Bus Accident Lawyer in Morristown, TN

At The Terry Law Firm, we represent the legal rights of victims injured in East Tennessee bus accidents. If you have suffered severe injuries in a bus accident, contact our office to set up a free consultation and learn about your legal rights and options.

Pursuing Maximum Compensation for Your Bus Accident Injuries

When a victim is injured due to the negligence of a bus driver, bus company, or transit authority, they may be able to recover damages for both the economic and non-economic losses they suffer.

Our firm works closely with our clients to understand the impacts of the accident and fight for their right to recover monetary compensation for their injuries. Many victims underestimate the value of their claims by accepting the first offer the insurance company gives them. Our experienced attorneys will stand up to the insurance companies so our clients will not get taken advantage of in the negotiation process.

Causes of Bus Accidents

Bus accidents can happen for a wide variety of reasons. Buses are often operating on busy city streets along with numerous pedestrians and cars. This increases the likelihood of a collision.

A few of the most common causes of bus accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence
• Speeding
• Fatigue
• Inexperience
• Mechanical issues

Types of Bus Accident Claims We Handle

• School bus accidents
• Public transit bus accidents
• Greyhound bus accidents
• Charter bus accidents
• Church bus accidents
• Daycare and preschool bus accidents

Why Are Bus Accidents So Complicated?

Bus accidents are unlike collisions involving standard passenger vehicles for a number of reasons, a few of which include:

• Multiple Liable Parties

Liability can be shared among multiple parties in bus accidents. In a bus accident, it is likely that there will be more than one defendant, which can make the lawsuit more complex. For example, if the bus driver was responsible for the accident because they were fatigued, the bus company or agency responsible for the bus may also be held liable.

When the bus is owned or operated by a public agency, this can also add another obstacle to the lawsuit. Suing a government entity is often more complex than suing an individual. Manufacturers, mechanics, and other organizations responsible for the upkeep of the bus can also be held liable if the accident results from a mechanical failure. Finally, other drivers on the road might have been partially liable for causing the bus accident, so they may need to be named as defendants as well.

• Insurance Issues

Another reason bus accidents are often complex is that multiple insurance policies are usually at issue. An experienced Morristown bus accident attorney can help you identify all relevant insurance policies and determine which coverages and exclusions apply.

• Multiple Injuries

Buses are much larger than passenger cars. When a bus accident occurs, it is likely to lead to many injuries. This could mean multiple plaintiffs as well, and each one needs to prove that their injuries were caused by the negligence of the bus driver or other responsible party.

• Federal and State Regulations

Buses must follow more regulations than private passenger cars. When the bus is engaged in interstate transportation, passenger carriers are subject to federal regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These federal regulations set standards for bus drivers’ hours of service, bus maintenance and inspection requirements, and logbooks.

Tennessee also has numerous regulations specific to certain types of buses. School buses, for example, must adhere to a series of laws, such as Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-2108, which requires school bus drivers to undergo annual mental and physical health examinations.

An experienced Tennessee bus accident lawyer may investigate the accident to determine if any applicable state or federal laws were violated, which could help support your claim that the bus driver or agency was negligent in its operation of the bus.

Tennessee Statute of Limitations on Bus Accident Lawsuits

After an accident, a victim must file a lawsuit within a set period of time or else be permanently barred from recovering damages from the at-fault party. In Tennessee, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is only one year. Bus accidents are a type of personal injury claim.

One year is a very short time compared to most states. That is why it is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible after the accident to ensure your claim is filed on time. This is especially critical when dealing with large companies, like Greyhound or Megabus, or with a government entity, like the Lakeway Transit system.