Washington D.C. Bus Accident Attorneys
Complicated Bus Accident Claims Require Experienced Attorneys Bus accident lawsuits involve multiple injured parties, serious injuries, and often government entities with strict filing deadlines. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has the proven expertise to handle public transit, school bus, charter bus, and interstate travel bus accidents throughout DC. The firm understands complex investigations needed to win against well-funded bus companies and government agencies that fight to minimize compensation.
Types of Cases & Liable Parties in Bus Accident Cases
- School bus accidents: 80% of child fatalities occur during boarding/unloading, most buses lack seatbelts
- Public transit and WMATA crashes involving driver negligence or FMCSA violations
- Liable parties include bus drivers, companies, manufacturers, school districts, government entities
Why Bus Accident Victims Need Legal Representation Bus drivers are held to higher safety standards than regular motorists, making negligence cases stronger but more contested. Government immunity rules and shortened filing deadlines require immediate legal action. Washington DC bus accident attorneys navigate these complexities while securing compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and catastrophic injuries. Contact experienced lawyers immediately for free consultations—delays can forfeit your right to compensation.
Bus accident lawsuits are much more complex than typical auto accident lawsuits. There are often multiple injured parties and serious injuries, and there are also usually multiple responsible parties. Government entities, such as public schools or transportation departments, may also be involved, meaning that different procedures and time limits may apply when filing a personal injury lawsuit.
At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our injury attorneys have a proven record of success in helping victims and their families recover full financial compensation after being harmed in bus accidents. We understand the difficulties involved with these cases, and we know the investigations and strategies it takes to win them.
If you have been involved in a bus accident, it is important that you contact an experienced bus accident attorney as soon as possible. We can help you determine if someone else is at fault for your injuries and how much compensation you may be entitled to receive. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Bus Accident Cases We Handle in Washington DC
We handle all types of bus accident cases, including those involving:
- Public transit
- Interstate travel buses
- School and chartered buses
- Driver negligence and error
- Negligent hiring
- Vehicle defects
- FMCSA safety violations
Bus drivers and their employers are legally bound to a greater standard of care than drivers of passenger vehicles. The courts do not take the negligence and wrongdoing lightly on the part of bus drivers and their employers.
Still, bus companies, government entities, and insurance companies have the resources to fight against claims and make it difficult for injured victims to recover the compensation they deserve. Our attorneys are prepared to fight back against these companies, aggressively pursuing maximum compensation for you and your family.
What to Do After a Bus Accident in Washington, D.C.
If you have been involved in a bus accident, then it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you have suffered injuries, the sooner you get treatment for them, the better the chance that they won’t worsen over time or lead to complications.
It is also a good idea to document what happened in the accident and take photos of any injuries you sustained. If possible, it would be best if you could get the name and contact information of the bus driver and any witnesses so they can be contacted later on down the road.
You should contact your insurance company as soon as possible so that they can begin their investigation into the accident. However, it’s important to remember that the insurance company will likely try to pin the blame on you if they can. This is why it’s important to contact a Washington, D.C., bus accident attorney immediately so they can gather evidence and build a strong case against the liable party.
Potential Responsible Parties in a Washington DC Bus Accident
Bus crash victims have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party that caused their damages. Responsible parties can vary from case to case; in some instances, multiple parties may be at fault.
Additionally, victims can sue government entities that operate public transportation. However, these cases can involve strict time limits and rules and leave no room for error.
Our team is prepared to help clients file claims against the following:
- Local government
- Mass transit system
- School district
- Bus company
- Bus manufacturer
- Bus driver
- Insurance company
- Or other drivers
School Bus Accidents and Personal Injury Claims
Many parents believe that a school bus is the safest mode of transportation to get their children to school. However, school bus accidents are more common than people realize. Thousands of children are injured, and about 26 die yearly in school bus accidents.
