Columbia Bus Accidents Lawyer
Being involved in a bus collision can be an extremely traumatic, terrifying incident given the size of the bus compared to the victim in their vehicle or on foot. Whether you were a passenger of the bus, a non-occupant, or an occupant of a passenger vehicle, The Columbia bus accident lawyers at Simmons Law Firm can help you win your personal injury claim against the at-fault party, ensuring that you are in the best possible position for reclaiming your damages and the financial stability of your future.
Buses Operated in and Around Columbia
There are a variety of buses that operate in Columbia, and the complexity (and the policy size) of a personal injury lawsuit greatly depends on what type of bus incident you were involved in. If the at-fault party was a city bus driver (including a public bus or school district bus), you will end up filing a claim with the municipality or school district. Another likely scenario is that the bus was property of a charter company, in which case you would end up filing a personal injury claim with that charter company.
- Public transit buses;
- Intercity public buses;
- Public school buses;
- Private chartered school buses and shuttles;
- University of South Carolina buses and shuttles;
- Hotel shuttle buses;
- Airport shuttle buses;
- Church buses;
- Charter buses for tour groups, company functions, and travel agencies;
- Interstate buses including Greyhound and Megabus;
- Jail and prison buses; and
- Privately owned buses and RVs.
Three Most Common Types of Bus Collisions and Passenger/Non Occupant Injuries
- School Bus—Because school bus occupants are seated, injuries generally impact other car occupants, cyclists, and pedestrians. Of all fatal school bus victims, an overwhelmingly large percentage—17 percent are pedestrians—according to the National Safety Council, many of whom are children on their way to school.
- Public Transit Bus—Transit buses are involved in the highest number of fatal injuries, according to the FMCSA. Injuries to occupants of the bus are more likely to occur in city bus crashes given the lack of padded seating, necessity to stand, and the many sudden stops and starts that city buses make. Occupants stand a high chance of hitting their faces on metal bars, falling during emergency braking, and slipping or falling while entering or exiting the bus if it begins moving before they find their footing. Of course, city buses also cause injuries to other drivers, and particularly to cyclists, with whom buses “share” the bike lane or shoulder of the road.
- Charter, Intercity, and Interstate Buses—Unlike public buses and school buses, which generally maintain low speeds in and around town, charter buses and interstate buses, as well as shuttles using the highway, are more likely to be involved in high-speed collisions, including rollovers. Due to a lack of seatbelts in many of these buses, risk of injury to the bus occupants is high.
Call a Columbia Bus Accident Attorney Today
Whether you were injured as an occupant of a transit bus, your child was injured in a school bus crash, or you were side-swiped by a city bus while riding your bike in the bike lane or shoulder of the road, an attorney can help you file a lawsuit against the appropriate party. Call the Columbia bus accident attorneys at Simmons Law Firm today at 803-779-4600 to schedule a free consultation.
