According to crash statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Louisiana had 286 bus crashes that resulted in 803 injuries and five deaths in 2019. If you were involved in a bus collision, a bus accident lawyer in New Orleans can help you seek compensation.
Morris Bart attorneys help accident victims hold the at-fault parties responsible and build strong claims for financial recoveries. We can work with injured bus passengers and other motorists struck by buses. If your loved one lost their life in a bus accident, we can also help you with a wrongful death case.
Why Choose Our New Orleans Bus Accident Lawyers
- Our attorneys know how to get the results that our clients deserve for bus accident cases in New Orleans. We have recovered over $1 billion in settlements and jury verdicts.
- We have extensive legal experience. For more than 40 years, we have represented injured bus accident victims in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana.
- You won’t pay unless we win your case. At Morris Bart, our bus accident lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, with $0 charged upfront.
For a free legal consultation with a Bus Accident lawyer serving New Orleans, call (504) 613-4771
Compensation May Be Available for the Damages You Incurred
Accidents involving buses can be dangerous and destructive because of their size. It may be possible to recover compensation for your bus accident and injury case by:
- Proving that a bus driver (or another liable party) caused the accident
- Gathering evidence to support your claim
- Documenting your related expenses and losses
- Filing an insurance claim and/or a lawsuit against the responsible party
Our bus accident lawyers in New Orleans understand how to manage this process and pursue compensation for victims like you.
Personal Injury Damages
In a bus accident case, our New Orleans personal injury lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation for your:
- Current medical costs
- Future treatment and care needs
- Lost wages, benefits, and other income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damages
- Additional expenses
- Pain and suffering damages
Wrongful Death Damages
If you are filing a New Orleans wrongful death case, we may be able to help you recover compensation for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of income
- Loss of services
- Loss of companionship
- Other types of non-economic damages
Your compensation will depend on your case’s circumstances, and no two cases are exactly the same. We can help you determine all the losses associated with your case and set a fair value to negotiate on your behalf.
Bus Accident Claims Are More Complicated Than Car Accident Claims
Unlike a standard car accident involving two drivers, a bus accident in New Orleans can involve multiple parties, such as a motor vehicle driver, bus company, government agency or a school. This can make understanding your rights and pursuing financial compensation from the correct party(ies) is more difficult.
Bus accident cases also involve federal safety rules and regulations that do not apply to standard car accident cases. The FMCSA oversees transit involving large trucks and buses and enforces federal laws, such as hours-of-service regulations. Proof of regulatory noncompliance could serve as evidence of negligence in a bus accident case.
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Not All New Orleans Bus Accident Cases Follow the Same Claims Process
Many different companies and agencies run bus services in New Orleans. Municipal agencies, private companies, and individual charters provide these services. The type of organization operating the bus involved could alter the process of filing a claim in pursuit of compensation.
Per La. Civ. Code Art. 2320, a company may be responsible for their worker’s negligent behavior when it occurs on the job. This liability can include bus drivers who cause collisions that hurt passengers or other road users. Accordingly, your case may go against a bus driver and/or their employer.
We Can Help With Many Different Types of Bus Accidents
Our New Orleans bus accident attorneys know how to handle claims or lawsuits based on a bus accident. Some types of buses that could be involved in an Orleans Parish bus collision include:
- New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA)
- A bus from an area school system
- Greyhound or Megabus
- Party buses and other similar vehicles
- Private coaches and motorhomes
Different rules regarding claims against a government agency, company, or individual may impact how we approach a bus accident case.
What Are Different Types of Bus Accidents?
Bus accidents can occur in various ways. The vehicles involved, the actions of one or more drivers, the maintenance status of the bus, the crash location, and many other circumstances can determine the type of bus accident that takes place.
Common examples include:
- A bus striking a bridge or overpass
- Accidents caused by bus driver error
- Accidents caused by poor bus maintenance
- Bus accidents involving bicyclists or pedestrians
- Bus rollovers
- Defective bus part breakdowns
- Distracted bus driving accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Mass transit accidents
- Multi-vehicle collisions
- Passenger loading and unloading accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
At Morris Bart, our attorneys have the legal experience to navigate any type of bus accident case in New Orleans. We can help you understand your rights after a bus accident caused by anything from a negligent bus driver to dangerous road conditions.
We Will Investigate Your Bus Accident Case
Proving liability can be tricky when multiple parties are involved. But a New Orleans bus accident attorney from our law firm can investigate your bus accident case by:
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Obtaining key documents
- Surveying the scene
- Enlisting the help of experts, if necessary
- Proving expenses and losses
This process may allow us to develop a solid argument that you were the victim of the at-fault party’s negligence. Once our investigation is complete, we can begin pursuing compensation via an insurance claim or lawsuit.
What to Do if You’ve Been Involved in a New Orleans Bus Accident
If you get into an accident involving a bus in New Orleans, whether you are another driver or a passenger on the bus, there are steps you should take to protect your rights.
Here’s what to do:
- Pull over. If you are driving another vehicle, stop as close to the bus accident scene as is practicable. Move to a safe location out of the way of oncoming traffic.
- Check yourself and others for injuries. Look for injuries to yourself or fellow bus passengers and request emergency medical assistance as needed.
- Gather information. Write down a description of events. Get the bus driver’s name, the bus number and license plate numbers, and contact information of any witnesses.
- Collect evidence. Document the scene by taking photographs before you leave. Do not alter the scene unless it is necessary for safety reasons.
- Notify your insurance company. If you were driving your car, tell your own car insurance company about the accident.
- File a claim. Contact the bus company to report the accident and file a claim. Do not accept the first settlement offer made by an insurance company.
- Seek legal advice. Consult with an attorney before engaging in settlement negotiations, especially if you sustained significant injuries or damages.
Contact us as soon as possible after a bus accident for legal counsel. An attorney from Morris Bart can help you understand your rights, collect evidence, and follow the legal procedures necessary to file a New Orleans bus accident claim.
What Is the Timeline for a Bus Accident Case?
Generally, there is a one-year deadline for suing the liable parties after a collision in Louisiana. This deadline is true for:
- Personal injury lawsuits, where you have one year from the date of the accident to sue under Civ. Code Art. 3492
- Wrongful death lawsuits, where you have one year from the date of your loved one’s death to sue under Civ. Code Art. 2315.2
There are exceptions to these general deadlines, and some circumstances may shorten your time to sue. Thankfully, we sometimes reach settlements for our clients before needing to sue.
When you contact us following the accident, an attorney from our firm can provide you with information on what specific deadlines pertain to your case.
Morris Bart Injury and Accident Lawyers Have More than 40 Years of Experience With Accident Claims
The Morris Bart law firm has served injured accident victims for over four decades. We have 15 Gulf South locations and represent in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.
Our Record of Success
The Morris Bart law firm secured compensation for our clients in more than 6,500 cases in 2019. This figure includes both negotiated settlements and court awards. Past case results for our New Orleans car accident clients include:
- $852,845 for a client with facial fractures, neck pain, and back pain
- $450,000 for a client requiring lower back surgery
A personal injury lawyer from our team may be able to help with your bus accident case, too.
Speak With a New Orleans Bus Accident Attorney Today
A bus accident lawyer in New Orleans from our office can help you seek compensation based on the facts of your collision. We can manage all of the legal work in your case while you focus on your recovery. The sooner you contact our firm, the sooner we can start working on your behalf.
The Morris Bart law office in New Orleans offers complimentary consultations for bus collision victims. During this consultation, we will assess your rights and options at no cost to you. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about our services.
Questions?Call (504) 613-4771
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
