After a serious bus accident, you may be left with painful injuries and questions about how you will support yourself and your family. When facing this challenging situation, you deserve a Queens bus accident lawyer who will take the time to understand what happened and fight for the compensation your injuries warrant.
At Levine And Wiss, we are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. With hundreds of millions recovered for our clients, we understand what it takes to win these cases. If you were hurt in a collision involving a bus, our team can review your legal options during a free consultation with one of our Queens personal injury lawyers.
How Our Bus Accident Lawyers Serving Queens Can Help After a Collision
Claims involving buses can present challenges that do not arise in many car accident cases. A single crash may involve the bus operator, a private transportation company, a public transit authority, a maintenance provider, another driver, or several other potentially responsible parties.
Determining exactly what caused the accident and identifying everyone who may be liable can require a detailed investigation.
When you work with our firm, we can begin examining the circumstances surrounding your accident and gathering evidence before important information disappears. Depending on the facts of the case, relevant evidence may include:
- Police or accident reports
- Witness statements
- Video or surveillance footage
- Bus driver records
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance documents
- Information regarding driver training
- Electronic data or other records from the bus
- Evidence from the accident scene
- Opinions from accident reconstruction specialists or other experts
Beyond determining how the accident occurred, we’ll work to understand how your injuries have affected your life. A bus accident may interfere with your ability to work, care for your family, participate in activities you once enjoyed, or live independently.
Throughout your case, our legal team can keep you informed about significant developments and handle communications with insurance companies and opposing parties. We can pursue settlement negotiations while preparing your case for litigation when appropriate.
Our goal is to seek compensation that accounts for the full impact of the accident rather than accepting an offer simply because it provides a quick resolution.
Compensation Available After a Bus Accident in Queens
The value of a bus accident claim depends on several factors, including the seriousness of your injuries and the long-term consequences of the crash.
Some losses have a relatively clear financial value, while others reflect the physical and emotional consequences of being seriously injured. Our attorneys can evaluate the damages associated with your case and help you understand what compensatory damages may be available through a settlement or, when necessary, a lawsuit.
Depending on your circumstances, recoverable damages may include compensation for:
- Medical costs
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Lost income
- Reduced earning ability
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Every case is different, and no attorney can guarantee a particular recovery. However, carefully documenting both your financial losses and the personal effects of your injuries can be essential to pursuing the compensation available under New York law.
Punitive Damages
You may be able to pursue punitive damages from the liable party if their actions were intentionally harmful or constituted gross negligence. These damages are only available in a small number of cases and are intended to punish particularly wrongful conduct and discourage similar behavior in the future.
Queens Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me
(888) 468-4878Time Limits for Filing a Bus Accident Lawsuit in New York
The general statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in New York is three years. However, the exact deadline may depend on the nature of the claim and who owns or operates the bus involved in the collision.
Claims involving a private bus company may be subject to different deadlines than claims against a government entity or public transportation authority. When a public agency is involved, injured parties may also need to comply with special notice requirements before filing a lawsuit, including significantly shorter filing deadlines.
Because determining the correct deadline can be complicated, it is important to investigate the ownership and operation of the bus as soon as possible. A Queens bus accident attorney can review the facts of your case, identify the applicable parties and filing requirements, and help ensure that necessary documents are prepared and submitted within the required timeframes.
Click to contact our Queens Personal Injury Lawyers today
Proving Fault in a Queens Bus Accident Case
Establishing liability is often one of the most important parts of a bus accident claim. Although the bus driver may appear to be responsible at first glance, a thorough investigation may reveal that other individuals or organizations contributed to the crash.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- The bus driver
- A private bus or transportation company
- A public transit authority or government entity
- A company responsible for vehicle maintenance
- Another motorist
- Other parties whose negligent actions contributed to the collision
At Levine And Wiss, our bus accident attorneys serving Queens can examine the evidence to determine whether one or more parties failed to exercise reasonable care.
New York also follows pure comparative negligence rules that can allow an injured person to recover damages even when they share responsibility for an accident. However, the amount of compensation available will be affected by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured party.
Contact Our Bus Accident Attorneys in Queens Today
After a bus accident, you may have concerns about your medical care, lost income, mounting expenses, and legal rights. Our team at Levine And Wiss can help you pursue a claim to recover the compensation you deserve. With over 100 years of combined experience, we understand the challenges you face and are prepared to take your case to court if necessary.
Reach out to us by phone or through our online contact form to set up your free case evaluation with one of our experienced bus accident lawyers in Queens. Our team can review the details of your case, explain your legal options, and answer any questions you may have about your claim.