An experienced Allentown bus accident lawyer from Munley Law can help protect your rights after a serious crash involving any type of bus in Lehigh County.
While buses are a common part of daily life in Allentown, carrying commuters, students, and families to work, school, and other destinations, an accident can change everything in the blink of an eye. It can leave victims and their families with painful injuries, mounting medical bills, financial losses, and, worse, disabilities or death.
At Munley Law, Allentown attorneys have over 250 years of combined experience and will confidently take on insurance powerhouses, government organizations, and private companies to fight for the compensation you deserve. We have won over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts since 1959, including $32 million in a wrongful death claim. Our attorneys also have a deep knowledge of local laws, courts, and procedures that allows us to anticipate challenges, build stronger cases, and pursue results that truly reflect the full impact of your injuries.
Call us today for a free evaluation of your Allentown bus accident case.
$32 Million Wrongful Death
$26 Million Truck Accident
$20 Million Commercial Vehicle Accident
$19.8 Million Truck Accident
$17.5 Million Car Accident
$12 Million Work Injury
$11 Million Truck Accident
$9 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$7.5 Million Auto Accident
$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident
Why Choose Munley Law for Your Bus Accident Case?
We are proud to be a family law firm from northeastern Pennsylvania. For nearly 70 years, our Allentown personal injury lawyers have fought for victims and their families. We know how to take on the big insurance and transportation companies to prove liability, and we always fight
to get our clients the maximum payments for their suffering.
When you choose Munley Law for your bus accident case, you are selecting a firm with a proven record of leadership, credibility, and courtroom success. Our reputation is built on results and on the recognition we have earned from the legal community for our skill, ethics, and commitment to injured clients:
- Partners Daniel Munley and Marion Munley are members of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization that recognizes attorneys with significant experience as trial lawyers and any other litigation experience.
- All five of our partners have been named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list.
- Our firm has been honored on the Best Lawyers in America list, Super Lawyers
- All our partners have AV Preeminent Ratings from Martindale-Hubbell for ethical standards and professional ability. This is the highest rating you can receive on the platform.
- All our attorneys are members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Association for Justice.
Contact a Bus Accident Attorney at Munley Law
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What Are Your Legal Rights After a Bus Accident?
How do you know what your legal rights are after being injured? Victims are often confused about the best way forward after a crash. It’s always best to speak to an attorney as quickly as possible. If you’re unsure whether you have legal recourse, our attorneys have experience responding to these types of claims, and we can help you determine your options.
Oftentimes, a lawyer can help you prove that someone acted negligently. Negligence is a legal concept and, under Pennsylvania law, it means that someone owed you a duty to act with a certain level of care, which they failed to do, and you were injured as a result.
In Pennsylvania, a negligence claim has four elements: duty, breach, causation, and compensation.
- Duty: This means that the defendant, the person who was at fault, owed you a duty not to cause harm. Whether a duty exists is a complex question. But generally, a person owes you a duty not to cause foreseeable harm by their actions. That means you can hold a bus driver or a company responsible because they owed you a duty as a passenger, pedestrian, or someone else on the road.
- Breach: To prove breach, you must prove that the wrongdoer failed to act according to a specific standard of care. Generally, all people must act as a reasonably prudent person would in any given situation. If a bus driver crashes because they weren’t paying attention, or if the company fails to maintain their buses as they should, they will have often breached a duty.
- Causation: Causation is simple in theory, but often a complex factual and legal issue. You must prove that the breach of a duty, what the wrongdoer did, caused your trauma. This can sometimes be difficult when it comes to bodily harm. That’s where expert witnesses come in.
- Compensation: You must also prove that the breach of a duty caused you financial or emotional compensation. This is where we must prove the amount of money involved.
Why Hiring The Right Bus Accident Lawyers Is Important
The right lawyer is always going to work to make sure your rights are protected in the wake of a motor vehicle collision. No matter how big or small, auto accidents in Allentown have consequences, and there will be many parties involved. You should be able to focus on getting medical care and dealing with any damage caused by the collision. Your lawyer can focus on holding the wrongdoer accountable.
