Our Experienced Florida Bus Accident Attorneys Have Been Representing The Rights Of The People For Over 33 Years.
Millions of people in Florida rely on buses to carry them safely to work and to school. Buses are often used in high-traffic and urban areas with other motor vehicles, such as cars and trucks, accidents are inevitable. When Florida bus accidents occur, dozens of passengers can be injured, as well as pedestrians and other motorists.
Legal issues involving bus accidents can often become complicated when a bus is operated by a city or other municipal or government agency. These complexities make obtaining compensation for injuries from a bus collision requires legal expertise beyond that required in a routine car accident. The Florida personal injury law firm of Gilman Law LLP has attorneys that have experience in handling bus collisions and strives to protect your legal rights in a bus accident.
How To Get Help After A Florida Bus Accident
The Florida bus accident attorneys of Gilman Law LLP have the expertise to protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of a Florida bus accident, call Gilman Law LLP at (888) 252-0048 or complete our free consultation form online to receive a free case review. Our Florida bus accident attorneys serve clients across the state of Florida, including Ft. Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Lee County, Collier County, Everglades City, Golden Gate, Immokalee, Sanibel and Bonita Springs.
About Florida Bus Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines a bus as a motor vehicle designed to carry 11 passengers or more, including the driver. It defines a school bus as a bus sold for the purpose of carrying students to and from school and other events.
Accidents involving bus collisions happen more frequently than people realize. There were approximately 11,000 bus accidents in the United States in 2006. They caused 21,000 injuries and 331 fatalities, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. From 1997 to 2007, 1,541 people died in school bus-related crashes—an average of 140 fatalities per year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Most people who lost their lives in those crashes were occupants of other vehicles. In fact, about 70 percent of bus accident victims are people driving or riding in other vehicles. Buses are bigger and heavier than most other vehicles on the highway, which is why accidents involving buses typically cause injury to others beyond just the passenger of the bus.
Bus Accident Information and Statistics
School buses are nearly eight times safer than passenger vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Even so, too many school-age students die each year in bus accidents. Of the buses involved in fatal crashes, school buses represented the largest category, with 116 school buses involved in fatal accidents and 136 fatalities.
Bus collisions occur for a number of reasons including: Driver distraction and negligence, defective equipment, dangerous roads or weather conditions and inadequate bus maintenance can all play a part in causing a Florida bus accident. Legally, a bus is considered a “common carrier,” and bus drivers must use great care when transporting passengers. When they fall short in their duties, bus drivers or bus companies can be held liable for the injuries that result.
The Florida bus accident attorneys at Gilman Law LLP understand the intricacies of this area of law and have helped people injured in bus accidents receive compensation to get their lives back in order.
The experienced Florida bus accident lawyers at Gilman Law LLP are skilled at evaluating the factors of an accident and will help you identify all potential defendants to ensure fair and appropriate compensation for your injuries. If you have been injured in a bus accident caused by the negligence of another, we will work hard to make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Please fill out our online free consultation form or call (888) 252-0048 to discuss your case with one of the experienced Florida bus accident lawyers at our firm.