School buses can be particularly dangerous because they are much larger than passenger vehicles and therefore have more mass when they collide with other vehicles or objects like street signs or trees. When this happens at high speeds, it can lead to catastrophic injuries for passengers on both sides of the vehicle involved in the collision and those standing nearby who may not get out of harm’s way quickly enough.
Also contributing to these severe injuries is the fact that most school buses do not have seat belts or airbags installed in them; this leaves other occupants vulnerable if any accident occurs while traveling near them on highways or city streets where traffic congestion is common due to rush hour times during morning commutes from home towards work locations across town from where families live off main roads leading into downtown neighborhoods close by major highways such as I-95 connecting Maryland suburbs like Rockville & Bethesda MD suburbs together with Washington DC’s city center area.
Factors That Impact School Bus Accident Cases
School bus accident cases usually involve government entities, making them more complicated than regular auto accident lawsuits. Other factors that are unique to school bus accidents:
- Loading and Unloading – In most school bus accidents, wrongful deaths do not occur in vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. About 80% of children killed in school bus accidents are struck when boarding or exiting the bus. Some are hit by passing cars, while others are struck by the school bus itself.
- Fatal School Bus Crashes – In vehicle-to-vehicle collisions, the school bus nearly always has many more passengers than the other vehicle involved. However, due to the weight and size of school buses, about 70% of people killed are occupants of other vehicles.
- No Seat Belts – Most school buses do not have seat belts. Some do, but in most areas, no law requires students to wear them. This is slowly changing as groups of concerned citizens push for seat belt requirements in school buses.
School buses run in all kinds of weather and are often in disrepair. Maintenance and upgrades can be very costly. Many of the underlying causes of school bus accidents are economical. Due to public school funding, many schools are too hesitant to close in dangerous weather.
The grim reality is that, rather than putting your child’s safety first, many schools weigh the cost of the upgrade against the potential cost of a lawsuit, should there be an accident, and choose the cheapest option.
When schools are held financially responsible for these accidents, it changes how they and other schools calculate financial risk and encourage schools to use safer practices.
Why You Should Hire the Washington D.C. Bus Accident Lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. For Your Case
The Washington, D.C. bus accident attorneys with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have a proven track record of success in helping clients obtain the maximum compensation possible for injuries they have suffered due to the negligence of others. Our firm has consistently demonstrated the expertise needed to help our clients see that justice is served.
We have the resources needed to conduct thorough investigations of all the circumstances contributing to a motor vehicle accident, gathering the evidence to establish negligence and other types of liability.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has obtained more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, one of the most respected attorney-ranking service organizations in the United States.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair compensation – no case is too complex for us to litigate.
Damages Awarded in a Washington DC Bus Accident Injury Claim
The damages awarded in a personal injury claim vary depending on the severity of your injuries. Injuries that cause severe pain and suffering may be compensated with non-economic damages (also known as “pain and suffering”) in addition to medical expenses and other bills related to the accident. You may receive lost wages if you cannot work because of your injuries. You may also be able to recover damages for loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability, and disfigurement. If you have been injured in an accident, you should speak with an experienced bus accidents lawyer to discuss the specific damages you may be entitled to recover.
Examples of Our Successful Bus Accident Cases
In addition to helping accident victims recover damages, our firm has also successfully obtained justice for clients injured in a bus accident due to someone else’s negligence. We have won millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. Here are a few examples:
- $4.5 Million Verdict for Pedestrian Accident Victim
- $780,000 Verdict for Client Hit by WMATA Metro Bus
- $455,000 Verdict Against Greyhound Lines, Inc.
- $315,000 for Man Run Over by Bus
Contact the Washington DC Bus Accident Lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. for a Free Case Evaluation
If you are looking for the highest level of representation available for your personal injury claim, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $1 billion in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
We value the attorney-client relationship and work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve. Our call center is available 24/7, giving you access to help anytime you need it.
The bus accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. serve the entire Washington, D.C. metro area, including Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria, and Woodbridge), and Maryland (Bethesda, Rockville, Laurel, Montgomery County, Waldorf, Silver Spring, Frederick County, and Hyattsville).
