Bus Accident Attorney Dallas and Lake Charles

Representing Victims of Bus Accidents and Injuries Throughout Texas & Louisiana

When you or a loved one has been injured in a bus crash, you need an experienced commercial vehicle law firm on your side. Our reliable, licensed bus accident lawyers at Shamieh law can help. We will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Get started with a free case review throughout Texas and Louisiana.

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How Our Bus Accident Law Firm Fights for You
Those Responsible Must Pay for Bus Accident Injuries
Negligence Laws in Texas and Louisiana Bus Accident Lawsuits
Injury Claim Deadlines: The Statute of Limitations for Bus Accident Cases
Bus Accident Statistics
Catastrophic Injuries From Bus Accidents
Types of Bus Accidents
Common Causes of Bus Crashes
Next Steps After a Bus Accident
Start Your Free Case Review
FAQs About Bus Crashes
More Helpful Resources

How Our Bus Accident Law Firm Fights for You

Partnering with an aggressive bus accident lawyer who will stand up and fight for your rights is essential. In doing so, you may receive compensation that will positively change your life. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 10,100 bus accidents in 2020.[1] These accidents may happen more often than you think. Don’t go it alone. Start a free case review of your important bus accident injury claim.

We Gather Evidence and Demand Compensation for You

The experienced bus crash lawyers at Shamieh Law will gather evidence, investigate the scene, and hire expert witnesses as needed. Count on us to handle all communication with the bus company, the police, and insurance companies. We’ll determine a fair value for your claim that includes emotional trauma, lost earnings, property damage, and medical bills.

We fight hard to negotiate a fair settlement and will go to court when needed. Our primary goal is to recover compensation, known as “damages,” so you can take full advantage of your legal rights.

Damages we demand on your behalf typically include compensation and reimbursement for

Medical expenses – including hospitalizations, surgeries, and ongoing treatment
Lost wages from missed work
Lost future income – when you can no longer continue in your current line of work
Pain and suffering
Loss of Consortium – when a loved one has been killed or has had a dramatic shift in their quality of life and personal engagement
Punitive Damages – meant to punish those responsible

Those Responsible Must Pay for Bus Accident Injuries

Depending on the nature of the accident, your injuries, and the cause, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit. Buses carry certain risks that other vehicles do not, such as requiring a longer starting and stopping distance and a higher chance of a rollover accident. Recovering compensation for the injuries you sustained in a bus accident can be a complicated process.

The following entities may be held liable:

The bus company
The bus driver
Drivers of other involved vehicles
The parts manufacturer
The company responsible for maintaining the vehicle

At Shamieh Law, we understand how devastating these types of accidents are. We can help you recover compensation for your injuries and ensure justice is served. Even though it is impossible to fully compensate you for how a bus accident has impacted your life, recovering financial damages can help you heal and move forward. Our Dallas bus accident attorneys will work tirelessly on your behalf, gathering the appropriate evidence and discovering pertinent facts about the accident.

A Bus Accident Wrongful Death Lawsuit May Be Needed

Losing a loved one due to bus accident injuries can have a devastating effect on everyone involved. Your mental anguish can be overwhelming, especially when you’ve depended on your lost loved one for financial stability. Our bus crash attorneys can help your family become whole again in the eyes of the law by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the bus company or other responsible parties. You deserve this fundamental form of justice for how you and your family have been harmed.

Call us 24/7 to start a free case evaluation, and we’ll get to work for you and your loved ones.

Negligence Laws in Texas and Louisiana Bus Accident Lawsuits

In Texas and Louisiana, specific laws dictate how a person can pursue compensation for injuries sustained in a bus accident. These negligence laws help determine who is liable when an injury occurs and what damages may be claimed.

For a plaintiff (the injured party) to win a lawsuit based on negligence, they must prove four elements:

The bus operator had a specific Duty of care
There was a Breach of duty
Liability establishing who caused the injuries
Damages exist for the injured party

If successful in proving these elements, the plaintiff may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and losses.

Texas Negligence Laws for Bus Accidents

Texas has two main legal concepts regarding bus accidents – contributory negligence and comparative fault. Understanding these legal principles is essential for anyone seeking compensation after being injured in a bus accident.

Texas follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, meaning that if you were partially responsible for your injuries, you could not seek any form of financial recovery from the other party involved in the accident. This principle applies even if the other party was mostly at fault, so if you contributed even slightly to causing your injuries, you would be unable to recover any damages from them, no matter how much they were at fault for your losses.

