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Buffalo Bus Accident Lawyer
Experienced legal representation for victims of bus accidents in Buffalo and throughout Western New York
Bus accidents are some of the most tragic motor vehicle collisions that can take place on our local roadways. These accidents often involve multiple injured parties and extensive property damage and can leave entire communities feeling unsafe and unstable. Intercity buses, school buses, and public transit buses can be involved in devastating collisions, the most tragic of which can result in fatalities.
These accidents often have a lot of moving parts, and trying to identify all potentially liable parties can be challenging in many cases. An experienced Buffalo accident lawyer can help make sense of the many different variables involved in these cases and provide survivors with the information and tools they need to pursue compensation for their losses.
At O’Brien & Ford PC, our team is committed to providing responsive, hands-on legal support to survivors of negligence-related bus accidents. We know that the damages associated with these cases can be catastrophic, and it takes skilled, experienced legal representation to handle these claims with the care they deserve.
If you or someone you love was injured in a bus crash in or around Buffalo, our team would love to learn more about you. Contact us today to speak to one of our experienced lawyers about your legal options. When you call for a consultation, you can expect to be connected to an attorney within two minutes so you can begin fighting for your rights.
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More than $100 million recovered in verdicts and settlements for those injured in New York.
How We Can Help
- Types of bus accident cases we handle
- Common causes of Buffalo bus accidents
- Injuries we encounter in bus accident cases
- Determining liability for a bus accident
- Who can be held responsible for a bus crash in Buffalo?
- Steps to take after a bus crash
- What damages are available in bus accident cases?
- Why choose O’Brien & Ford PC to represent you?
- Frequently asked questions about Buffalo bus accident claims
- Consult with a Buffalo bus accident attorney today
Types of bus accident cases we handle
Buffalo bus accidents can unfold in many different ways depending on the vehicles involved and contributing causes. Our team tailors its legal strategy around the facts of our cases rather than applying a universal approach to litigation. This enables us to move with more flexibility while offering our clients the support they need.
No two cases are alike, but there are some scenarios we commonly encounter in our practice, including:
Rear-end collisions
Rear-end collisions involving buses can be incredibly dangerous. These crashes may result from preventable causes like distracted driving, driving while fatigued, tailgating, or mechanical failures.
Side-impact accidents
These crashes are more commonly known as T-bone crashes because they involve one vehicle colliding with the side of another in a “T” shape. These accidents commonly occur at intersections and cause serious harm to people and property due to the lack of protection on the sides of most vehicles.
Rollovers
Large vehicles like buses can be prone to rolling over in a high-impact crash. These collisions can be incredibly severe and may trigger a chain reaction of other crashes involving nearby vehicles.
Pedestrian and cyclist accidents
When a bus collides with a pedestrian or cyclist, crash victims can sustain serious and life-threatening injuries. Cyclists and pedestrians don’t have the same kinds of protection as passenger vehicle occupants, which means they can be particularly prone to devastating harm in a collision with a large bus.
Head-on collisions
If a bus collides with another vehicle head-on, the occupants in both vehicles can suffer serious injuries. Many of these crashes are linked to preventable causes like failure to yield and driving while intoxicated, so it’s important to carefully investigate these accidents to determine the root cause.
The O’Brien & Ford PC team treats every case it handles as one-of-a-kind. We have extensive experience handling a wide variety of motor vehicle cases, including bus accident claims. By working to understand the unique attributes of an accident, our team can build a stronger, more compelling claim on behalf of injured clients.
Common causes of Buffalo bus accidents
One of the most important things to determine after a bus accident is what, exactly, caused the crash in the first place. Understanding the cause is critical in terms of establishing who should bear responsibility for the crash. While these accidents can be traced back to a variety of different factors, some of the causes we encounter most often in our practice include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Failure to yield or stop
- Tailgating
- Improper bus maintenance
- Equipment failures
- Insufficient driver training
- Roadway hazards
- Adverse weather conditions
Some of these causes (like poor weather) are outside of humans’ control and may not have any legal implications for the parties involved. Other causes, however, can indicate negligence on the part of a person or institution. When a bus accident happens because someone failed to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm, there are important questions that must be raised about liability.
