Greyhound bus accidents occur much more frequently than most people even realize. There are more than two Greyhound bus accidents each month [1]. Of the 69 recorded accidents in two years, two of these accidents caused fatalities.
The bus accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have a long history of helping accident victims seek compensation. We have helped our clients recover tens of millions of dollars for their injuries. Read on to learn more about the common causes of bus accidents, your legal options after a Greyhound bus crash, the relevant statute of limitations, and the process of filing an injury claim.
Common Causes of Greyhound Bus Accidents
The most common causes of Greyhound bus accidents are as follows:
- Drug and alcohol use
- Bus driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driver error or negligence
- Dangerous road conditions
- Poor bus maintenance
Your Legal Options Following a Greyhound Bus Accident
The Greyhound bus accident lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help victims file a civil lawsuit against the party responsible for their serious injuries. Some of the types of bus accident cases we help with include the following:
- Pedestrians or bicyclists hit by Greyhound buses
- Passengers injured in a Greyhound bus accident
- Other drivers hit by a Greyhound bus
Why You Need a Greyhound Bus Accident Attorney
There are many benefits to working with our Chicago bus accident lawyers.
Dealing with the expenses involved in your recovery can be expensive and difficult to manage on your own. This is why many bus accident victims turn to filing lawsuits to collect compensation that will help pay for those expenses.
Hiring a Greyhound bus crash attorney from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can make handling a personal injury lawsuit much easier and less stressful for you, as you can simply focus on your recovery while your attorney deals with the details of filing a lawsuit.
A Greyhound bus accident lawyer may be able to collect higher amounts of compensation for you that can help with your recovery. Our legal team has the experience and resources needed to make sure that you are represented fairly in any negotiations or legal actions.
This includes negotiating settlements with the company or an insurance company, both of which have a vested interest in paying you as little as possible.
Determining Eligibility for a Greyhound Bus Accident Lawsuit
When you file a lawsuit for a bus accident, there are four things that your lawyer must prove in your case:
- Duty of care: The other party had a duty of care
- Dereliction of duty: There was a breach of duty or a show of negligence from the other party
- Damages: You suffered damages
- Direct causation: Those damages were caused by their negligence
Your lawyer builds the case around these four concepts to show that you deserve compensation for damages that you suffered because of someone else. If your lawyer is successful, you win the case and can be awarded damages based on the extent of the injuries that you suffered.
Liability for Greyhound Bus Accident Cases
Greyhound bus accident cases revolve around liability, the legal responsibility for someone’s actions. In short, your case claims that another party caused your damages, which should make them legally liable for the costs of making you whole again.
One of the biggest steps that your lawyer has to deal with is determining who is liable for your accident. Bus accidents can be complex, which can make it more complicated to figure out who to direct your claims toward.
For example, a Greyhound bus accident can have several parties held liable based on the circumstances, including the following:
- Bus drivers
- The bus company
- Other drivers
- Other passengers
- You
In a case involving a Greyhound bus accident, cases are usually filed against bus drivers or the bus company directly, in specific circumstances. Failing to perform routine maintenance, for example, may make the company liable instead of the driver.
This is similar to how bus companies and other transport companies get in trouble for making their drivers work too many hours without a break. It all depends on the conditions of the accident, and your lawyer will work out who to file claims against.
Damages a Greyhound Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover
Each of the damage claims in your lawsuit falls into one of three specific categories. These categories can use different methods to calculate how much compensation a claim is worth.
The Time Limit for Filing a Bus Accident Injury Claim
It is important to contact a Greyhound bus accident attorney as soon as possible. The statute of limitations limits the time you have to file your claim with the Illinois court system. Every type of case has a statute of limitations that says exactly how long you have before the courts will not accept your lawsuit.
In Illinois, the statute of limitations for bus accidents, which qualify as personal injury cases, is two years from the date of the accident. That means you have two years to file your case with the court system, or you lose your ability to file claims at all.
Why Hire Our Greyhound Bus Accident Lawyers
Two years may sound like a lot of time, but in some cases, it is not nearly enough. You need a legal team that works fast to deliver results. The legal team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can review your case and help you decide what the best course of action is for you. We offer a free consultation so that we can take a deep look at your case and help you decide what to do next.
Evidence Collection to Support Your Greyhound Bus Accident Case
One of the most detailed parts of any case is collecting evidence. We send out a team to collect evidence from a wide range of sources, including medical specialists and law enforcement. We can even consult with expert witnesses to build your case. The quality and quantity of the evidence gathered play a crucial role in maximizing the amount of compensation you receive.
Calculating Damages to Help You Recover Compensation
One area where many people experience problems is calculating damages and compensation.
Every damage you suffer needs to have a claim filed for it, and one of the problems that we see often is that damages are left unclaimed. This limits how much compensation you can collect, and you may find yourself struggling financially since you didn’t collect all of the compensation that you needed.
We work hard to make sure that all of your costs are accurately represented and included—including long-term care costs that most people don’t think about—so that you are financially protected in the short and long term.
Insurance Company Negotiations
Insurance companies often offer settlements that underpay what you deserve. We negotiate with insurance companies to make sure that you are fairly compensated by the insurance company and are not pressured to just accept whatever they offer.
Taking Your Case to Trial
While a large percentage of cases are settled out of court, there is always the chance that your case will go to trial. That means that you need skilled representation to ensure that you are adequately represented.
The team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has experience representing cases at trial for people in your exact situation. We will take your case to trial if a satisfactory settlement that meets your needs cannot be reached beforehand.
Contact an Experienced Greyhound Accident Attorney Today!
Dealing with the aftermath of a Greyhound bus accident can take a lot of time and effort. Make sure that you have the legal assistance from a Greyhound bus crash lawyer to get the compensation that you deserve. Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation by filling out our contact form or calling toll-free at (888) 424-5757.
Our downtown office, near the Richard J. Daley Center, Dirkson United States Courthouse, and the Chicago Workers’ Compensation Commission, offers convenient access from Aurora, Joliet, and Waukegan via I-90, I-94, and I-290.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
225 W Wacker Dr #1660
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 835-8895
Toll Free: (888) 424-5757
We also serve clients from Chicago, Decatur, Peoria, Rockford and throughout Illinois.
Resources: [1] First Alert 4