Public vs Private Bus Accidents   

Bus travel is one of the safer modes of transportation. Still, buses do have accidents, and when they occur, there is potential for mass injuries and damage. A Munley Law bus accident lawyer is here to help if you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a bus accident.

The legal implications are different for public vs. private bus accidents. Public transport accident claims move through the system differently than those against private individuals or companies. However, procedural differences do not erase the common factor that a bus accident of any type can leave victims severely injured and in financial distress. Our team can help you move toward recovery. Call us today for a free consultation.

Munley Law Is Equipped to Handle Your Public or Private Bus Accident Legal Needs

Munley Law has been serving clients for 65 years. We have handled all types of cases and have met the unique challenges of each. If your claim is against a public entity, we have you covered. If it is against a private company, we can take care of that, too. We put our extensive resources into achieving our singular focus of getting you justice for your bus accident case.

Our team cares deeply about our clients. We treat you like a person and a partner, not just a case number. Count on us to keep you updated, answer your questions, and take your input seriously.  This is your case, and the outcome affects your life.

We are personal injury lawyers because we believe in justice. Our bus accident lawyers won’t encourage you to take a fast, easy settlement so we can collect a paycheck, move on to the next client, and leave you to deal with the fallout of accepting inadequate compensation. That is not integrity, and that is not justice. We don’t want you to settle for anything less than what you deserve.

Public and Private Buses Must Provide Their Services Safely

Public and private buses serve the same general purpose of getting people where they need to go. The differences lie in the specifics of those services and the entities overseeing their safe administration.

Public Buses

Government entities oversee public transit. This includes municipal buses and systems such as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) fleet. Different counties may have other municipal bus services. For example,  Monroe County residents are served by the Monroe County Transportation Authority (MCTA).

The school buses transporting students to their public schools are under the control of respective school districts, which are government entities. An unfortunate series of school bus crashes raised serious concerns about Pennsylvania school bus safety. If your child is hurt in an accident, a bus accident lawyer from our team can help you demand accountability.

Private Buses

Private bus companies, also called private carriers, are not government run — they’re owned and operated by private entities. Tour companies use buses to take travelers to a city’s greatest sites or on road trips. When groups want to travel together, they can charter a bus to get them to their destination. Groups often use charter services to travel to weddings or work events.

Some private schools contract with private companies to transport students to and from school. In Pennsylvania, public school districts still bear responsibility for getting private school students to their schools if the school is located within a certain distance of the school district’s boundaries. Whether your bus accident claim is against a public entity or private company, the Munley Law bus accident attorneys are well-equipped to handle all the details and legalities of your fight.

Accidents on Public and Private Buses Can Produce Devastating Consequences

Bus passengers, pedestrians, and other vehicle drivers can all experience serious injuries and consequences from a bus accident. Many buses don’t have seat belts. On crowded public buses, passengers may ride standing. Even a moderate jolt endangers these seated but unrestrained or standing passengers. They could fall to the floor and experience neck or back trauma or a blow to the head.

Buses that take an especially hard hit can roll over, landing on their sides or roofs. Victims may sustain broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord damage, among other possibilities. Buses make frequent starts and stops, pulling over for drop-offs and pickups. Operators may be rushing to stay on schedule and fail to see a nearby pedestrian. Or a pedestrian can easily end up in a bus’s blind spot. The unprotected human body is the clear underdog when hit by one of these massive vehicles, even at a low speed. Other vehicles are also outweighed by public and private buses alike. In a crash, passenger vehicles and occupants are usually the more vulnerable parties.

We Will Determine the Value of your Claim With Precision

Physical injuries, even moderate ones that heal with time and treatment, come with extremely high price tags. One visit to the emergency room can cost you thousands of dollars. Time off from work to recover can cost wages from that period. Then there is the emotional price. Accidents are traumatic events. Injuries cause pain and make you feel anxious, depressed, and isolated.

