A serious bus accident can change your life in an instant. Whether you were a passenger, a pedestrian, or driving another vehicle, the aftermath often involves medical bills, missed work, and uncertainty about what to do next. At Team Green Law, we help bus accident victims in Terre Haute get the compensation they deserve. We focus on delivering straightforward legal guidance and handling every case with compassion.
Why Choose Team Green Law for Your Terre Haute Bus Accident Case?
We provide hands-on legal representation to bus accident victims in Terre Haute. When insurance companies step in, they often push to settle quickly and for as little as possible. At Team Green Law, we evaluate the full picture of your losses, both current and future, and fight to get you a higher offer that will meet your needs. If negotiations don’t lead to an appropriate offer, we are fully prepared to take your case to court. Our firm has first-hand experience presenting bus accident cases before local judges, so we know how they operate and their unique preferences.
Who Can Bring a Bus Accident Claim?
Through a variety of Indiana laws, bus accident victims can be entitled to recovery for their injuries following the crash.
Bus Passengers
Individuals who sustain injuries while riding on city buses, school buses, charter buses, or private shuttles can bring claims against the driver, the bus company, or other responsible entities. After reviewing your case, your Terre Haute bus accident lawyer will tell you which parties can be held responsible and the process for pursuing recovery from each party.
Passengers or Drivers of Other Vehicles
Like with bus passengers, injured passengers of a car or truck hit by the bus can recover for their injuries.
Pedestrians and Cyclists
Injured pedestrians and cyclists may also seek recovery from the same parties responsible for vehicle occupants.
Families of Fatal Accident Victims
Under Indiana law (Indiana Code §34-23), when a bus accident results in death, the victim’s personal representative can file a wrongful death claim on behalf of surviving family members. These claims can recover funeral costs, medical bills, and loss of companionship and support.
Other Unique Situations
In limited situations, other people who were indirectly affected by a bus accident can recover damages. This situation only applies when those who were financially dependent on the injured or deceased person (such as a spouse, minor child, or adult child with a severe disability) may have standing to sue. Pursuing this type of recovery can be challenging, but Team Green Law can help determine if you or another person has grounds to bring a claim.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
There are many causes of bus accidents, from driver negligence to situations beyond the driver’s control. The most common causes include:
Driver Error and Visibility Problems
Like commercial truck drivers and other large-vehicle drivers, bus drivers operate large vehicles with wide blind spots. When they fail to check mirrors or misjudge distances, pedestrians and smaller vehicles can be hit. Fatigue, distraction, and poor training also contribute to many crashes.
Mechanical or Maintenance Failures
Buses require frequent inspections and repairs. Brake or steering malfunctions, tire blowouts, or electrical failures can all lead to loss of control and collisions. If responsible parties, such as governments or bus companies, ignore or delay routine maintenance or address apparent problems, accidents can easily occur. Fortunately, in these situations, those parties can often be held liable.
Hazardous Road Conditions
Uneven pavement, poor signage, and bad weather can all make stopping or maneuvering a bus more difficult. Bus drivers should be trained to operate their buses in these conditions and to take appropriate action to prevent accidents. In some cases, local governments responsible for unsafe road conditions can share fault.
Regulatory Violations
Bus drivers must comply with certain regulations that just don’t apply to the average driver. Bus drivers are required to comply with regulations like driver-hour limits. Bus companies and governments must also follow regulations regarding strict safety inspection intervals, hiring drivers without proper background checks, and more. These are just a few examples of negligence that can create liability for bus companies, public agencies, and bus drivers.
Bus Manufactures
In some cases, bus manufacturers can be at fault in an accident. This is possible when there is a defect in a part or system of the bus.
What Can I Recover from a Bus Accident?
The compensation you can recover from a bus accident will depend on the nature and severity of your trauma. Generally, bus accident victims in Indiana are eligible to recover:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment
- Emotional distress
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damages
What to Do After a Terre Haute Bus Accident
Strong bus accident cases require immediate attention and thorough documentation. After you or a loved one has been in an accident, it can be difficult to think straight, but there are a few steps you can take to set your case up for success.
Get Medical Treatment
First, no matter the severity of your injuries, do not wait to seek medical treatment. The shock of being in an accident can prevent you from feeling the full extent of your injuries. A successful case will require linking your injury to the accident, so getting medical attention immediately is important. You will want to keep all records from your providers, including the actual medical documents, bills, receipts, and insurance documents.
Collect and Preserve Documentational
You, or a trusted family or friend, should then collect additional documentation, such as the formal police report, video or photos of the accident and your injuries, witness statements, and more. When you’re recovering from an accident, this can feel like an impossible task, but your bus accident lawyer will assist you with this task.
How Do Bus Accident Cases Work?
Dealing with insurance companies is stressful at best and can, at worst, lead you to be tricked into making statements that damage your case. Our attorneys at Team Green Law have proven strategies for negotiating with insurance companies operating in Terre Haute, throughout Indiana, and nationwide. If insurance companies aren’t willing to offer fair compensation, we will take your case to court.
What Makes Bus Accidents Different?
Bus accidents are frequently more complex than your average car accident case. This is because many buses running through Terre Haute are under city, municipal, or state control. For example, public school buses, public transit buses, and buses used to transport seniors or citizens with disabilities to medical appointments.
When a government body is involved, the legal process changes significantly. Indiana Law (Indiana Code § 34-13-3) sets strict rules for when and how injured individuals can sue a government agency. These claims have shorter notice deadlines, special filing requirements, and more that do not apply to standard personal injury cases. Team Green Law attorneys frequently bring cases against government entities.
Contact a Terre Haute Bus Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a bus accident in Terre Haute, call Team Green Law for a no-cost consultation. Our attorneys will evaluate your medical records, review the crash report, explain any applicable deadlines, and advise you on the best path forward. We know this is a difficult time, but we are here to help you handle the aftermath and secure the compensation you deserve.