The second major concept Texas courts use when determining liability in bus accident cases is comparative fault law or “shared responsibility” law. Under this system, both parties can still be held liable even though one party may have been more negligent than another; however, each party’s liability would be based on their own percentage of fault. For example, if one person was found to be 70% responsible for the accident and the other 30%, the less negligent party could only claim damages proportionate to their degree of responsibility.

Louisiana Negligence Laws for Bus Accidents

Louisiana is a state that follows the laws of comparative negligence when it comes to bus accident injury cases [2]. This means that any damages awarded will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the injured party. In other words, if a person is found to be 20% at fault for their own injuries, they can only collect 80% of what would otherwise have been due to them in damages.

Additionally, under Louisiana’s doctrine of joint and several liability, each party contributing to causing an injury may be held responsible for paying all or part of a plaintiff’s damages award regardless of how much responsibility each individual may bear.

Injury Claim Deadlines: The Statute of Limitations for Bus Accident Cases

When filing a claim for an injury sustained in a bus accident, it is vital to understand the statute of limitations that applies. The statute of limitations sets forth the time period within which an injured party must file their lawsuit or forfeit their right to do so. Therefore, anyone seeking compensation for injuries resulting from a bus accident must understand how these statutes work and take action accordingly.

Statute of Limitations in Texas for Bus Accident Injuries

The statute of limitations for bus accidents in Texas is two years from the accident date. This means that any legal action must be brought within this time period, or else the injured party loses their right to bring a claim. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule. For example, if an injury occurs due to defective parts or the negligence of a third party, such as a bus driver, then the statute of limitation may be extended.

When filing a claim for an injury sustained in a bus accident, it is crucial to understand and follow all relevant state laws. Contact our qualified Dallas bus accident attorneys at Shamieh Law. We can provide legal guidance and help protect your rights as we fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Louisiana Statute of Limitations for Bus Accident Injuries

In general, victims of bus accidents have one year from the date of the incident to file their lawsuit. However, some exceptions and nuances may affect how long you have to take legal action against those responsible for your injuries. It is essential to understand these laws to ensure you meet any time limits set by law and protect your rights as soon as possible.

It is also important to note that Louisiana has its own laws for filing a personal injury claim for an accident involving a bus. This includes determining fault, negotiating with insurance companies, gathering evidence, including medical records and witness statements, and filing the necessary paperwork with the court. Our experienced bus accident law firm in Lake Charles, LA can assist you in navigating these processes to ensure your claim is handled correctly.

Bus Accident Statistics

Bus accidents can involve city buses, school buses, charter buses, tour buses, and any other type of bus used for transporting people from one place to another. Texas alone has 67,143 registered buses [3], the third-highest in the nation. Here are a few additional facts about bus accidents:

In 2019, there were 5,237 fatal accidents involving buses and large trucks [4]
School buses account for 40 percent of fatal crashes, transit buses for 35 percent, and intercity buses for 13 percent, respectively [5]
In 2017, 73 school buses were involved in fatal crashes nationwide
The number of injuries from bus accidents has steadily decreased since 2002
From 2009 to 2017, there was a 34 percent decrease in the number of fatal crashes involving buses or large trucks
In 2017, approximately 25,000 people were injured in bus crashes

Catastrophic Injuries From Bus Accidents

Although bus accidents do not occur as often as auto accidents, they can result in broken bones, neurological damage, internal injuries, and fatalities.

Some of the most common injuries from bus accidents include:

Whiplash
Spinal cord injuries
Head injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Lacerations
Bruises
Broken bones
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological wounds
Fractured bones
Burn injuries
Neck injuries

Unfortunately, injuries sustained due to a bus accident are often severe and require months, or even years, to recover. This means that bus accident victims can face high medical bills, years of rehabilitation, and loss of wages.

Types of Bus Accidents

In Dallas, major bus systems include Greyhound, Megabus, DART, Turimex International, Tornado Buses, School buses, Chartered outfits, City vehicles, party buses, and more.