Some injuries bring permanent, unwanted changes to your life. You may not heal fully and have to live with chronic pain or mobility limitations. If your injuries are catastrophic, you may lose your independence and rely on caregivers. These kinds of injuries prevent you from supporting yourself and require you to hire others to manage responsibilities you used to perform on your own.

The negligent party will try to downplay the value of your bus injury claim. We will fight these attempts and determine the settlement value of your accident case with great care. We will account for all your financial losses, emotional stress, and a decrease in your quality of life.

Recognizing the Value of Your Non-Tangible Losses

Calculating your financial damages is more straightforward as they come with bills attached. Determining pain and suffering awards requires a different approach. Your bus accident attorney will speak with your caregivers and loved ones, discuss your prognosis with your medical team and other experts, and listen to your testimony about how your life has changed since the accident. We will use this and any other relevant information when valuing your emotional and quality-of-life damages.

We Know How to Establish Negligence for Public and Private Bus Accidents

Determining who’s accountable for paying your damages is essential for a successful claim outcome. Our team will conduct a thorough investigation. We consider all liability factors, including problems with regulations and oversight, to make that determination.

A negligent bus operator could be at fault, which might leave the bus company responsible. Private companies and public entities must provide proper driver training and vehicle maintenance. Careful route planning strategies must be in place, especially for school buses. Munley Law’s experienced bus accident lawyers will also expose violations of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) passenger carrier regulations.

Connect With Us Quickly After Your Accident for a Favorable Claim Resolution

There are statute of limitations differences when it comes to filing an injury claim against a private or public entity. Pennsylvania has a two-year statute of limitations for most injury claims against private entities. However, you may have significantly less time if your accident includes a government-owned bus. Connect with an attorney quickly so we can access evidence before it gets lost.

Pennsylvania’s exceptions to sovereign immunity allow those hurt by a government entity’s negligence to seek damages in some circumstances, but the Commonwealth puts a six-month limitation on filing. For a public transport accident, state departments of transportation, public utility commissions, local transportation departments, or school districts could be the defendants, so you need to act quickly in filing notice requirements.

Our team knows processes governing both private and administrative claims and how public entity insurance vs. commercial policies work and apply to your situation. We will work through all of these systems with efficiency and skill to bring you the best resolution possible.

FAQs About Bus Accidents

We have answers. If you don’t see the one you need included here, please call or send us a message.

What if Someone I Love Was Killed in a Bus Accident?

If someone you love dies in a bus accident caused by another party’s careless or reckless actions, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim. Damages secured through this claim can compensate you for the financial losses you sustain from your loved one’s death and acknowledge your emotional losses. The wrongful death attorneys at Munley Law can manage all aspects of your claim.

What if I Cannot Afford a Personal Attorney?

You can afford Munley Law. We work on a contingency basis. Simply stated, this means you only pay us if we deliver you a settlement or trial award. The payment is a portion of that compensation. Before we enter an official partnership, we will explain the details of the agreement and what portion of your compensation pays for our services. You will not be hit with any surprises.

Should I Accept An Early Settlement Offer?

Not without first speaking to an experienced bus accident attorney. Sometimes, negligent parties swoop in with sweet-sounding offers pretty quickly. These are usually self-serving offers. The at-fault parties hope you don’t realize the extent of your losses and the true worth of your case. If they can get you to accept a low offer that they make sound generous, they get away with paying you less. Your attorney can tell you whether a settlement is worth accepting, and if it isn’t, we can fight for what you actually deserve.

Munley Law’s Bus Accident Lawyers Will See Your Case Through

The entire team at Munley Law stands with you and fights for you from the moment we form our legal partnership until your case resolves. You will get personal support and guidance to help you through post-accident challenges, and the exceptional legal representation you need to fight for fair and full compensation. Let us deal with the paperwork, legal details, and discussions with insurance representatives that come with bus accident claims. Your job is to focus on recovering. Take your first step toward justice by reaching out to us today.