involved, we recommend that you hire an experienced personal injury attorney with your claim. A compassionate attorney can make sure that your interests are represented throughout the process.

Who is Responsible in a Bus Accident?

As we hinted in the section above, there may be more than one at-fault party in a bus accident, depending on the circumstances. The party who is at-fault is financially liable for a victim’s medical expenses, property damage, pain, and suffering.

So, who’s potentially to blame for a bus accident? It could be:

Bus driver
Bus company
Government agency
Third-party, such as a mechanic
Manufacturer
Another driver
You

If it turns out that you are partly responsible for the accident, you may still be able to receive compensation. Washington is a comparative fault state. Under this law, your settlement award will be reduced by the percentage you’re found to be at fault (RCW 4.22.005). One of our attorneys can explain how this law could apply to your case.

Common Injuries in a Bus Crash

It’s no wonder that bus accident injuries tend to be serious. Given their size, buses are prone to tipping over. Additionally, passengers typically do not have any sort of restraints or protection in a crash, such as seatbelts or airbags. It’s not uncommon for passengers to be thrown across the aisles or ejected from the vehicle altogether.

Drivers in passenger cars and pedestrians are also at a disadvantage when considering the massive size of a bus.

Have you experienced any of the following injuries?

Soft tissue injuries
Fractures
Lacerations
Traumatic brain injury
Spinal cord injury, including paralysis
Injuries to internal organs
Nerve damage
Mental distress, including anxiety and depression

A trip to the emergency room after a crash like this could easily run into the thousands of dollars. Chances are you also needed diagnostic tests, surgery, hospitalization, or physical therapy. To be sure, these types of injuries can rack up serious medical bills and debt.

Receiving Compensation for your Bus Accident

If you’ve been injured in a bus accident due to no fault of your own, you could be eligible for compensation (RCW 4.56.250). Here are some of the damages you can seek compensation for:

Medical expenses. Depending on the extent of your injuries, your medical expenses could include a range of services including emergency room care, prescription costs, physical therapy, or nursing care facility costs.
Lost wages. If your injury prevents you from returning to the same field of work, you could also seek lost future earnings.
Special services. Did you need to hire a housekeeper or landscaper while you recovered? These costs could be reimbursed in a settlement.
Pain and suffering. A settlement also can acknowledge the disruption, pain, and trauma to your life the accident has caused.
Funeral expenses. If your loved one did not survive their injuries. a settlement can help recover funeral and burial expenses. (Please see our page on wrongful death claims for more things you should know in this situation.)

One of our experienced attorneys can carefully assess the total impact of the accident to you and your family. With this knowledge in mind, we can determine if a settlement offer is fair or not.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

The job of a personal injury lawyer is to fight for fair compensation on your behalf after an accident. At Ladenburg Law, we start the process by gathering key evidence that supports your case.

Sometimes, the offer that comes in is just too low. when this happens, we have the option of filing a lawsuit and arguing your case before a jury or judge. At every step of the way, we’ll inform you of your legal rights and options.

Best of all, we only charge a fee after we’ve won you a settlement. There’s no upfront cost or retainer for our time. This is a real advantage for our clients who often come to us with severe financial difficulties due to their accident.

Reach out to a Tacoma Bus Accident Attorney Today

Are you ready to see if a Tacoma bus accident lawyer can help you? Remember – there is no cost or risk to reach out to our team. We’re always here and able to answer all the questions you have.

If you’d prefer to have one of our attorneys come to you, let us know. We are happy to visit you at your home, hospital, or other preferred location.