Arizona Bus Accident Lawyers
Supporting Bus Accident Victims Across Arizona
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a bus accident in Arizona, the skilled personal injury attorneys at Rasmussen Injury Law are ready to advocate for you, your rights, and your compensation. Because buses are so large and typically have no seatbelts, these accidents often lead to severe injuries that lead to overwhelming medical expenses, lost wages, and significant emotional distress.
At Rasmussen Injury Law, our team has substantial experience and expertise in managing complicated motor vehicle accident cases, such as those involving commercial vehicles like buses. We are dedicated to helping victims of bus accidents obtain the compensation they deserve after such a traumatic event.
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Compensation for Bus Crash Injury
Each bus accident case is unique, but we are able to help most clients receive compensation for both the economic and intangible damages they endure. The Rasmussen Injury Law team of bus accident attorneys helps you seek compensation for any of the following that apply, as allowed by law:
- Medical expenses, including anticipated future medical needs resulting from the accident
- Occupational, physical, and/or speech therapy
- Lost income and loss of future earning ability
- Emotional distress (sometimes called “pain and suffering”)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages
- Property damage
Our Practice Areas
The Rasmussen Injury Law Promise:
We serve you with compassion.
We deeply understand the stress and pain that being stuck by a bus can cause. The physical, emotional, and financial toll it takes on you is significant, and we don’t take that lightly. Our compassionate injury lawyers stand ready to hear your story, support your case, and advocate for your rights.
We serve you with commitment.
The expert trial team at Rasmussen Injury Law takes the time to understand our clients, their cases, and their representation from every angle. If you’ve suffered injuries in an Arizona bus crash, you deserve an attorney who will be thorough and steadfast as they prepare and present your case.
We serve you with extensive experience.
With over 30 years of representing our Arizona community in personal injury claims, we have what it takes to help every client obtain the full, fair compensation they deserve under the law. From Mesa to Tucson to Glendale, our staff is here to help you throughout this process.
Our expertise and attention to detail also ensure that we are ready to handle the nuances of bus accident injury cases:
- Larger Defendants – In Arizona, bus accidents typically involve commercial or public vehicles. This fact often means that pursuing a legal claim may require going up against a corporation, a government transit agency, or a school district. These entities generally have their own standing legal teams prepared to defend them. Rasmussen Injury Law provides the skilled and determined representation that injury victims need when facing these powerful defendants in a bus accident claim.
- Bigger Settlements – Although no lawyer can promise a specific legal outcome, studies consistently indicate that personal injury claims handled by attorneys result in higher settlements than those pursued without legal representation. Our team explores every possible path to the full compensation you deserve.
- Half a Century of Experience – For more than 50 years, our firm has been going to bat for personal injury victims in Arizona. We’ve successfully handled a wide range of bus accident cases, from crashes caused by unsafe road conditions and inadequately trained drivers. Our team of injury lawyers combines deep knowledge of Arizona law with proven negotiation strategies to get each client the most advantageous outcome.
At Rasmussen Injury Law, we handle most personal injury and wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means you don’t owe us unless we recover money for you. As highly experienced bus accident attorneys, we provide the support and guidance you need after a serious bus injury.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Arizona Bus Crash Attorney
Frequent Causes of Arizona Bus Accidents
As with any vehicular accident, bus crashes in Arizona result from many causes:
Negligent or Reckless Driving
Negligent driving covers a wide range of careless behaviors behind the wheel, including speeding, impaired driving, and distracted driving. High speeds, distractions such as texting, and drug or alcohol use impair the bus driver’s ability to react and make safe decisions. When this happens, the likelihood of severe accidents skyrockets due to the size and weight of a bus.
Ineffective Hiring and Training Practices
A bus company’s hiring and training protocols dictate its drivers’ knowledge and skills. When a company neglects to vet their new hires properly or fails to provide sufficient high-level training, its drivers are unlikely to be able to handle the range of circumstances they will face. Inexperienced or poorly trained bus operators often make critical errors that have disastrous results.
Hazardous Road Conditions
Potholes, slick pavement, and poor lighting all create dangerous situations for any vehicle, but they are especially hazardous for large vehicles like buses. When city, state, or federal transportation agencies fail to maintain roads properly, buses, their drivers, and their passengers can be at risk.
Insufficient Maintenance and Repairs
Consistent bus safety inspections are crucial to prevent accidents. If Arizona bus companies avoid or delay proper maintenance to save money, they put drivers, passengers, and others on the road in harm’s way. Without appropriate maintenance, crucial systems such as brakes, tires, and lights can fail suddenly, leading to a crash.
