Buses are the most commonly used form of public transportation in the United States, accounting for more than half of all public transportation use in recent years. In Michigan alone, public transit transported more than 30 million passengers in 2022.
The use of buses benefits Flint citizens and the country as a whole in many ways. Buses reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and wear and tear on our roads, and they save millions of dollars a year in both state and consumer costs. Buses help people get where they need to go, and they usually do it safely.
But when bus accidents happen, they can have devastating consequences. If you've recently experienced a bus accident, you are likely feeling overwhelmed about what to do next. The Flint bus accident lawyers at Christopher Trainor & Associates are here to help.
According to the Michigan Traffic Crash Reporting System, there were more than 15,000 truck and bus accidents in 2022 statewide. There were over 100 fatalities and thousands of injuries reported due to these accidents Around 1,000 accidents involved school buses, which resulted in two deaths and numerous injuries.
No one wants to worry about their loved ones, especially their children, suffering an injury while commuting to work or school on a bus. We want to trust this mode of transportation and know our loved ones will arrive at our destination unharmed. If this has not been your experience, and you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a bus accident, reach out to one of the bus accident attorneys at Christopher Trainor & Associates for a free consultation to learn more about your rights and how to receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Michigan is home to many types of buses that operate on our highways. This isn't limited to the public buses that provide transit around Flint. There are school buses, shuttle buses, freight buses, and private buses (such as charters) that also share our roads. Bus lines like SMART Bus cover larger areas in the region, and then there are large corporations like Greyhound that may bring passengers from out of state. Charter buses come from surrounding areas and Canada often stop to visit our museums, sports, casinos, and other tourist attractions. While buses are a safe form of travel, they are all susceptible to accidents that may result in injury.
With the many different types of buses we see being used in the Flint area, our bus accident lawyers have seen many different types of motor vehicle collisions involving buses. Some of the more common include:
If you have been involved in a bus crash while using any of the above forms of transit, call the law offices of Christopher Trainer & Associates for more information on filing your claim.
Buses are governed by specific rules to ensure they are safely transporting their passengers. They are held to a higher standard of care than regular personal vehicles and are, therefore, more commonly found at fault during an accident. Of course, this isn't always the case, but it may be assuring to know that passengers on buses are rarely found at fault for these crashes. Parties that may be found at fault include:
Michigan is one of 18 states that offers no-fault insurance (also known as personal injury insurance, or PIP benefits) in case of a motor vehicle accident. This is a typical benefit included with your auto insurance policy and should cover any injuries caused by a vehicle accident, including an accident involving a bus.
However, if you do not have a personal vehicle and are therefore uninsured, your claim may become more complicated. You may need to file your claim with the bus company's insurance company, but they are only required by Michigan law to pay when there are no other benefits available. If you are an uninsured passenger involved in an accident, you will need to the help of Christopher Trainor & Associates to help you navigate you claim.
If you have suffered an injury after a bus accident in Flint you may be able to file a third-party lawsuit against either the bus driver or the company that the driver worked for at the time of the accident.
Your bus accident lawyer will need to determine who owned the bus involved, which could be the government of a private party. If it was owned by a private party you may be able to file a third-party lawsuit similarly to how you would in other vehicle accident claims.
However, if the bus is government owned (in the instance of public transportation) and was operated by a government employed driver, you will likely be in for a legal battle. Insurance coverage for government entities often protect them from having to compensate injured parties on government property. But if the the injury was sustained due to the government employee's negligent actions, an exception can be made.
It is always a good idea to speak with one of the bus and car accident attorneys at Christopher Trainor & Associates to understand the best avenue to take to receive compensation.
Vehicle crashes involving buses can have similar devastation as accidents involving any large semi-truck or vehicle. Their size makes them more difficult to maneuver and their weight can lead to a greater damage and injury than what we might see in a personal car accident. This can lead to serious injury or, in some cases, death. If your loved one was killed in a bus accident in Flint, we can help you file a claim for wrongful death.
In the aftermath of an accident you may be filled with adrenaline and feel a sense of overwhelm that might make it difficult to know what to do. After a bus crash occurs, there are a few steps you can take that will benefit you if you need to file a claim.
The safety of your child is your priority here. You can follow the same steps outlined above, but it is also extremely important that you don't sign anything given to you by the school or an insurance company without first speaking to an attorney. The school district may try to deny responsibility or trick you into signing something that keeps you from receiving justice for your child. Always speak to a bus accident lawyer before signing anything.
Any time a corporation or third party is involved in an accident, it is wise to hire a personal injury attorney to help you navigate your claim. Bus companies and their insurance providers will have their investigators at the scene of the bus accident to gather evidence to protect their own interests. You will need one of our bus accident lawyers to fight back against these companies, as they will do whatever they can to deny liability.
Call Christopher Trainor & Associates as soon as you can after the accident happens. The more time your attorney has to gather evidence and prepare a solid case for you, the better your chance is of experiencing a favorable outcome that includes fair compensation for your losses. The last thing you need is to be taken advantage of by a bus company and their insurance companies. Let us help you get what you are entitled to while you focus on healing and moving forward with your life.
The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in the state of Michigan, including claims involving a Flint bus accident, is three years from the time of the vehicle crash. This time may be extended if your claim involves a minor. Your no-fault insurance claim must be filed within a year of the accident, but if your claim is denied an attorney can help you along in the next steps of the process. Since these claims often take months to resolve, it is advised to speak with a bus accident lawyer as soon as you can in order to get the ball rolling on your case.
Just like most any vehicle or car accident, a bus accident can happen at any time and for many different reasons. Some of the more common that we see while filing an accident claim are caused by:
The process to investigate fault and file a claim can be overwhelming and stressful. If you've been involved in a bus accident, contact Christopher Trainor & Associates for a free consultation.
Bus accident injuries can vary in severity, but often include:
The severity of a victim's injuries depends on numerous factors including the speed and weight of the bus, the nature of the accident, and whether or not the passengers were wearing seat belts. Some injuries may be minor, while other can keep a victim from leading a normal life.
If you were involved in an accident in Flint, Michigan or in the surrounding areas, you may be entitled to compensation. You could receive monetary payouts for the following physical and economic damages:
Some damages are easy to prove, such as medical expenses or lost wages. But things like quality of life or pain and suffering compensation can be more difficult to establish. These waters can be very challenging to navigate on your own, and if you intend to seek maximum compensation, you will need an experienced Flint bus accident attorney to help you prove your claims. An attorney who has experience with bus cases specifically knows the ins and outs of the laws surrounding bus accidents, which are far more complex than typical car accident cases.
Your Flint personal injury lawyer can help you in many ways after being injured in a bus accident. They take the burden off of you, remove the confusion, and stand up for your rights against powerful corporations. Here are some of the ways our attorneys can help:
A bus accident lawyer from Christopher Trainor & Associates will play a crucial role in helping you through the complicated legal process after your accident. We will work to achieve the best possible outcome for your personal injury case. Though no amount of money can ever change what happened to you, it can go a long way toward providing financial security when you are being stretched too thin with medical bills and lost wages.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a Flint bus accident, you and your family members may be wondering what you need to do next. The truth is, all you really have to do is call us for your free consultation. From that point forward, you will not have to deal with this alone.
Our skilled attorneys will be with you every step as you navigate trying to move forward in your life following your bus crash injury. We truly care about getting justice for every client we take on, and we have the testimonials to prove it. Call 248-886-8650 or contact our Flint bus accident lawyers here for a free consultation.
Christopher Trainor & Associates serves many cities in southern lower Michigan. You can find our offices in the following cities:
