Boston Bus Accident Attorneys
Finkelstein & Partners LLP – Boston Office
50 Congress Street,
Boston, MA 02109
(617)-580-3144
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Finkelstein & Partners, LLP – Winning Serious Injury Lawsuits Since 1959
Local transit authorities, tour buses, and school buses are all familiar sights in Boston and the suburbs of Boston. Although we often hear that buses are one of the safest transportation methods, this is little consolation if we are among the hundreds of people who suffered an injury in a Boston bus accident.
When you suffered an injury in an accident involving any bus, contact a Boston bus accident lawyer at Finkelstein & Partners, LLP immediately. They can help you identify the party liable for your injury and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Track Records Matter Following a Bus Accident
Close to 600,000 people in and around Boston use our transit system daily. That number includes passengers on numerous bus and trolley lines and train lines.
While the data on direct bus accidents is difficult to find, we have seen reports on the news that keep us updated on bus accidents and the devastation they cause.
When a Boston bus accident injures you, you need an attorney with a proven track record of success to help you fight back against the carrier or other at-fault party.
You can never assume someone who has prior experience handling bus accidents will have the same success in the future they had in the past. When you work with a Boston bus accident lawyer at Finkelstein & Partners, LLP with a record of success, you can feel confident they understand the challenges associated with bus accident injury claims.
Bus Accidents Can Result in Serious Injury
Whether you are a passenger on a bus, a driver or passenger in a vehicle, a pedestrian, or a bicycle rider, if you are involved in an accident in Boston involving a bus, you could be facing serious injuries.
Some of the potential injuries you may face include:
- Whiplash – Passengers on a bus typically do not receive many of the safety features of a car. If the bus you are on is rear-ended, struck from the side, or involved in even a minor collision, you could suffer a whiplash injury. Do not take these injuries lightly. Whiplash can cause long-term pain in victims and requires rigorous treatment to return to full mobility.
- Broken bones – Many bus accident victims suffer broken bones. While a broken bone may heal in a few weeks, one of the challenges of being in a bus accident is the potential for compound fractures that may require surgery to repair. These injuries often mean longer recovery times, and in some cases, victims may require extensive rehabilitation therapy.
- Internal injuries – Any time you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, there is always a risk of internal injuries. Whether you are a bus passenger, the operator of a car struck by a bus, or a pedestrian, you must see a doctor to ensure you have not suffered a dangerous internal injury.
At Finkelstein & Partners LLP, we have seen many victims of bus accidents. As with any accident, numerous factors play a role in the type of injury, and the time it takes a victim to recover.
Boston Bus Accidents and Establishing Fault
Public transportation is an essential way to get around Boston. There are 170 bus routes in and around the greater Boston area, making more than 8,000 stops every day.
If you were in an accident with a bus, you must first establish fault.
There are several potential at-fault parties, including:
- Bus driver – Every driver on the roadway is capable of causing an accident. Whether it is because a driver is distracted, not properly stopping at intersections, or ignoring speed limits, the driver can be at fault.
- Bus driver’s employer – School bus drivers, transit bus operators, and tour bus drivers must meet specific criteria to maintain their professional license. Operating a bus is not like driving a car. Drivers must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and if they are transporting children on a school bus, they must undergo additional training. If an employer fails to adequately train the driver, they may bear partial liability.
- Maintenance staff – In the case of a transit bus, maintenance is done by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). School buses, and charter buses, may have private maintenance staff. If the accident resulted from a parts failure, proper safety inspections may have prevented it.
- Other motorists – Not every Boston bus accident is the fault of the bus driver, their employer, or the responsible maintenance company. Drunk, distracted, or reckless drivers can also cause an accident involving a bus.
Getting to the bottom of how an accident occurred and determining liability is important. After establishing how the accident occurred and who may be liable for the resulting damages and injuries, victims can proceed to file insurance claims or lawsuits when necessary.
This process begins at the scene of the accident. It may involve obtaining witness contact information, finding traffic cameras in the area, and checking possible retail outlets for security camera footage.
Possible Compensation Following a Boston Bus Accident
Whether you have suffered an injury in an accident involving a tour, charter, or MBTA bus, your injuries will take some time to recover from. If the bus accident involved a school bus, it might be your child who suffered an injury.