Schedule a Free Consultation in Arizona with a Bus Accident Attorney
Common Bus Crash Injuries
The size and weight of a bus, together with a lack of safety restraints, can lead to significant, life-altering injuries when there is a bus accident. Collisions involving buses can harm the bus occupants, bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers and passengers in other vehicles.
While each situation is different, there are common injuries in bus crashes:
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries
When a bus crash happens, passengers often hit their heads on seats, windows, or the floor. This violent impact can lead to a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI), often resulting in long-term symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, sensitivity to light, memory problems, and confusion. TBIs can impact daily life, cognitive functioning, and relationships for a long time.
Paralysis or Spinal Cord Trauma
Spinal cord injuries are frequent in bus accidents. If someone suffers significant nerve damage or herniated discs in a crash, they may then have to live with chronic pain, reduced mobility, or even paralysis. Spinal injuries can lower a person’s quality of life and typically require intense treatment and therapy to help the patient recover some physical autonomy.
Bone Injuries and Fractures
Broken bones and other orthopedic injuries are extremely common in bus accidents because of the tremendous impact and the absence of seatbelts. Breaks in the legs, arms, ribs, and pelvis often require surgery and long-term rehabilitation services. Mobility, self-sufficiency, and the ability to earn a living can be diminished for bus accident victims who have severe orthopedic injuries.
Internal Organ Injuries
The violent jolt of a bus collision can damage internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Internal bleeding and swelling aren’t always noticeable right away, so they are particularly dangerous if patients don’t receive a prompt, accurate diagnosis.
Back and Neck Injuries
Soft-tissue damage, such as whiplash, is typical in any vehicular accident. For bus passengers, the risk is even higher, given the vehicle’s weight and the lack of safety belts. Those sitting in the rear or on the sides of the bus are most likely to suffer neck and back injuries. If the impact causes soft-tissue damage, victims may experience chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. These injuries do not always manifest immediately, so quick access to a medical assessment is crucial.
Lacerations and Burns
During a bus accident, shattered glass and falling objects can lead to deep cuts with significant bleeding. If there is a fire or explosion after the crash, victims are also likely to suffer burns that require specialized treatment. Burns and lacerations carry the risk of infection, can cause lasting scarring, and often require ongoing medical treatment.
The expert bus crash lawyers at Rasmussen Injury Law in Arizona are here to help lower your stress and anxiety as we work toward resolving your claim successfully. Speak to one of our bus accident attorneys at Rasmussen Injury Law today: (480) 637-5757.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about your bus accident case? Call us at (480) 637-5757 to speak with an Arizona bus crash lawyer near you. Our practice offers free consultations, and in most cases, we don’t collect payment until you receive a settlement or verdict.
In a bus crash, who is likely to be held liable?
Legal actions after a bus accident may involve multiple parties, depending on the circumstances. The driver, their employer, other motorists, a government entity, or equipment manufacturers may all be part of a legal case after a bus crash. A complete accident investigation is necessary to determine who bears the responsibility. After a crash, your personal injury lawyer can identify all potentially liable parties.
If you were struck by a bus, call Rasmussen Injury Law to discuss your claim: (480) 637-5757.
What should I do if I’ve been in a bus accident?
After any motor vehicle accident, including a bus collision, seek prompt, thorough medical attention, even if you don’t see obvious injuries at first. Call for police and other emergency responders to ensure you get quick medical attention. If you are physically able and it’s safe to do so, document the crash by taking photos and getting information from witnesses. Contact the bus accident lawyers at Rasmussen Injury Law as soon as you are able.
How long after the crash do I have to file a bus accident lawsuit?
For most bus accidents in Arizona, the statute of limitations for filing a claim is two (2) years from the date the accident happened. However, if the crash involves a government organization, such as a public transit agency, you may need to file a claim much more quickly, generally within six months of the incident. Contact a bus accident attorney as soon as you can for the best chance at protecting your legal right to financial compensation.
What sort of compensation can I recover after a bus crash injury?
When you’re injured in a bus accident, you may be eligible to claim everything from lost wages to medical bills to emotional distress and more. The precise amount you can recover for damages will depend on the circumstances of the crash and the extent of your injuries.
You deserve justice and compensation after an Arizona bus accident injury. Rasmussen Injury Law can help you get all you’re entitled to so that you can heal and recover. Call us today at (480) 637-5757 to connect with an experienced, compassionate bus crash attorney near you.