School bus and public bus accidents can leave children and adults suffering from severe traumatic injuries. If you or your child has been injured in Volusia or Flagler County, call today for a free consultation with our bus accident lawyer.
Whether for convenience or out of necessity, many residents of Volusia and Flagler County rely heavily on public transportation. Every day, school buses and Votran buses transport thousands of children and adults to school, work, and other locations throughout the area. Public transportation is convenient, inexpensive, and good for the environment – but unfortunately, it is not risk-free. Bus accidents are a regular occurrence, and when they occur, riders, motorists, and pedestrians can all suffer serious injuries.
Bus accident cases present some unique challenges. Buses are larger and more complex than other vehicles, so it often takes a larger-scale investigation to determine what went wrong. In addition, public entities in Florida enjoy “sovereign immunity” from certain types of lawsuits. So even if the government has waived immunity for your type of claim, there are exceptionally strict rules and deadlines that apply.
There are several reasons a bus may get into an accident, and driver fatigue seems to be the most common. Some of the other common (and somewhat less frequent) causes of bus accidents are:
At Rue & Ziffra Law Offices, we have a proven record of success in school and public bus accident cases. Our attorneys have over 195 years of combined experience representing residents of Volusia and Flagler Counties, and our firm has been active in our local community since 1976. We believe in what we do, and we are passionate about fighting for our clients. If you or your family are entitled to compensation due to injuries sustained in a bus accident, you can trust our team of local bus accident attorneys to win the compensation you deserve.
We understand that many people are apprehensive about hiring an attorney. Usually, they are concerned that it will be expensive, that the process will be too stressful, or that the whole thing will end up being a waste of time. However, the truth of the matter is that if your injuries are severe, you may not be able to afford not hiring an attorney. Most accident victims’ losses are far greater than they realize. We want you to make decisions based on trustworthy advice, not common misconceptions; and when you choose our firm to represent you, we will go out of our way to make the process as stress-free as possible.
With an exclusive focus on personal injury and wrongful death representation, decades of experience, and thousands of clients represented, we are trusted advocates for accident victims in the Daytona Beach area and throughout Volusia and Flagler Counties. We handle all types of local bus accident cases.
Despite the proven safety benefits of seat belts on school buses, many local school systems still operate buses without proper restraints. Unfortunately, this puts children on board at increased risk for suffering serious accident-related injuries.
However, even seat belts cannot prevent all forms of trauma in the event of a collision. Severe lacerations from broken glass, head and neck injuries (including whiplash), broken bones, and other injuries are all common in school bus accidents.
Public bus or Votran patrons can suffer serious injuries in crashes and sudden stops as well. Whether you are sitting or standing, when a bus stops abruptly, there may be little you can do to avoid suffering a serious injury. With multiple office locations in Volusia County, we routinely handle accident cases involving Votran buses, and we have experience in cases involving other local bus lines as well.
Bus riders are not the only ones at risk of suffering serious injuries in the event of a bus accident. In collisions involving public buses, drivers and passengers of other vehicles can suffer severe traumatic injuries as well. From running red lights to driving while distracted, bus drivers regularly make mistakes that lead to devastating collisions. Inadequate maintenance, defective equipment, and other non-driver-related factors can lead to dangerous bus accidents as well.
When buses hit pedestrians, the consequences can be devastating. Pedestrians injured in bus accidents will often face lifelong complications, and the financial costs of their injuries can be too much to bear. We represent clients who have been injured at bus stops, in crosswalks, on street corners, and in all other scenarios where a negligent or reckless bus driver is to blame.
After a serious injury or accident, victims and their families have many questions in mind. We encourage you to contact us today for a free consultation, so we can personally address all your questions and concerns.
Meanwhile, these are a few of the most common questions we hear from our clients.
Many of the most common causes of bus accidents are the same as those for other types of motor vehicle collisions. Whether the driver of the bus or another driver is to blame, bus accidents are routinely the result of:
While bus operators are often responsible for accident victims’ injuries, in many cases passenger vehicle drivers will be responsible as well. From darting around buses that are “in their way” to failing to stop due to in-car distractions, car drivers can make poor decisions when confronted with school buses and public buses on the roads.
According to the latest data, on average, there is a school bus accident in Florida every other day of the year. However, since students in Volusia and Flagler Counties do not go to school year-round, this means that school bus accidents are much more common.
If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, the two most important things you need to do are: (i) get your child to a doctor promptly, and (ii) schedule an appointment to speak with an attorney about your family’s rights. You may be contacted by the local school board about the accident. If you are, you should not say anything until you have legal representation. You need to make sure your child receives professional medical treatment, and you need to make sure your family’s legal rights are protected.
Votran buses are operated by the Volusia County Government. This means that if you were injured on a Votran bus (or you were in a car that was hit by a Votran bus), you will need to file a claim against the government. Injury claims against the government are unique in several ways. For example:
Due to these and other considerations, if you have been injured in a Votran accident, it is important that you speak with an attorney about your case immediately.
In a word, “yes.” While the weather may have been a factor in your accident, it was almost certainly not the only factor involved. If the accident could have been avoided if the bus driver had been driving more slowly, if the bus had better brakes or tires, or if anyone involved had exercised just a little bit more care, we can help you seek financial compensation for your injuries.
Whether you live in Orange City or Port Orange, we have offices in your area, and we are your local attorneys for bus accident claims. At Rue & Ziffra Law Offices, we offer:
If you would like to speak with an experienced bus accident lawyer about your rights, please call (386) 788-7700 or contact us online to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We are “Your Local Attorneys,” and we are here for you 24/7.