Best Bus Accident Lawyer Denver CO
If you or a loved one has been involved in a bus accident that resulted in harm and other losses, it may be possible to pursue compensation with help from the best bus accident lawyer in Denver, CO at Richard J. Banta, P.C. As a trusted bus accident lawyer, we empathize with what you might be going through and would like to listen to what happened during a complimentary consultation. If possible, we will seek to recover maximum damages for you and your loved ones. Please don’t hesitate to call our office to speak with a skilled bus accident lawyer.
Meet Richard J. Banta, P.C.
In the wake of an injury that occurred in a bus accident, you might feel confused, helpless, and overwhelmed. Your insurance company may be pressuring you to sign their documents or accept a settlement offer, but more than likely, they are denying you any coverage – especially if you were the occupant on a bus. Now what? As a bus accident lawyer, we know that these cases tend to be rife with particular challenges, especially when it comes to any party accepting liability. By choosing us, you can feel confident in knowing we:
- Will listen to what you have to say
- Be honest about what you may expect
- Have the necessary resources to investigate bus accident cases
- Are not afraid to stand up against large bus companies or municipalities
- Are equipped with a tenacious skill that gets results
- Represent occupants of a bus, occupants of a car, pedestrians, cyclists, and bus drivers
Bear in mind that even if an insurance company is promising you compensation, they don’t necessarily have your best interests at heart. It is advisable to be cautious in the things you might say to the insurance company or any other person who might be investigating what happened. In fact, talking with the best bus accident lawyer in Denver, Colorado first may be a good idea.
Are Buses Safe?
The safety of any particular bus is a confluence of different factors that include the type of bus, the model, it’s maintenance schedule, it’s driver, road conditions, and so forth. In 2015, according to the Department of Transportation, there were 15,000 bus accidents that resulted in 24,000 injuries, and 247 deaths. The majority of these accidents involved school buses followed by public transportation buses in cities, and commercial buses. A 2012 article published in the Journal of Safety of Research suggests there are risk factors that may be associated with bus accidents, including:
- A young bus driver who is under 25
- A driver over 55, but often one who is over 65
- Driving more than 65 MPH
- Driving at 20 MPH or less
- Driving through intersections
- Distracted driving
- Risky or reckless driving techniques
If you have been injured because a bus driver was driving recklessly or a company was cutting corners to profit more money, please call a bus accident lawyer from Richard J. Banta, P.C. If you believe any of the following is to blame for your injuries, you may have the right to monetary compensation:
- The driver of the bus
- The bus company
- A manufacturing parts company
- The government (local or state)
- The driver of another car
It is important to understand the bus accident claims can be complex, especially if you have opted for limited tort in your own insurance policy. If this is true, you may have limited options for seeking compensation for pain and suffering. Realistically, it will be useful to ask best Colorado bus accident lawyer in Denver to review your case and find out what options may be available.
Best Bus Accident Lawyer in Denver, CO
In most cases, bus drivers drive for hours a day very safely, however if an accident occurs you should be prepared with the best bus accident lawyer Denver, CO has to offer. Taking the bus is usually a safer alternative to driving, but certain conditions can lead to accidents even with the most experienced of drivers. Some conditions that commonly cause bus accidents are: drowsy driving, driving under the influence, harsh road conditions such as snow and fog, human error, and distracted driving.
One of the issues that can cause a bus accident case to become challenging is that there are often multiple victims who have been injured. If it turns out that the cause of the crash was due to some type of action or negligence on the part of the bus driver or other employee, the high number of bus accident injury claims can slow the process down considerably.
It can become even more difficult if the party who caused the crash was a third party, like another vehicle driver. In this case, victims would have to pursue damages against that driver, through their insurance company. However, that insurance policy may not have enough coverage to pay all the accident claims from all the victims. This is where having a bus accident attorney is critical since they have the ability to determine what other legal options there are for financial justice.
