Public bus transportation is a must-have for many people in Memphis, whether they’re getting around town or traveling from Bluff City to another American destination.
You might ride the MATA, catch a Greyhound, put your kids on a school bus, celebrate on a party bus, or take another bus in and around the Memphis area. Bus transportation is one of the safest forms of transit. However, bus accidents happen, and buses in Memphis are no exception.
These accidents can cause small, treatable injuries, long-term medical conditions, and everything in between. Having a Memphis bus accident lawyer from Cory Watson Lawyers on your side can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and get compensation for your damages.
A Bus Accident Lawyer Can Take on Your Case
Our Memphis bus accident attorneys are well-versed in personal injury law, so they’re able to gather evidence from your accident, identify who is responsible for your pain and suffering, and represent you in settlement negotiations and court. The litigation process for personal injury cases can take a lot of time, energy, and expertise in Tennessee law, but a bus accident injury lawyer can help you navigate the system and take the pressure off you and your family during recovery.
While you can negotiate with insurance companies and bussing organization lawyers yourself, your energy may be better focused on healing. At Cory Watson Attorneys, our bus accident lawyers have years of experience advocating for victims’ rights. Our team can use their knowledge of Memphis roadways, bussing organizations, and insurance companies to build a case against the responsible parties and fight for you inside and outside court.
The statute of limitations, per Tennessee Code §28-3-104, requires you to file a personal injury claim within one (1) year of the accident. It’s critical to act fast to avoid missing out on getting the compensation you deserve.
Recovering Compensation After a Bus Accident
Every case is different, and so are the amounts of compensation one can receive from winning a settlement or verdict. Many factors can help determine how much your case is worth, including:
- The number of liable parties in your accident and who those parties are
- The events of the accident
- The severity of your or your loved one’s injuries
- Wrongful death, if you lost a loved one in the accident
- The likelihood of long-term or lifelong damage to your mental, physical, and financial well-being
- The cost of future medical care, psychiatric treatment, lost wages and/or the ability to work, etc
When you meet with our team, we will discuss these and other factors with you to calculate potential settlement amounts for your case.
Types of Bus Accident Injuries
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the number of bus accidents is far less than the number of car and truck accidents. Still, bus accidents can cause severe injuries to bus drivers and passengers, pedestrians, and drivers and passengers in other vehicles involved in an accident.
Unlike cars and trucks, many buses—including school buses—don’t have seatbelts, and some require passengers to stand while riding. This lack of safety features for individual riders can lead to devastating injuries during an accident. Drivers and passengers of other vehicles involved in a bus accident can also sustain these injuries.
Lastly, pedestrians, bikers, skateboarders, and others on crosswalks or in bike lanes can suffer some of the worst injuries in a bus accident. Some of the most common injuries sustained after a bus accident include:
- Concussions
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Bruising
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
In the worst cases, anyone involved in a bus accident can suffer fatal injuries.
Types of Damages
You can seek compensation to cover a variety of personal and financial hardships your bus accident directly or indirectly caused, as well as the injuries you sustained. Some examples include:
- Medical bills, including initial hospital stays or ER visits after the accident, treatment for injuries, ambulance rides, etc.
- Future medical treatment, including physical and psychiatric treatment for long-term or lifelong conditions, such as physical therapy, psychotherapy, surgeries, medication, etc.
- Lost wages, including time off while recovering from your accident as well as future lost wages should you not be able to work due to short- or long-term disability
- Lost spousal support, if you lose a spouse in a bus accident and no longer have their income to support your family
- Pain and suffering, including mental and emotional anguish, PTSD, etc.
- Loss of enjoyment of life, including not being able to do the same activities, work, and hobbies that you used to and other significant negative changes to your life
Who’s At Fault for Your Bus Accident?
Bus accidents are primarily caused by someone’s negligence, which means someone acted in a way that led to or caused the accident or failed to act in a way that could have prevented it. Negligence in bus accidents can come in many forms, and some of the most common causes of bus accidents in Memphis are:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Drunk driving or otherwise driving under the influence
- Aggressive or dangerous driving
- Disregarding traffic signs and laws
- Malfunctioning equipment and automotive parts
- Lack of maintenance
Some of these forms of negligence may be perpetrated by different parties. For example, both bus operators and other drivers may be driving fatigued, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or making dangerous maneuvers that lead to an accident. However, malfunctioning equipment and maintenance issues may not be the fault of either driver.
Potentially Liable Parties
A bus accident lawyer can use evidence to determine which of the following parties are responsible for the bus accident:
- A bus driver who is operating the bus negligently
- A private bussing operations company or municipal transport organization for:
- Lack of vehicle maintenance (if they have their own maintenance staff)
- Negligent hiring
- Lack of training
- Long schedules for drivers that could lead to fatigued driving
- A third-party maintenance company
- A negligent driver in another vehicle
Comparative Fault
According to Tennessee Code §20-1-119, multiple parties could be at fault for an accident, including bus accidents. For instance, the bussing company could be considered negligent for forcing a driver to work a long shift that led to fatigued driving, while another driver could be at fault for aggressive driving maneuvers.
Even if you are found partially at fault for the accident per Tennessee’s comparative fault statute, you can still seek compensation against other liable parties. You may just receive less compensation based on your level of comparative fault.
Trust the Bus Accident Lawyers at Cory Watson Attorneys
No matter the incidents that led to your bus accident or the severity of the results, you can get the legal counsel you deserve with Cory Watson Attorneys. We have nearly 40 years of experience pursuing bus accident cases in Memphis and around the country.
You can contact us for a 100% free, no-obligation case evaluation today by calling or by filling out the consultation form online.
Memphis Office Location
254 Court Avenue, Suite 511Memphis, TN 38103