If you or a family member were injured in a motor vehicle accident involving a bus in Lancaster, PA, it’s important to understand your legal rights. You may be entitled to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. An experienced Lancaster bus accident lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you fight to secure a full and fair financial recovery.
With over 120 years of experience in personal injury law, you can trust our legal team to handle even the most complex accident claim. In fact, we’ve used our resources to help injured clients recover tens of millions of dollars over the years.
Don’t trust the insurance company to pay a fair settlement. Get help fighting for the full compensation you deserve by calling our law offices in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at (717) 616-2954, to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Can Marzzacco Niven & Associates Help if I Was Injured in a Bus Accident in Lancaster, PA?
It’s common to feel overwhelmed after a bus accident. The insurance company may be asking you a lot of questions. They may even be pressuring you to accept a settlement. You may have medical bills–and if you’re missing work, the situation can quickly become more stressful.
You deserve an experienced Lancaster personal injury attorney in your corner. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our team includes attorneys who have been recognized as Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, and Best Lawyers of America.
While you recover, our lawyers can help by:
- Hiring experts to evaluate evidence and strengthen your case
- Conducting an independent investigation into the crash
- Finding out who is legally liable for your damages
- Making sure you understand your legal rights and options
- Assessing the value of your damages claim
- Negotiating with the insurance company and at-fault parties on your behalf
Hiring a qualified lawyer is often the only way to protect your right to compensation. Call our Lancaster personal injury lawyers today to learn more about how a lawyer can strengthen your case.
General Statistics on Bus Accidents
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published statistics on bus accidents in the U.S. as recently as 2020.
That year, 156 buses were involved in fatal car accidents across the U.S. School buses accounted for 38% of those fatal accidents. Transit buses accounted for another 35% of all bus wrecks.
According to data published by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 426 commercial bus accidents occurred across the commonwealth in 2021. A total of 222 bus crashes involving school buses were reported as well. At least two occupants in school buses were killed in fatal crashes.
At least 410 victims were injured in accidents involving either commercial or school buses in 2021.
Our Lawyers in Lancaster Handle All Types of Bus Accident Claims
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we can help regardless of the type of bus involved in your crash.
We handle cases involving:
- Red Rose Transit Authority Buses
- School buses
- Private charter buses
- Greyhound buses
- Amtrak buses
- Friendly Transportation buses
- Shuttle buses
- Delivery vans
- And more
Regardless of how you were injured, don’t hesitate to reach out to our personal injury law firm in Lancaster for help.
What Is My Lancaster Bus Accident Claim Worth?
If you suffered an injury in a bus accident, you’re probably wondering how much your personal injury case is worth.
Certain factors will be important when evaluating every personal injury case, including:
- The type and severity of the injuries involved
- Whether you will make a full medical recovery
- The cost of your medical treatment, accounting for future medical care
- The value of your lost wages, considering how the injury will impact your future earnings
- The strength of the evidence available to prove your case
- Whether you share any blame for the accident
Personal injury claims can be messy and complex. Claims against government transit authorities can be even more complicated.
Our trial lawyers are here to make sure you understand the fair value of your accident claim before you start negotiating with the insurance company. If you have an offer on the table, we’ll help you determine whether it’s fair.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Bus Accident Victims in Lancaster, PA?
Victims of bus accidents in Lancaster, PA, can typically seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Humiliation
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Mental issues such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Chronic physical pain
- Loss of consortium
As the victim, it’s up to you to prove the types of damages you suffered because of the accident. Some losses are more easily documented than others. Proving the value of your future and non-financial losses is one area where your lawyers’ experience can be especially important.
How Can Pennsylvania’s Shared Negligence Rules Impact My Settlement or Verdict?
Comparative negligence laws divide liability between all parties to an accident. That’s true even if you were injured in a bus accident.
Each state has its own laws on comparative negligence. Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence laws, accident victims lose their right to compensation if they’re at least 51% responsible for their own injuries.
Victims who are less than 51% liable can recover partial compensation even if they share some fault. However, these settlements and verdicts are reduced by the percentage of fault allocated to the victim.
The at-fault party can drastically reduce or eliminate their liability for your claim if they blame you successfully. Having a skilled personal injury lawyer in your corner means you’ll be able to respond to such accusations effectively.
Our Lancaster Bus Accident Attorneys Are Here To Fight for Fair Compensation for All of Your Injuries
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our lawyers serving Lancaster often handle injury cases involving:
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Our experienced wrongful death lawyers can also help you fight to recover the compensation you deserve if you lose a loved one in a fatal crash.
What Causes Most Bus Accidents in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?
Like most car accidents, bus accidents are usually avoidable. Bus drivers must obtain a special commercial driver’s license before they can operate a large passenger bus. Bus companies and their drivers are also strictly regulated under Pennsylvania law.
Even with all of these precautions, accidents tend to happen when drivers are careless.
Some of the most common causes of bus accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued bus drivers
- Violation of the hours-of-service regulations for bus and truck drivers
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Merging errors
- Failure to check blind spots
- Inadequately maintained bus fleets
- Negligent hiring practices and inexperienced bus operators
There are countless other factors that could have contributed to your bus accident. You can count on our lawyers to identify every problem that contributed to your crash–remembering that multiple parties could be legally responsible for your damages under Pennsylvania personal injury laws.
What Do I Have To Prove To Win My Bus Accident Claim Under Pennsylvania Law?
Like any other auto accident case, claims involving bus accidents are typically based on negligence. Negligence basically means that someone was careless, caused an accident, and people were hurt.
The legal elements are:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
Victims must prove each of these elements to recover damages. The “duty” element is relatively simple. All drivers in Pennsylvania have a duty to drive carefully. As common carriers, Pennsylvania bus drivers are held to an even higher standard of care than your average driver.
The remaining elements can be much more difficult to establish. You’ll need strong evidence to back up your insurance claim.
That evidence might include:
- Video surveillance footage
- Information from police and accident reports
- Statements from witnesses and bus passengers
- Information about the bus driver’s qualifications
- Information about the bus company’s hiring and maintenance policies
- Results of any drug or alcohol testing
- Details from the crash scene
- Opinions from accident reconstruction experts
Our lawyers are here to give your case the attention it deserves. We take a detailed approach when it comes to investigating accident claims. To learn more about this area of law, call for a free case evaluation today.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Bus Crash in Pennsylvania
In most Pennsylvania personal injury cases, the victim has two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, the statute of limitations could be different if the defendant is not a private individual or company. In claims against government agencies, victims often have a much shorter period of time in which to take legal action.
In bus accident cases, that makes it particularly important to speak with a lawyer soon after the accident so that you can protect your rights and ensure you know the correct deadline for your circumstances.
Arrange a Free Consultation With an Experienced Lancaster Bus Accident Lawyer Today
Do you need help evaluating your legal options after a bus accident? Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates to schedule a free consultation with a Lancaster bus accident lawyer who knows the law.
Visit Our Law Office in Lancaster,PA
Marzzacco Niven & Associates
2173 Embassy Dr Ste 123, Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 616-2954