Buses are generally safe and efficient. But not always. In 2022 alone, there were over 461 accidents involving a commercial bus and an additional 274 involving school buses in Pennsylvania. What happens if you or a loved one is injured while a passenger on a bus? What happens if a bus crashes into your car or onto your property? An experienced Bethlehem bus accident attorney can make sure that you aren't forced to deal with the aftermath of a bus accident alone.
Buses are an easy and economical option to get around. As a passenger, be it within Bethlehem, the greater Lehigh Valley, or across the Northeast, buses are an accessible public transportation option. Even if you don't personally take the bus, you share the road with them.
$32 Million Wrongful Death
$26 Million Truck Accident
$17.5 Million Car Accident
$12 Million Product Liability
$9 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$7.5 Million Auto Accident
$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident
$6.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
$5 Million Medical Malpractice
$5 Million Bus Accidents
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
After a bus accident, you may be contacted by the city, the bus company, or an insurance company with an offer, but you should talk to an attorney first. The right bus accident lawyer is always going to work to make sure your rights are protected in the wake of a bus accident. Your lawyer can focus on holding the wrongdoer, be it the driver, the bus company, or someone else, accountable and getting you the financial relief you need to move forward.
The experienced Bethlehem bus accident attorneys at Munley Law are happy to talk to you about your case and how we might be able to help free of charge. Here are just a few reasons you shouldn't try to navigate the aftermath of a bus crash alone:
Bus Accidents Are Legally Complex, Given the Number of Players Involved
While it may seem simple, there are many players involved in making bus transportation work. On top of that, bus drivers and bus companies are subject to numerous interlocking federal, state, and local regulations. For that reason, bus crash cases in and around Bethlehem are hard to bring and even harder to win. To make matters worse, many times, the different players involved are going to try to limit how much money they could have to pay. You need a bus accident lawyer to make sure you're not left holding the bill for the damages caused by someone else's wrongdoing.
Passengers, the bus driver, the driver of any other vehicle involved, the bus company, insurance companies, the bus maintenance company, the company that makes bus parts, and even sometimes the city all have a vested interest in the aftermath and outcome of a bus accident. It's hard to know which of these parties is financially responsible for the injuries you suffered. In fact, multiple parties could be held responsible. A lawyer can help you get to the bottom of it.
A Bethlehem Bus Accident Attorney Can Help Resolve a Dispute Before it Really Starts
To be sure, lawyers know how to argue cases in court. But, sometimes, an experienced lawyer can resolve a dispute before a lawsuit begins. The key is getting a bus accident lawyer involved before you've spoken to the wrongdoer or their insurance company. After all, people can be more forthcoming if they know you are armed and ready to take a dispute to court.
Other times, bus accident lawyers can help by writing a formal demand letter. This is essentially a letter explaining your claim and its legal support. These letters can be an invaluable way to resolve a dispute early. This is because formally explaining your claim in the language of the insurance company or the lawyers representing the bus driver or bus company who did you wrong can be an incredibly persuasive tactic. These letters sometimes resolve cases long before a formal court case could.
Bus Accident Lawyers Can Investigate Your Claim
Because of the complexity of bus accidents, there can be a lot of groundwork to cover to investigate and prove your claim.
A lawyer can identify and interview witnesses. Many people could have seen the accident or the events leading up to it. For example, the bus driver, people who interacted with the bus driver throughout the day, other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and other witnesses who happened across the accident scene can have invaluable information. We can also figure out who maintained the bus or buses involved. We'll find witnesses with information, interview them, and preserve their testimony for use in court.
We'll also gather documents and other physical evidence. We can take pictures of the bus involved, the accident scene, and any damage. Furthermore, we can track down surveillance video and other camera footage of the accident. We know where to look and have experience tracking this evidence down for our clients.
Furthermore, sometimes you will need an expert witness. This could be a medical expert who can testify to your injuries and how they will impact your life. It could also be an expert tasked with calculating the different ways the bus accident has cost you money. Bus drivers and bus companies are subject to numerous regulations by the local, state, and federal governments. There are experts who can explain these regulations and why any violation of them was unreasonable. These witnesses can be the difference between winning and losing a case. Munley Law has worked with experts across Pennsylvania, and the country, to support our clients. We know how to do it effectively and efficiently.
A Bethlehem Bus Accident Attorney Can Help You Weigh Your Options
After a bus accident, you and your family will undoubtedly have questions, and it's common not to know whether and how to seek compensation from the at-fault party. A lawyer can help. At Munley Law, we can help you estimate how much money you could be entitled to during a free initial consultation, and we can help present your options in plain English.
Why Choose Munley Law For Your Bethlehem Bus Accident Case?
With so many personal injury law firms to choose from, how do you know who you can trust to fight for you and your family? Selecting a Bethlehem bus accident attorney is an important decision. But Munley Law sets itself apart, and we're ready to prove it. Here are just a few reasons to let us fight for you and your family:
Experience – When it comes to a bus accident lawsuit, experience counts. Each of our partners has decades of experience representing individuals and families who have suffered a serious injury or been denied benefits following an injury. Because we are a family firm, we often work closely together on our cases to achieve the best possible results for you.
Industry Leaders – The board-certified Bethlehem bus accident lawyers at Munley Law are among the highest-rated and most respected legal advocates in the country. Our credentials (including Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, and Million Dollar Advocates Forum) reflect the extremely high standards we've set for ourselves and the recognition of our clients and peers.
Resources – Successfully recovering money after a Bethlehem bus crash is challenging. At Munley Law, we have access to resources typically available only to big law firms. We work closely with our network of engineers, investigators, experts, and in-house medical personnel to build your case. What's more, unlike other law firms, you aren't on the hook for paying these professionals out of pocket.
Our No-Fee Promise – We do not collect a fee unless we win your case. If we do not produce results for you, you owe us nothing. Also, at no point will you ever pay anything out of pocket; even when we win, our fee comes out of the money we recover for you.
You can contact our attorneys by phone or by using the form or chat feature available on our website. Contacting us is free and doesn't obligate you to do anything. But the first step to getting you the recovery you deserve is to speak with one of your Bethlehem bus accident lawyers, who are ready to get results for you.
