Gulfport Bus Accident Attorney

If a serious bus accident left you with medical bills, pain, and suffering, and lost income, call the Gulfport bus accident attorneys at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC.  We will use our decades of experience to protect your legal rights and get you the compensation you need to move forward with your life. Call us today!

At Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, our bus attorneys are:

• Service-oriented;
• Driven to succeed; and
• Compassionate and empathetic.

Contact Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, today and schedule your no-obligation case review.  We will walk you through the claims process, answer your questions, and advise you of any legal options you have available.

How Our Experienced Gulfport Bus Accident Attorneys Can Help

Bus accidents are different from car accidents and commercial truck accidents.  Bus accident attorneys understand these differences and work tirelessly to recover compensation and closure for victims of these often devastating accidents.

When you work with the Gulfport personal injury attorneys at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, you get more than an attorney to represent you in settlement negotiations.  You get a legal advocate who will go the extra mile for you and your claim, including, but not limited to, doing the following:

• Investigating the scene of the accident;
• Working with needed expert witnesses and accident reconstructionists;
• Retaining a private investigator;
• Identifying and interviewing eyewitnesses;
• Filing your civil suit;
• Assessing your total losses;
• Demanding an appropriate settlement; and
• If settlement proves impossible, taking your case to court.

Call the legal team at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC to discuss our many services.  We have the resources and manpower necessary to pursue even the largest bus companies and protect your rights after a bus accident.

Liability for Gulfport Bus Accidents

There are several types of buses traveling city and state roadways.  Buses are characteristically larger and heavier than passenger vehicles and are rarely equipped with the same safety features.

Vehicles classified as buses include, but are not limited to:

• Passenger vans that carry 15;
• Public transportation buses;
• School buses;
• Prison buses;
• Church buses; and
• Hotel and airport shuttle buses.

While responsibility for an accident often lies with the bus driver, other parties can face responsibility for a bus crash.  These may include:

• Employers for negligent hiring practices;
• Manufacturers, sellers, or rental companies for defective buses;
• Manufacturers or sellers of defective bus parts;
• Third parties contracted to maintain or repair buses;
• A government agency responsible for a defective roadway; and
• A property or business owner where the accident was due to their dangerous premises.

Bus Accident Injuries in Gulfport

With many buses lacking standard safety equipment, there is a wide range of injuries resulting from a bus crash in Gulfport.  Some injuries are minor and include only small cuts or bruises, while other injuries are catastrophic and life-changing.

Common bus accident injuries are:

• Broken bones;
• Lacerations;
• Back sprains;
• Neck strains;
• Whiplash;
• Spinal cord trauma;
• Amputation;
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI); and
• Wrongful death.

Typical Bus Accidents in Gulfport

Bus accidents can occur in various situations, with some more common scenarios involving:

• Public Transportation Accidents: These include accidents involving city buses, metro buses, and other public transit systems.
• School Bus Accidents: Tragically, accidents involving school buses can result in severe injuries or even fatalities for children aboard the bus or other motorists on the road.
• Charter Bus and Tour Bus Accidents: These accidents may involve privately-owned companies operating tour buses or charter services, often traveling long distances and requiring additional safety protocols.
• Shuttle Bus Accidents: Shuttle buses operate in various settings, such as airport or hotel shuttles, and are similarly susceptible to accidents and injuries.

Types of Gulfport Bus Accidents

There are also several different types of accidents that buses often get into, including the following:

• Rear-End Collisions: These accidents often occur when a bus driver fails to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them, leading to a collision. 
• Left-Turn Accidents: Another common type of bus accident occurs when the bus driver attempts to make a left turn, leading to a crash with oncoming traffic. 
• Side-Impact Collisions: When a bus driver fails to yield properly at an intersection, it can result in a side-impact collision with another vehicle. 
• Rollover Accidents: A bus can overturn due to factors such as dangerous road conditions, a sudden swerve, or excess speed, leading to injuries or fatalities for passengers.
• Pedestrian Accidents: In some cases, a bus may strike pedestrians, causing a pedestrian accident in Gulfport, due to inattentive driving, impaired visibility, or failure to adhere to right-of-way laws.

Whichever type of bus accident you or a loved one is involved in, securing legal representation as soon as possible is crucial to protecting your rights and interests.

Deadlines in Gulfport Bus Accident Cases

As with any legal matter, there are deadlines that must be met when pursuing a bus accident claim. Missing these deadlines could result in the loss of your right to seek compensation for your injuries.
In most cases, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims requires that a lawsuit be filed within three years from the date of the accident. However, there are some essential exceptions to be aware of:

• If you are pursuing a claim against a local or state government entity (such as a public transit agency), you must file a notice of claim 90 days before initiating the lawsuit.
• The deadline for the actual filing of a lawsuit is one year of the date of the injury in cases involving government entities.

Bus Accident Compensation in Gulfport

The type and extent of a victim’s injuries, along with their prognosis for recovery, helps to determine the amount of the bus accident settlement. When seeking compensation for injuries sustained in a bus accident, victims can pursue different types of damages. These damages fall under two categories: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to monetary losses incurred due to the accident and can be calculated to assign an exact value. Some common types of economic damages include:

• Medical Expenses: The cost of medical care to treat injuries sustained in the accident, including hospital bills, surgeries, prescription medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care. 
• Lost Wages: Compensation for any work missed as a result of the injury, both in the past and future. 
• Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your pre-accident level of employment or force you to change careers, you may be entitled to additional compensation.
• Property Damage: Reimbursement for any damage to your vehicle or personal belongings in the accident. 

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are not as easily quantifiable as economic damages but are just as important in Gulfport bus accident cases. These damages compensate for more intangible losses such as:

• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and overall discomfort experienced because of the accident. 
• Loss of Consortium: If a victim’s spouse is negatively impacted by their injuries, they may be able to seek compensation for the loss of companionship, affection, and support. 
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Damages awarded for diminished quality of life, including the inability to partake in activities and hobbies enjoyed before the accident.

Contact a Bus Accident Lawyer in Gulfport

If you suffered severe harm or lost a loved one due to a Gulfport bus accident, contact our bus accident attorneys at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC to discuss compensation for your injuries and how to hold the bus driver, bus company, or any other liable parties responsible for your losses.  Call our office in Gulfport at (228) 872-8752 and set up your free claim review as soon as possible.