Every state, including Colorado, has stringent statute of limitations on how long a victim has to file a claim. Typically, this time limit is two to three years, depending on the laws of the state the crash occurred in. However, if the bus was owned by a government entity, such as a city bus, then there are totally different rules that apply. Failure to follow the required steps for filing a claim will result in dismissal of your claim. Failure to file a claim before the statute of limitations expires will result in the victim losing their right to pursue damages at all.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a public transportation accident, you need to contact the best bus accident lawyer in Denver. Call Richard J. Banta, P.C. today to schedule a consultation. You may only have a brief time to make your claim
Let a Denver, CO Bus Accident Injury Attorney Help
If you have been injured in a bus accident, contact Richard J. Banta, P.C. to find out what legal recourse you may have. A bus accident injury attorney can help you obtain the financial compensation that you deserve for medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and any other losses you have suffered. Call today to set up a free and confidential consultation.
What to Do Immediately after the Accident
If you are a passenger in a bus crash, you should immediately call 911. It’s important to make sure that everyone is okay and to have your injuries documented. Not only could you potentially need medical attention, but many states have a small window of time for passengers to report injuries in order for them to be valid in court.
Seeing a medical professional as soon as you can is imperative, and in many cases the bus company will cover the expenses of your appointment. It’s also important to have a police report generated with all of the details of the accident. Having a well documented series of events and injuries is very important information for your lawyer to have on file. Additionally, getting the information of the other passengers on the bus may be useful to your case later on.
Unique Legal Issues
In a bus accident, third parties are often involved when it comes to making a claim which can make the process more complex. Bus companies can also complicate legal matters because they may have certain immunities from liability.
Finding Denver’s best bus accident lawyer is important so that you can receive the compensation you may deserve. If a third party is at fault for the accident, generally you will be able to make a third party claim through their insurance provider. If the bus driver is at fault, things become more complicated. Many buses, such as school buses or buses used for public transportation, are considered government entities. Filing a lawsuit against a government entity can be taxing and complex, so we highly recommend getting legal representation promptly.
You Have a Limited Time to File a Bus Accident Claim
There are many reasons why you may delay filing a personal injury claim after a bus accident. You may still coping with the aftermath of what happened and getting your life back in order. You may also find the process unpleasant or confusing and make excuses to avoid it.
However, it is best to file a bus accident claim as soon as you can possibly attend to it in order to protect your rights. There is a limited timeframe in which you can file a personal injury claim, and if you wait too long, you will likely be unable to gain compensation for your injuries. Furthermore, the sooner you file your claim, the faster you may be able to resolve it.
What Is a Statute of Limitations?
A statute of limitations is a law that limits the amount of time you have to take legal action. In the case of personal injury, it is the timespan in which you can file a claim. Each state sets its own statute of limitations on personal injury claims, meaning that your window of opportunity varies in length depending on your location. Most states’ statutes of limitations range between two to five years following the date of the accident.
You definitely want to check the rules that apply to your state before filing a claim, but you can feel fairly confident in meeting the deadline if you can file within one year of the accident. The best bus accident lawyer in CO can help you to understand the statute of limitations for bus crashes during your consultation.
When Does the Statute of Limitations Begin?
Generally speaking, the statute of limitations begins as soon as you sustain your injury. In other words, if you live in a state with a three-year statute of limitations, you have three years from the date of the accident in which to file a claim. After that time, you can try to file, but the court is likely to dismiss your case.
However, there are circumstances in which the statute of limitations doesn’t begin immediately, extending the deadline by which you need to file a claim. If the harm you suffered was so subtle that you didn’t discover it right away, nor could you reasonably have been expected to do so, your statute of limitations may begin not on the date of injury, but on the date you discovered the harm. Another possibility is that the accident occurred when you were a minor, in which case the statute of limitations may begin on your 18th birthday rather than the date of injury.
Bus Accident Statues May Be Inherently Unique
As we may explain to you during a consultation, some of these collisions will involve a government municipality or entity. For example, if your child was injured in a school bus, you may need to file a claim against the local government. If this is true, the statute of limitations will be much less. You may have just 30 days to file a notice of claim. If you believe you will need to pursue the government, please call the Law Office of Richard J Banta, P.C., to speak with the best bus accident lawyer in Denver, Colorado that men, women, and children can count on for advice and legal advocacy.
Bus accident law is often much more complex than that of car accidents so it is important to follow the procedure laid out by your lawyer. Ensuring proper documentation of the crash as well as getting seen by a doctor for any injuries can be a make or break piece of your case.
Prepare yourself with the best bus accident lawyer so that you can receive the compensation you may deserve. If you have been in a bus accident, contact the best bus accident lawyer located in Colorado from Richard J. Banta, P.C. at 303-331-3415.