In all cases, you may seek compensation following a Boston bus accident for:
- Medical costs – Your healthcare coverage may not pay for all the treatment you need to recover physically after a bus accident. Those out-of-pocket costs should be the responsibility of the party who caused your injury.
- Wage losses – No matter how long you must lose work to recover from your injuries, your income will decrease. All income losses affect your entire family and your financial future. Do not bear these losses. Make them the responsibility of the party or parties who caused your injury.
- Rehab and other costs – If you require rehabilitation, or you have to hire someone to perform household tasks you would have completed on your own, you may include these costs in your settlement demand after a bus accident.
- Pain and suffering – Depending on numerous factors, there may be damages that are considered non-monetary, including pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other losses. Discuss these matters with our Boston bus accident lawyers. Contact Finkelstein & Partners, LLP today.
Because every accident, injury, and situation is unique, work closely with an attorney. When you work with a lawyer who wants fair compensation for your losses, you have a better chance of being financially whole following a bus accident.
Understanding Insurance Company Adjusters and Claims
Victims of a Boston bus accident are already in a vulnerable state. Whether you were the victim, you lost a loved one, or a school bus accident injured your child, you feel concerned and confused. You need answers and help to hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligent conduct.
The problem is that too many people think that insurance companies will protect them and that they can file an insurance claim. Unfortunately, this is not what happens. When an insurer gets a claim, their first step is to assign the claim to an adjuster. The responsibility they have is to assess the credibility of the claim.
Adjusters will contact the claimant and ask questions to gather information about the accident and see if someone other than their client is at fault.
Assuming the adjuster determines the fault is with their client, the next step is attempting to minimize the amount of the claim.
Toward that end, specific things may take place.
- Obtaining prior medical records – This is in the hopes that your injury may have roots in a preexisting condition. For example, suppose you have had prior neck injuries, and your claim is due to a new neck injury. In that case, they can claim the injury already existed and that it was merely irritated during the bus accident.
- Investigating the claimant – If you feel like the insurer is watching you, that may well be the case. Insurers hope to catch you in a situation where you are physically more active than your injury might otherwise suggest. Additionally, if you are posting on social media, an adjuster may be compiling those posts for use later. Never jeopardize your claim by doing anything your doctor has not cleared you to do. You never know who is watching.
- A fast offer to settle – One of the common tactics an insurer may make is to offer a quick settlement. After all, they know you are out of work, know your income is less than what you had before the accident, and know you are potentially suffering financially. The insurance company may prey on these insecurities and offer you a fast settlement. Do not get fooled into accepting it without understanding the potential ramifications.
When you experience injury in a bus accident, make sure you speak with a Boston bus accident lawyer at Finkelstein & Partners, LLP. Once you have retained a lawyer, you can refer any insurance adjuster calls to them. You should also discuss your social media accounts with your attorney, as these can cause you many issues during the negotiation and settlement process.
Understanding the Costs of Our Boston Bus Accident Lawyers
Accident victims are often concerned about the associated costs of hiring a lawyer. After all, you are out of work, you have limited income, and your bills have not decreased because of lost time or income. It makes sense that you do not want to run up a legal bill when you are already facing financial challenges.
Here is what you should know about hiring a Boston bus accident lawyer:
- Consultations are free – When you contact us for advice about your accident, the initial consultation and evaluation will cost you nothing. This evaluation will provide you with the information you need to have to understand what legal options are available and the potential outcomes.
- No legal fees owed – Often, clients ask what happens if we cannot settle. You will not pay for attorney’s fees if we are not successful in obtaining a settlement or judgment on your behalf.
- Your remain in control – Clients worry that if they hire a lawyer, they will lose control. Your lawyer will bring every offer made by the liable party to your attention, make sure you understand the pros and cons of each offer, and help you make the right decision for you and your family.
When you decide to hire a lawyer, make sure you understand our contingency fees.
Contact Our Boston Bus Accident Lawyers
Whether you, your child, or a loved one suffered because of a tour bus accident, a school bus accident, or an accident involving the MBTA, you need immediate legal advice.
Contact Finkelstein & Partners, LLP today for your free consultation with our Boston bus accident lawyers at (877) 472-3061. You have nothing to lose. We promise to listen and, if you hire us, serve as your advocate.