Megabus Accident Lawyers

In the early morning hours of Monday, April 13, 2015, a Megabus departing from Chicago collided with a semi-truck in Indiana, injuring nineteen passengers on board. Thankfully, none of the injuries involving the driver and passengers were critical or fatal.

However, this commercial bus accident placed the company under intense scrutiny because it was the fourth accident involving a Megabus between October 2014 and April 2015 to occur in Indiana alone.

Stressed and tired drivers, inadequate maintenance schedules, or defective bus designs may contribute to the increased rate of large bus accidents. However, bus companies are responsible for ensuring every passengers’ safety of those using their services.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is committed to protecting the rights of passengers injured in Megabus accidents in Illinois. Our law firm represents injured people exclusively. Each bus accident lawyer has experience investigating and litigating bus accident cases in and around Chicago, from fender benders to horrific crashes.

If you need a personal injury lawyer following a Megabus accident, complete our online form, and an attorney from our law firm will be in contact with you for a free case consultation.

Our personal injury attorneys currently represent clients throughout the U.S., Illinois, and the Chicago area, including Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, Will County, Aurora, Chicago, Elgin, Joliet, Naperville, and Schaumburg.

According to data, over 350 million people travel across America every year using inexpensive common carriers, including Megabus, from New York City to Los Angeles.

Megabus Accident Lawyer

Discount Bus Fares May Be Representative of Corner Cutting When it Comes to Safety

A few years ago, the United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced its consideration of conducting annual inspections on vehicles managed by Megabus operating carriers.

For years, companies that provided curbside bus service (not including school bus operations) sidestepped many safety requirements that resulted in crashes that harmed or killed bus passengers.

Megabus is known for its extremely low fares. Megabus operating carriers have faced criticism that the company may be cutting corners to keep its operating costs down. The use of poorly manufactured parts or the failure to perform regular maintenance of buses can increase the likelihood of a Megabus crash.

The double-decker Megabus' critical systems could fail and cause all types of bus accidents, including a tire blowout. To cut corners, the Megabus might require the bus driver to work extra hours.

The drivers might be overworked and not given an adequate amount of time to rest between shifts, which only exacerbates the chances of being involved in an Illinois bus accident.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the leading Megabus operating carrier began downsizing their weekly schedule to manage their profits better. Many routes originating in Chicago, St. Louis, and other Midwest locations were eliminated.

Types of Injuries Occurring on Megabuses

The severity of injuries sustained by riders on Megabuses can vary depending upon the accidents' circumstances. Victims have reported being injured when being thrown from their seats, when windows have shattered, and by debris caused in the wreckage at the scene.

Typical damages include the following.

Lacerations caused by glass, metal, or debris from other vehicles or contact with the ground
Broken or shattered bones due to sudden impact with objects or from being thrown out of one's seat
Traumatic brain injuries caused by blows to the head or spine - These injuries can be as minor as a concussion or lead to more severe conditions which may not present symptoms until weeks or months after the initial injury.
Amputations caused by catastrophic injuries or infections- An injury is more likely to happen when the victim travels in another vehicle struck by the bus.
Partial or complete paralysis from the location of an injury to the spine downward - The cost of caring for a loved one who has been paralyzed is tremendous and often places undue stress on the injured victim's family, who must not only provide constant care but find a means of paying for ongoing treatment.

In 2015, numerous plaintiffs filed a civil case against Megabus involved in a crash in southern Indiana. Megabus was listed as a defendant. Personal injury attorneys handling the lawsuit were seeking compensation for severe bus accident injuries and wrongful death.

Megabus Accident Attorney

The Rights of the Injured Due to Megabus Crashes

Were you injured in a Megabus crash caused by a bus driver or the Megabus company's failure to maintain its vehicle correctly? If so, you are entitled to receive compensation for the cost of your medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, and pain and suffering.

Bus companies continue to place a higher priority on their bottom lines than on public safety. They should be held accountable for their negligent choices and behavior

Megabus Accident FAQs

The attorneys in our law firm understand that you likely have many questions about filing a bus accident lawsuit, claim, or case against a bus company, recovering your damages involving injuries, and wrongful death. Our legal team has answered some of those questions below.

Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free consultation for additional answers about liability and bus accidents. We are here to help.

Is Megabus Dangerous?

According to the Transportation Research Institute, traveling by Megabus is relatively less safe than traveling by other public transportation, including CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). However, you are less likely to suffer severe injuries or be killed while traveling in a Megabus than a car or light truck.

Most Megabus accidents are caused by bus drivers whose negligent actions and insufficient driver training led to preventable suffering. Some Megabus accident injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, pain, and suffering.

Is Megabus Sketchy?

Megabus operates a low-cost non-luxurious traveling option throughout the United States. While the trip might not be extravagant and the traffic irritatingly slow, it is not a sketchy alternative to using Amtrak, Greyhound, or personal vehicle.

In recent years, the U.S. Department of Transportation has set safety concerns of the number of injured riders hurt and an avoidable Megabus accident. Many common carriers, including Megabus, have seen a significant rise in liability coverage from insurance companies paying out high settlement amounts and jury trial awards to injured accident victims to resolve bus accident cases.

Is Megabus Safer than Greyhound?

The double-decker bus company offers the same driving experience as Greyhound at a lower price. Both companies provide a comfortable, seemingly safe, seat to hundreds of destinations across the United States.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highly Safety (IIHS), both Greyhound and Megabuses offer a safer and convenient way to travel than other driving alternatives. Most bus riders on Megabus coaches tend to be younger compared to Greyhound and other charter buses.

Is Megabus Really Safe?

The low-cost transportation company advertises that it is both convenient and safe. However, numerous bus accidents have happened in recent years, injuring and killing passengers and others.

Statistics reveal that there were a few dozen crashes throughout the United States involving Megabuses over the last three years. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) does not currently publish the Megabus safety rating separate from other commercial motor carriers.

How Safe Are Bargain Buses?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there are nearly a dozen accidents every year involving Megabus coaches. Fortunately, during this time, there were no life-threatening injuries to passengers or drivers in other vehicles.

How Likely Is a Bus Crash?

According to the NHTSA, about 60,000 crashes occur every year involving motor coaches of all kinds. Out of these, about 14,000 suffer mild to severe injuries, with approximately 300 deaths.

Hiring a Megabus Accident Attorney

Contact the law firm of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC today to schedule a free consultation with a Chicago bus accident attorney who has successfully represented individuals just like you. Our personal injury lawyers will advise you of your legal rights and options.

Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 or through the contact form, text message, or voicemail. Every powerhouse Megabus accident lawyer in our group has a successful track record for resolving Megabus accident cases.

Our attorneys will gather all pertinent information required to conduct our in-house investigation. Our experts will establish whether you or a family member has a compensation case. We have all the necessary resources to build a strong case to resolve your claim successfully.

Our legal team will work hard on your behalf to ensure you receive the monetary recovery needed to pay your bus accident-related expenses. If we cannot assist you or fail to recover compensation for your Illinois Megabus accident, all our services will be free of charge.

Contact our Chicago bus accident lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or through the contact form to schedule a free consultation. All discussions with our personal injury law firm remain confidential through an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send sensitive information to our law office through voicemail, email, or text message. Our attorneys follow social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus).

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Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld. Michonne Proulx

Extremely impressed with this law firm. They took control of a bad motorcycle crash that left my uncle seriously injured. Without any guarantee of a financial recovery, they went out and hired accident investigators and engineers to help prove how the accident happened. I am grateful that they worked on a contingency fee basis as there was no way we could have paid for these services on our own. Ethan Armstrong

This lawyer really helped me get compensation for my motorcycle accident case. I know there is no way that I could have gotten anywhere near the amount that Mr. Rosenfeld was able to get to settle my case. Thank you. Daniel Kaim

Jonathan helped my family heal and get compensation after our child was suffered a life threatening injury at daycare. He was sympathetic and in constant contact with us letting us know all he knew every step of the way. We were so blessed to find Jonathan! Giulia

Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial. Lisa

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