Bus Accidents

Grand Rapids and Traverse City Attorneys Helping Motor Vehicle Collision Victims

Bus accidents may be less common than other types of vehicle accidents, but when they do happen, they are often devastating. A bus driver may walk away from an accident without a scratch, while pedestrians and passengers in other vehicles may suffer catastrophic injuries. Sometimes passengers on the bus are injured, but more than half of all bus accident injuries involve people outside of these steel fortresses.

If you have been struck by a bus, either while on foot or in another vehicle, reach out to the Grand Rapids and Traverse City bus accident lawyers at Neumann Law Group. We have decades of experience successfully resolving all types of motor vehicle accident cases, including those arising from bus accidents.

What Duties Does a Bus Driver Owe to Passengers and Others on the Road?

Buses are usually considered common carriers, which include any vehicles for hire that hold themselves out to the public to transport passengers. Common carriers have a duty to exercise the utmost skill, diligence, and care when transporting passengers. Accordingly, bus drivers have a tremendous responsibility—both to passengers as well as to others on the road.

Unfortunately, many bus crashes are the result of driver errors, such as speeding, fatigue, or the use of prescription drugs, illegal narcotics, or alcohol. However, in situations where fault is at issue, it may be necessary to retain an accident reconstruction expert to determine the cause of the crash.

Seeking Compensation Through a Bus Accident Claim

If you suffer injuries while in a car or bus, you may have two paths to compensation. The first is to make a claim against your own no-fault insurance. No-fault insurance was put in place to provide certain economic benefits to motor vehicle accident victims, regardless of fault. You may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, medical mileage, lost wages, replacement household services, and nursing services through your no-fault insurance.

Notably, no fault claims do not provide compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. However, you may also be able to bring a personal injury claim against a bus driver or another at-fault driver for noneconomic damages if you suffered serious or debilitating injuries.

Considerations in Michigan Bus Accident Cases

Whether a bus is privately owned or publicly owned may affect your case. Public buses are those that are operated by the government, such as large metro buses. Government entities are generally protected from personal injury liability unless you can prove that the driver was acting gross negligence.

However, if the bus involved is a private commercial bus, it is usually more straightforward to sue the bus company and the bus driver under a theory of ordinary negligence. In an ordinary negligence claim, you will need to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the driver failed to use reasonable care and that this failure caused your injuries.

In terms of timing, Michigan law requires that a person with an injury claim involving a common carrier give notice of the claim to the transportation authority within 60 days.

Finally, there may be multiple parties who share responsibility for a bus accident, so it is essential to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer who regularly handles bus accidents to ensure all potentially liable parties are included in any lawsuit.

Discuss Your Case with a Lawyer Who Has Specific Experience Handling Bus Accident Cases in Grand Rapids and Traverse City

If you have been hurt in a bus accident, the Traverse City bus accident attorneys at the Neumann Law Group can help you pursue a claim for financial compensation against those who are responsible for your injuries. The Neumann Law Group also represents people in Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Wyoming, Saginaw, Muskegon, Midland, Holland, Warren, and Petoskey, as well as communities throughout the Upper Peninsula. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, give the Traverse City personal injury lawyers at the Neumann Law Group a call at 800-525-6386. You can also connect with us through our online contact form. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our services unless and until we can connect you with the compensation you deserve.