Injuries we encounter in bus accident cases
Bus accident survivors can be left with a variety of different injuries, some of which can be severe or life-threatening. Depending on how a crash unfolded, we may see survivors suffering from injuries like:
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Organ damage and internal bleeding
- Lacerations and cuts
- Traumatic amputations
- Burn injuries
- Psychological trauma and PTSD
These are just a few examples of injuries a survivor may sustain in a bus crash. Even relatively minor injuries can have a major negative impact on a survivor’s life immediately following the accident and for many months to come. In catastrophic cases, of course, the consequences of a victim’s injuries can be life-altering and can even prove fatal under certain circumstances.
Seeking a swift medical evaluation following a bus accident can be an important step towards ensuring you’re able to take advantage of any legal options afforded to you under New York law. By visiting a doctor, you can help rule out any invisible injuries or developing complications while generating a paper trail that shows when you sought care and what you sought care for.
Determining liability for a bus accident
Not every bus accident has legal implications. Some accidents truly are unavoidable and can’t be pinned on any particular person or party. Other cases, however, involve negligence or misconduct that may open up certain entities to claims of liability.
What we look for in most cases is evidence of negligence. Essentially, we want to see if one party involved in an accident owed the other involved party (or parties) a duty of care and caused them harm by violating that duty. Proving negligence often requires an extensive investigation into the actions of all parties involved in a crash before, during, and after the accident.
As bus accident lawyers, we look for evidence that suggests one or more parties failed to uphold their legal duty of care. This might look like a driver causing a crash by failing to utilize safe driving practices. It may also look like a transit company knowingly allowing unqualified drivers to get behind the wheel, only to cause a serious accident. We investigate all potential sources of liability in bus accident cases in order to help our clients maximize the amount of compensation that may be available to them under the law.
Testimonials
What Our Clients Say About Us
“When I unfortunately was in a car accident I called on Chris O’Brien and his law firm. They not only took care of everything and answered every question I asked, Chris and his law firm treated me like family. I would not think twice to use them again, if you are ever in need of a excellent law firm that treats you like actually matter, go with Chris O’Brien and his law firm.”
“Back in 2017 I was involved a major car accident that left me with back injuries. Afterwards, I went to a couple big name attorneys and they all denied my case for reasons unknown. This left me feeling down and out with amd in an unfortunate situation, but that was until I called O'Brian & Ford. My case was picked up and accepted by the wonderful, Mr. John Ford, and my lawsuit began. He fought for me for almost 3 years without giving up and my case was FINALLY settled and I was rewarded way beyond what I ever thought I can be. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND O'BRIEN & FORD 100%!!!”
“I was looking for the best car crash lawyer in Buffalo and was referred to Chris O’Brien by numerous colleagues. Was very impressed with the outcome and professionalism. After a life altering injury you really need to lock down an attorney ASAP. The O’Brien & Ford team really pulled through for me and my family!”
Who can be held responsible for a bus crash in Buffalo?
There are many different parties who could be held liable for damages in a bus accident case, depending on the circumstances surrounding the crash. If a bus collides with a passenger vehicle, the bus driver could face claims of liability if an investigation reveals that their negligence caused the crash. By contrast, a passenger vehicle driver could face claims of liability if their actions caused or contributed to a collision with a bus.
These aren’t the only potentially liable parties, however. Bus companies and management agencies may be deemed legally responsible for the actions of their employees in some cases and may face claims of corporate negligence if their business practices contribute to a crash. Similarly, bus manufacturers may be liable if a defective vehicle or component causes a crash, and maintenance providers may be considered liable if negligent maintenance causes an equipment failure.
Liability can get a bit more complicated in cases involving public transit vehicles and government entities. When a bus is owned or operated by a public authority or government entity, unique filing and notice requirements may apply to those looking to pursue a bus accident claim. If your case involves a public bus or government vehicle, you should speak to a Buffalo bus accident lawyer about the best path forward based on the facts of your case.
Steps to take after a bus crash
The decisions you make immediately following a bus crash can have serious implications for your health and safety, as well as for any legal action you may choose to take. Here is a quick walk-through of some of the steps you should follow if you find yourself involved in a Buffalo bus crash:
Get to safety
Your immediate safety should be your number one priority after a crash. If you’re able to move your vehicle or yourself to a safe location near the crash site, this can protect you from suffering additional harm. You should never leave the scene of an accident, but you can and should move out of the path of any oncoming vehicles to stay safe.