Here are some of the significant types of bus accidents that happen across the country:

Rollover Accidents: If the bus driver hits a pothole, curb, or other object, it can cause the vehicle to roll onto its side, possibly more than once.
Head-on Collision: When another vehicle crashes into the front of a bus, it is referred to as a head-on collision. As with auto accidents, this bus accident is most likely to result in death or catastrophic injury.
Speeding Accidents: If the bus driver exceeds the speed limit, it might result in violent impacts and potentially devastating injuries.
Road Defects: Non-working traffic signals, potholes, and poor road conditions often cause bus and auto accidents.
Mechanical Defects: As with all large vehicles, buses have complex parts and systems. If one of these components fails to work properly, it can trigger an accident.
Drunk Driving Accidents: Bus drivers and other vehicle operators under the influence of drugs or alcohol can cause serious bus accidents.
Distracted Driving Accidents: If the bus driver is eating, texting, or paying attention to anything other than the road, it can result in a crash.
Reckless Driving Accidents: Reckless driving includes merging into traffic at undesignated areas, running through yellow or red lights, and other unsafe practices.
Hit-and-Run Accidents: When someone crashes into a bus and leaves the scene, it’s known as a hit-and-run. This may result in serious criminal charges and penalties.
T-Bone Collisions: These accidents typically happen at intersections where one driver runs a light or fails to see oncoming traffic and hits the side of another vehicle.

Whatever type of bus accident you experience, it’s essential to contact our experienced bus accident law firm within the required deadlines to file your injury lawsuit. Our bus crash attorneys in Dallas and Lake Charles work throughout Texas and Louisiana and have dealt with many passenger vehicle personal injury cases, collecting over $100 million for injured clients and their families.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

Bus accidents may have one or more causes. For instance, a bus driver looking at a text message might turn his attention away from traffic for only an instant. However, this brief distraction can trigger overcorrections and minor miscalculations with devastating consequences.

Although bus accidents are rare compared to other vehicular crashes, they can cause considerable disruptions to your life. If you or a loved one has been involved in a bus accident, it’s crucial to understand how to fight for your rights. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs associated with the accident.

Here are some of the common causes of bus accidents:

Driver negligence
Location: Urban locations have heavier traffic and make it harder to drive large vehicles such as buses
Poor road conditions
Construction with inadequate signage
Vehicle equipment defects
Weight distribution of passengers on bus
Lack of passenger protection (most buses don’t have seat belts, for example)

Our bus accident lawyers in Dallas and Louisiana can guide you through lengthy cases. We are a large enough firm that insurance companies and other lawyers know we take our job seriously. While settling out of court is often the most desirable resolution to your case, we are also prepared to defend you tenaciously if your case goes before a judge.

Next Steps After a Bus Accident

After seeing to your personal safety and medical needs first, you should record as many details as you can about the accident. Next, protect yourself by consulting with bus and auto accident attorneys who can safeguard your legal rights.

Even if you are entitled to compensation, you must step forward to claim it. In this case, your actions immediately following a bus accident can dramatically impact your case.

Follow these steps to protect yourself, preserve evidence, and document the details of your case:

Seek medical care. Seeing a doctor or going to the emergency room following a bus accident is essential. This can help you get the care you need to recover more quickly and produce evidence of personal injuries caused by the accident.
Preserve evidence and gather information. Save as much evidence and information from the accident scene as possible. This task involves collecting the contact details of eyewitnesses and other passengers and the insurance information associated with the company that owns the bus. Record facts about the bus driver and any other drivers involved in the accident if possible. This isn’t always possible in a bus accident, but the more information you have, the stronger your case will be.
Call the police. If no one has called the police and they do not arrive within a few minutes, call to report the accident.
Contact an experienced bus accident attorney. Our lawyers work hard to get the maximum compensation from the responsible parties and insurance companies.

Free Case Review with Our Licensed Bus Accident Lawyers

Ramez Shamieh has practiced law since 2007, and fellow lawyers at his firm have many decades of combined experience. Over the years, we have recovered over 100 million dollars in damages for bus accident victims and other personal injury clients. Your justice and compensation matter. Call us 24/7 at 469-813-7332 to get started with a free review of your case.

Best Bus Accident Attorney Answers FAQs

What if I don’t know how the bus accident happened?

In many cases, bus accident passengers won't directly see the cause of the accident. That's why it's important to obtain a police report and speak with a trusted accident attorney as soon as possible.

Will I receive damages for pain and suffering after a bus accident?

In general, insurance includes reimbursement for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. We certainly don't discount this part of your claim and will work to maximize your compensation.