Were you recently injured in a bus accident in Carbondale, PA? You may be entitled to significant compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. An experienced Carbondale bus accident lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you stand up to the insurance companies and fight for full compensation.
Our lawyers have over 120 years of experience between us. We’ve helped injury victims like you recover tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
With our lawyers in your corner, you’ll have the best opportunity to recover fair compensation for your losses. If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact our law offices in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, to schedule a free consultation today or call (717) 995-8810.
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Why Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates for Legal Help After a Bus Accident in Carbondale?
Car accidents involving buses can be life-changing. Your injuries can prevent you from working while your medical bills stack up. That can put you in a serious financial hole.
You have the right to hold the responsible parties accountable. However, negligent parties and their insurance companies often put up a fight. Our Carbondale personal injury lawyers can help you fight back to recover full compensation.
Members of our team at Marzzacco Niven & Associates have been recognized by Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, and the National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40”.
We’re well-prepared to:
- Launch a full investigation into the bus accident
- Determine who is ultimately responsible for your damages
- Consult respected experts who can strengthen your case
- Negotiate with the insurance company to secure the best settlement terms
- Bring your case to trial if necessary to recover fair compensation
Our Carbondale personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. You’ll pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help today if you’ve been injured in an accident.
How Common Are Bus Accidents in Pennsylvania?
The County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) operates the bus system in Carbondale. COLTS currently operates 36 bus routes and serves about 2,700 passengers every weekday.
Most bus trips end without incident. However, 461 car accidents involving commercial buses were reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in 2022. Another 274 school bus accidents were reported that year. Fortunately, no bus accident fatalities were reported.
However, motor vehicle accidents involving large and heavy buses always have the potential to cause injuries and fatalities. Nationwide, 108,000 injury-producing bus accidents were reported across the U.S.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we handle all types of bus accident injury claims, including those involving:
- COLTS buses
- School buses
- Private charter buses
- Greyhound buses
- Martz Trailways buses
- Commuter buses
- New York Trailways buses
- Fullington Trailways buses
- And more
If you were injured in a bus accident, don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a free case review to discuss your legal options.
What Is My Carbondale Bus Accident Case Worth?
The value of your bus accident claim depends on many different factors, including:
- How severe was your injury?
- How much have you spent on medical treatment and property damage?
- Are you expected to make a full medical recovery?
- Does your doctor think you’ll need future medical care or rehab?
- Has your ability to work and earn a living been impacted?
- How has the trauma of being involved in a bus accident impacted you?
- What are your projected future out-of-pocket expenses?
- Do you share any blame for the bus accident?
All personal injury cases are different. If you accept an insurance settlement without getting legal advice, it’s entirely possible that you could take home less than you really deserve.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we offer free case reviews so you can learn about your rights without worrying about the costs. Contact us today to schedule yours.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Bus Wrecks in Carbondale?
Damages are classified as either economic or non-economic under Pennsylvania personal injury laws.
Depending on the nature of your losses, your compensation award could include money for:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earning potential
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, shame, and humiliation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of consortium
Additional punitive damages may be available in rare cases where a bus wreck was caused by intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for Causing a Bus Accident in Pennsylvania?
Unless you were a bus passenger, the odds are good that someone will try to blame you for causing the accident. If the insurance company can prove you were partly responsible, your settlement or verdict will be impacted.
Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence laws, your compensation will be reduced according to your share of fault. Once your percentage of fault reaches 51%, you lose your right to seek compensation entirely.
Our bus accident attorneys in Carbondale can help you understand whether the insurance company’s claims are legitimate and fight to minimize your share of responsibility.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Bus Accident Injuries
Our lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates know that any injury can change your life in unexpected ways.
We often represent injury victims who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Chest injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Buses are much larger and heavier than typical passenger vehicles. It’s typically occupants of passenger vehicles who suffer the greatest losses.
What Are the Top Causes of Bus Accidents in Carbondale, Pennsylvania?
In theory, all bus accidents are preventable. Bus drivers must obtain a commercial driver’s license before they get behind the wheel in Pennsylvania.
When bus accidents do happen, it’s usually because someone was negligent.
More specifically, some of the most common causes of bus accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Making dangerous left-hand turns
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Violating FMCSA hours-of-service regulations
- Stopping the bus in dangerous locations
- Aggressive driving
- Passing too closely
- Illegal lane changes
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Operating the bus while under the influence of drugs
- Failure to maintain the bus in a safe condition
- Driving in the bus’ blind spot
- Hazardous road conditions
- Dangerous property conditions in bus terminals and at bus stops
It’s important to know why your bus accident occurred. Identifying all causes of the accident is the only way to hold all responsible parties accountable for the damage they’ve caused.
Who Could Be Held Responsible for My Bus Accident Injuries?
Under Pennsylvania law, anyone who contributes to the cause of a bus accident can be held liable for injuries and other losses.
Depending on the circumstances, the following parties could be liable:
- A negligent bus driver
- The county transit authorities who hired the bus driver
- A private bus company
- Mechanics and maintenance companies
- Government agencies responsible for road maintenance and design
- Negligent third-party motorists, pedestrians or bicyclists
- Negligent passengers
- Employers of negligent parties
- Manufacturers of defective safety equipment
It’s also possible that multiple parties may share fault for the same crash.
How Do I Prove I Deserve To Be Compensated After a Bus Accident in Pennsylvania?
Negligence is the legal theory behind most bus accident claims.
Negligence means:
- The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty of care
- The breach of duty caused the accident
- You suffered damages
As a practical matter, you’ll have to produce evidence about why your bus accident occurred. Our lawyers will investigate and collect that evidence.
For example, we’ll search for:
- Eyewitnesses
- Video surveillance footage from traffic lights and dashcams
- Photos of the accident scene
- Police reports
- Traffic citations
- Information about the bus company’s hiring practices
- The driver’s licensing information
- Medical records
If you’re recovering from serious injuries, contact our personal injury law firm in Carbondale for legal assistance. We’re prepared to start building your personal injury claim today.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After I Was Injured in a Bus Accident in Pennsylvania?
The deadline in your case depends largely on the identity of the defendant.
Most personal injury victims generally have two years to file a lawsuit against a private party under Pennsylvania law. The two-year statute of limitations starts to run on the date of the accident.
However, you could have less time if your claim is against a government agency. Claims against the government are subject to special rules, and you must take action in a shorter period of time.
It’s not always easy to determine the statute of limitations for a bus accident case. Contact our law office as soon as you can to protect your legal rights.
Contact an Experienced Carbondale Bus Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Do you have questions about your legal rights after a bus accident? Our team at Marzzacco Niven & Associates is here to help. Call us today to arrange a free initial consultation with a Carbondale bus accident lawyer who can help.