Check for injuries and render aid
Once you are no longer in harm’s way, you should check yourself and others for any signs of injuries. If anyone involved in the crash was seriously injured, you should render any first aid you can safely provide while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. If you were driving and anyone was injured or killed in the crash, you are required to notify the police immediately.
Exchange information and speak to authorities
If the police are called to the scene of your accident, you should assist the responding officers in making their report. If you were driving a vehicle involved in the crash, you should also exchange your driver’s license and insurance information with the other involved drivers.
Talk to witnesses and document the scene
If anyone else witnessed your accident, you should get their information so you can contact them later. Eyewitness testimony isn’t always the most reliable form of evidence, but it can help fill in some of the gaps as your legal team and insurance company work to understand the crash. You should also take photos and videos of any property damage, road conditions, skid marks, or signs of physical injuries.
Seek medical care
You’ll want to undergo a medical evaluation as soon as you’re able following a crash. Some injuries associated with bus accidents can have unseen complications or may not be obvious immediately after a crash. Additionally, some accident survivors experience a state of shock that prevents them from recognizing certain physical symptoms. This is why it’s important to seek care as soon as possible to rule out any developing issues and generate a record of your need for medical intervention.
Report the crash
In New York, motorists are required to report any accident resulting in injuries, death, or over $1,000 worth of damage to the property of any one person to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days. You should also report the accident to your insurance company within the timeframe specified in your policy to ensure you don’t inadvertently compromise your ability to file a claim. You should, however, refrain from giving any recorded statements to insurance adjusters until after you’ve had an opportunity to consult with an experienced bus accident attorney.
What damages are available in bus accident cases?
Bus accident survivors may be entitled to compensation for certain losses related to their injuries. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the crash and the nature of the victim’s injuries, compensation may be available for both economic and non-economic damages.
An experienced bus accident lawyer can partner with life care planners, economists, medical professionals, and vocational experts to evaluate a survivor’s long-term prognosis and calculate the value of their past, present, and future losses. New York generally does not impose caps on compensatory damages, so accident victims and their legal counsel can put together an accurate and comprehensive damages presentation.
Why choose O’Brien & Ford PC to represent you?
With over 80 years of combined experience, the Buffalo personal injury lawyers at O’Brien & Ford PC are here to fight for the justice you deserve. We have deep ties to the local community here in Buffalo, and we pride ourselves on providing personalized, responsive legal support to the clients who turn to us for help.
When you choose O’Brien & Ford PC to represent you, you can expect to receive hands-on legal representation that honors your autonomy. You deserve to work with a lawyer who knows your name and will answer the phone when you call. We intentionally limit our caseloads to ensure each of our clients receives the individualized support they need while navigating a complicated and, at times, taxing legal process.
If you call our office, you’ll be connected with an attorney within two minutes. We aren’t going to pass you around from staff member to staff member or leave you wondering if someone is ever going to return your call. We know your time is valuable, and the last thing you need is to partner with a law firm that adds more stress to your already full plate. We’ll meet you where you are and give you the support and resources you need to make informed decisions about how best to proceed in your fight for accountability.
Visit Us
Visit Our Buffalo Office
You can reach us by phone or by visiting our local office at 4549 Main St., Suite 201. There’s no cost to consult with us, and we won’t charge you any attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation in your case. We know you have a lot of decisions to make, but our hope is that we can ease some of your burden and give you the information you need.
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo bus accident claims
Does no-fault insurance cover bus passengers in New York?
In some cases, bus passengers may qualify for no-fault benefits following a bus crash. Survivors can use these benefits to cover their medical expenses, a portion of any lost income, and certain other costs related to the accident. If the passenger is not covered by another no-fault policy, the bus’s insurance company may provide coverage, so you should look into all of your options rather than assuming you have no recourse to file an insurance claim.
Can parents file a claim after a school bus accident?
How much does it cost to hire a Buffalo bus accident lawyer?
What if I was partially responsible for my injuries?
Consult with a Buffalo bus accident attorney today
If you or someone you love was injured in a bus accident, you may have legal options available to you. The team at O’Brien & Ford PC has experience handling a range of different bus accident scenarios, and we are extremely familiar with the challenges associated with these cases. We are proud to represent members of our Buffalo community and consider it an honor to hold negligent parties responsible when they cause harm to our friends and neighbors.