Virginia Bus Accident Lawyers
Buses are important forms of public transportation to a number of residents and visitors alike in Virginia. Because buses typically carry a large number of passengers, they are significantly bigger than traditional passenger vehicles—and thus far more likely to cause severe injuries to the people involved in bus accidents.
Need an Injury Lawyer Virginia represents clients in communities all over the Old Dominion who have sustained injuries in bus crashes. Buses are considered mass transit vehicles which are subject to strict Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations relating to the number of hours that drivers can work and the maximum number of passengers in a vehicle. Violations of FMCSA regulations can make a bus carrier liable for the injuries victims suffer.
Bus Carriers in Virginia
Virginia is served by a number of different local and national bus carriers. The state is served by several Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transit services, charter buses, demand response buses, fixed route buses, and intercity buses.
Some of the different bus carriers in Virginia include:
- James River Bus Transportation
- Greyhound
- Megabus
- Venture Bus Tours
- Winn Bus Lines
- Blacksburg Transit
- Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT)
- Hampton Roads Transit
- GRTC Transit
- Valley Metro
- Alexandria DASH
- Fairfax Connector
- Virginia Railway Express
- Washington Metro
- STAR Transit
- The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC)
Causes of Bus Accidents in Virginia
Buses are extremely large vehicles, so it is not uncommon for multiple automobiles to be involved in these crashes.
When a bus accident is the result of a bus driver’s negligence or some kind of defect relating to the bus, the bus company may be liable to victims for their injuries. If a crash is caused by another driver, then that person could be liable.
Bus drivers often work very long hours, so fatigue is a common factor in many of these crashes. Driving while impaired (DWI) by drugs or alcohol or reckless driving can also be driver actions causing bus crashes.
Issues with the bus that are beyond the control of drivers can also cause bus accidents. Bus companies may be liable for failure to properly maintain their vehicles, and third parties could be responsible if a bus part was defective.
Many accidents involving buses will result in extensive investigations. The people involved in these crashes can suffer highly serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or paraplegia.
Contact a Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer
If you sustained catastrophic injuries or your loved one was killed in a bus crash in Virginia, it is in your best interest to call Need an Injury Lawyer Virginia as soon as possible. Our firm is available 24/7 to answer your legal questions and help you understand all of your rights.
Bus carriers are required to carry much larger insurance policies than traditional passenger vehicles, but this does not mean that insurers for bus companies are particularly eager to quickly or fully compensate victims. In many cases, they will make deliberate efforts to minimize injury awards.
Need an Injury Lawyer Virginia can negotiate with these insurance companies and fight to get you every last cent of compensation that you are entitled to. We provide free, no obligation consultations so our lawyers can review your case and help you understand all of your legal options.