Here are just a few reasons you shouldn’t try to navigate the aftermath of a collision alone:
Bus Crashes Are Legally Complex
Bus accidents involve many parties, and often these parties react to a motor vehicle collision by trying to minimize their own financial exposure. You need a lawyer to make sure you’re not left holding the bill for the damage caused by someone else’s wrongdoing.
Passengers, the bus driver, the driver of any other vehicle involved, the operating company, policy insurers, any government agency involved in the operation of the vehicle, the company that does the maintenance, and the company that makes any parts (just to name a few) all have a vested interest in the outcome of a collision.
It’s difficult to decide which of these parties is responsible for the trauma you suffered. An experienced legal representative can help you get to the bottom of it.
Lawyers Can Help Settle Your School Bus Accident Claim Without Going to Court
Of course, attorneys are familiar with fighting cases in court. But sometimes the best option is to resolve a dispute well before a formal lawsuit. Whether you’re dealing with your own insurance company, someone else’s, or an individual involved in the crash, getting a lawyer involved early can help resolve the claim faster. Sometimes, your lawyer can do this just by being involved in negotiations. After all, the parties may be more forthcoming if they know that you are ready to take a dispute to court.
An Allentown bus crash attorney can also help by writing a formal demand letter. This is a letter explaining your claim, justifying your entitlement to compensation, and the underlying statutes. Sometimes, all it takes is someone who can speak the insurer’s language or communicate directly with the lawyers representing the person at fault. These letters can sometimes resolve cases long before a formal court hearing could.
“Since 1959, we have secured over $1 billion in
compensation for our clients.”
Daniel W. Munley
A Law Firm Can Give You a Comprehensive Case Evaluation
Because of the complexity of bus accidents, there can be a lot of groundwork to cover. A lawyer can identify and interview witnesses. Fellow passengers, other drivers, bystanders, and other witnesses can have invaluable information. An experienced bus crash attorney will find and interview the witnesses, and preserve their testimony for use in court.
Our attorneys will also gather documents and other physical evidence. These could be photographs of the vehicle, the scene of the incident, and any damage caused. In addition, we can track down surveillance videos and other camera footage of the event. This can be used both when advocating against insurers and in court. A collision may also be caused by a lack of vehicle maintenance or a malfunctioning part. Our firm has the experience and expertise to track down maintenance records and other reports necessary for these cases.
In certain cases, you might need expert witnesses. This could be a medical expert who can testify to your injuries and how they will impact your life, or someone tasked with calculating the different ways the collision has cost you money. These witnesses can make the difference between winning and losing. Our team of experienced legal professionals at Munley Law has worked with experts across Pennsylvania and the country to support our clients. We know how to do it effectively and efficiently.
An Attorney Can Represent You in Court and During Negotiations
After a bus accident, clients should never have to go up against the powerful entities (organizations, insurers, and sometimes the government) alone. Sometimes, insurers or employers will argue that you’re at fault, even when you aren’t. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book. Our personal injury lawyers can aggressively represent your interests and secure the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Our extensive experience includes handling challenging negotiations, especially in severe cases involving trauma, such as a brain injury, to protect your interests effectively. We will ensure these powerful entities don’t overpower your interests in negotiations or informal discussions.
In 2024, 203 people died in bus accidents nationwide. Our nationally recognized attorneys excel in the courtroom when litigation becomes necessary, particularly in sensitive matters like wrongful death claims. We’re ready to put them to work to secure the compensation you deserve.
How Long Does a Bus Accident Case Usually Take?
There is no definite timeline for resolving a bus accident claim. At Munley Law, we will always work to make sure your case gets resolved as quickly as possible. We know that after a collision, you may need the money owed to you to move forward. That’s why we’ll do our best to resolve your claim through early negotiations or a demand letter. Sometimes, when we present your demand up front and can explain why you’re entitled to compensation informally, we can get fast results. Then it might only take weeks or a few months.
If the matter progresses to formal court proceedings, it may take longer. Litigation speed often varies with court schedules, especially in cases involving severe injuries, though we aim to streamline the process whenever possible. But we’ll never let our opponents drag their feet. That said, litigating in court can take up to a year, possibly more.
How Much Compensation Can You Get After a Bus Accident?
How much compensation you receive can depend on many factors. During a free consultation, we can help you get a good idea of your compensation. However, the ultimate amount you can recover will depend on:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- Whether your injuries are permanent
- Whether you were forced to miss work, and for how long
- If you’ll be able to return to your job after you recover
- Whether you were in any way at fault for the incident or your trauma
- Whether any of your property was damaged or destroyed.
An experienced firm can help you recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damage is meant to compensate you for things like:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages
- Rehabilitation and recovery expenses
- Nursing care
- Property damage
Expert witnesses often play a significant role in calculating economic damages you’ve suffered, and we are skilled at utilizing their insights effectively. We do this to lessen the financial burden of a collision and to ensure you’re taken care of in the years that follow.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more intangible and can include money to compensate for:
- Pain and suffering you endured as a result of the collision
- A reduced quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Many other types of impairments a serious injury might cause
Punitive Damages
Sometimes, punitive damages are available. These damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer(s) for their actions. These damages may be difficult to obtain, but they are a powerful weapon in the right case. If you think the bus driver’s actions were intentional, or that someone was acting recklessly (meaning they knew about a risk and acted anyway), contact us immediately.
What If You Are Partially at Fault for the Bus Accident?
It’s natural to think the worst and blame yourself after a collision. You shouldn’t necessarily trust what a bus company, insurers, or other involved party tells you about what happened. If you are worried that you might have played a role in an accident or made it worse, you should call us as soon as possible.
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so you can recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault for a crash. This means that in Allentown, even if you share some of the blame for the accident, our lawyers can still help you recover some of the compensation you deserve. That being said, tell your legal representative about your concerns. It’s always best that your attorney knows all the details so they can decide on the best course of action. Nothing you tell your attorney can be used against you, so you can discuss your concerns freely with us.
Get in Touch With a Bus Accident Lawyer Now
FAQs About Bus Accidents in Allentown, PA
What Should I Do Immediately after a Bus Accident in Allentown, PA?
After a bus accident, always seek medical care right away, even if injuries seem minor. Report the crash to the police, gather witness information if possible, and avoid speaking with insurance companies before consulting a bus accident lawyer.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bus Accident in Allentown?
Liability for an Allentown bus accident may include the bus driver, bus company, a government agency, a maintenance contractor, another driver, or a parts manufacturer, depending on the facts of the case.
Are Bus Accident Cases Different from Regular Car Accident Claims?
Yes, bus accident claims differ from car accident claims. Bus accidents often involve commercial carriers or public entities, which can create additional legal rules, insurance issues, and shorter deadlines.
How Long Do I Have to File a Bus Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
In PA, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years. Claims involving government-operated buses may require much earlier notice.
Can I Recover Compensation if I Was Partially at Fault?
Yes, you can still recover compensation if you were partly at fault for a bus accident. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, allowing recovery as long as you are less than 51% at fault, though damages may be reduced.
What Types of Injuries are Common in Bus Accidents?
Common bus accident injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and soft tissue damage, especially for standing or unrestrained passengers.
What Compensation is Available after an Allentown Bus Accident?
Compensation for a bus accident may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life. Punitive damages may apply in limited cases.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Bus Accident Claim in Allentown?
While not required for a bus accident claim, an experienced lawyer can investigate the crash, identify responsible parties, negotiate with insurers, and protect your legal rights.
Contact Munley Law for a Free Bus Accident Consultation
At Munley Law, you aren’t just another bus accident to us; we’ll listen to what happened, explain your rights, and give you your options for moving forward.
Call us today, or fill out our form for a free consultation. We charge no fees unless we win your case.
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning personal-injury attorney and champion of plaintiffs’ rights. For decades he’s won multi-million verdicts and settlements and is recognized as a national leader in truck and rideshare litigation,including a record $26 million truck settlement in Northeastern Pennsylvania and a $20 million recovery in 2024 for life-altering commercial-vehicle injuries.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on February 10, 2026.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
609 Hamilton St.
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 857-7424
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