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BUS ACCIDENT ACCIDENT

Trial-Tested Bus Accident Attorneys Fighting Tirelessly to Help Victims Recover & Win

In the blink of an eye, bus crashes can leave dozens of people with devastating injuries. Whether you’re inside or near a bus when a wreck happens, you need honest answers and skilled advocacy for the best chances of recovering. You need the 5-star Covington bus accident lawyers at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers.

For more than 20 years, we have provided exceptional representation to crash survivors and families in all types of bus accident claims — even the toughest cases that involve the most challenging opponents. Known for our experience, strategic counsel, and compassion, we know how to win when it matters most.

We’re here for you 27/4, and we’re ready to start helping you now.

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Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers has recovered millions

 for accident survivors and families who have lost loved ones to fatal bus crashes. We are ready to make your claim and recovery our next victory.

Click on a link below to jump directly to a section and learn more about bus accident causes, lawyers, cases, and compensation.

What Are the Leading Causes of Bus Accidents?

Negligence is one of the leading causes of bus accidents. This can come in various forms, and often, multiple types of negligence can play a role in a single bus crash. By and large, however, the negligence resulting in bus wrecks usually comes in the form of one or more of the following.
Road accident. Broken in an accident the city bus.
Driver Negligence & Bus Accidents
Bus drivers and other motorists on the road can be careless, inexperienced, or just plain reckless behind the wheel. Typically, that means misjudgments, misperceptions, and performance errors, resulting in or from negligence like (but not limited to):
  • Speeding or aggressive driving: Heavy buses that are speeding down I-190 or any of Covington’s busy roads are much more difficult to slow down, maneuver carefully, and stop. Similarly, when other motorists speed or drive aggressively, it can be difficult for bus drivers to quickly maneuver out of the way of a collision, especially if those other motorists are in a bus’s blind spots (and drivers never see them coming).
  • Drug and/or alcohol impairment: Intoxication or drugs can slow reaction times, cause severe drowsiness, and alter drivers’ perception of reality. Although drunk driving is illegal in every state, too many drivers, including commercial motorists like bus drivers, still make the risky decision to drive while impaired — and many of those impaired drivers cause wrecks.
  • Inattention or distraction: Failing to pay attention to the road is akin to impairment in that bus drivers and other motorists who are distracted can overlook things in their environments and be slower to react when necessary.
  • Failures to abide by traffic laws and/or bus regulations: At any point, drivers who break the rules of the road can put others in danger. Sometimes, that contributes to bus accidents. This can include anything from failing to stop behind a school bus to running red lights, failing to yield, and more.
Driver negligence may be uncovered via evidence like police reports, witness statements, and accident scene photos. A Covington bus accident lawyer at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers can figure out whether driver negligence — and/or other types of negligence — was involved in your wreck.
Bus Company Negligence & Bus Crashes
The companies that own and operate buses can be liable for bus crashes when they have put dangerous drivers or vehicles on the roads. These companies can also be at fault when their policies or failures to abide by federal (or state) regulations have played a role in a bus accident. Keep in mind that private companies and public organizations can operate the buses that may be involved in motor vehicle wrecks. It’s critical to know which may be a party to your potential claim because that could impact the filing deadlines (statutes of limitations) and other key issues of case.
Bus Wrecks Caused by Faulty Equipment
Mechanical failures can cause any motorist, including auto and bus drivers, to lose control of their vehicles and get into bus accidents. These equipment malfunctions can result from a number of factors, like (but not limited to):
  • Inherent design flaws
  • Substandard manufacturing
  • Improper installation
  • Failures to maintain
That could put parties like equipment manufacturers, vehicle or bus technicians, and bus companies in the hot seat when faulty vehicle equipment is a factor in a bus crash. Notably, commercial vehicles, like 18-wheelers and buses, are about twice as likely to experience equipment failures when compared to passenger vehicles. When that happens, the brakes and tires are usually the two most common pieces of equipment on commercial vehicles to give out (source: FMCSA).
Other Bus Accident Causes: Weather, Road & Traffic Conditions
Adverse weather — like sleet, hail, heavy rains, and storms — can negatively impact visibility and road conditions. While that can make it more difficult for drivers to see and respond to their surroundings, it can also make it unsafe to operate cars and buses as drivers would in fair weather conditions. On the same note, rush hour traffic and highway work zones can complicate road and traffic conditions. These factors, alone or together, also play a role in many bus accidents that occur in and around Covington, LA.

Bus Accident Statistics

Tragically, bus accidents happen a lot, and they can involve a variety of vehicles and passengers. The table below shows how often different types of bus accidents occur in the U.S. (source: FMCSA).

Bus Accident Statistics by Bus Type

YearSchool Bus AccidentsCross-Country Bus Accidents (Motorcoach)Mini-Bus AccidentsVan-Based Accidents
2019315964178160
2018176915390281
20171861,199541348

Bus Accident Statistics by Bus Type

Property Damage, Injuries & Death Caused by Bus Accidents
When looking at all bus accidents and their impacts, the numbers climb into the thousands, as the following table shows (source: FMCSA).
YearTotal Bus AccidentsFatal Bus AccidentsBus Accidents Causing InjuryProperty Damage - Only Bus Accidents
201865,00023015,00051,000
201766,00023116,00051,000
201667,00023116,00051,000
201567,00025914,00053,000
Here are some other key facts to know about bus accidents and their impacts (source: FMCSA):
  • More than 1 in 4 people killed in a bus accident is not in the bus at the time of the crash. Since 2015, pedestrians have comprised an average of 87% of non-occupants killed in bus wrecks.
  • Since 2015, fatalities from bus accidents have declined, but injuries have not — they have remained relatively steady, with an average of 28,000 people being injured in bus wrecks every year since 2015.

Louisiana Bus Accident Statistics

Louisiana ranks among the top 10 states to see the most fatal bus accidents each year in the U.S. (source: FMCSA). The table below breaks down how many bus accidents have occurred in Louisiana in recent years and just how often those wrecks are injuring and killing people (source: FMCSA).

YearTotal Bus AccidentsFatalities from Bus AccidentsInjuries from Bus Accidents
20201715381
20192865803

What Should I Do After a Bus Accident in Covington, LA?

Get to safety, call 911 ASAP. Whenever possible, here are some additional steps to take. These can help you gather potential evidence and avoid any mistakes that could hurt your chances of seeking financial recovery later:
Broken in an accident the bus is in the parking lot
Collect contact, driver, and insurance information from the other motorists.
1
Take pictures and video of the damaged bus and vehicles. Also capture shots of damaged road features, debris on the road, people at the scene, and other details related to the crash.
2
When talking about the bus accident — with other parties or witnesses at the scene, police, or your insurance company — only state facts you know. Never admit fault or say sorry.
3
See a doctor after the accident whether or not you received medical attention at the scene. Continue to receive medical care for as long as needed to treat your bus accident injuries.
4
If you were driving another vehicle when the bus accident occurred, report the accident to your insurance company ASAP without any unnecessary delays.
5
Talk to a Covington bus accident lawyer at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers to get answers and important legal advice about your rights and options.
6

Who Can I Sue After a Covington Bus Accident?

You may be able to sue every party who was at-fault for the accident IF you have not missed the filing deadline for a claim. Specifically:
  • The parties who may be sued after a bus accident can include negligent drivers and/or negligent corporations, companies, and organizations. In particular, this could include motorists, bus companies, motor carriers, equipment manufacturers, the entities responsible for keeping the roads safe, and others.
  • The filing deadlines (or the statute of limitations) for a Covington bus accident claim depend on who the defendant is. Namely, claims against the government (a public organization) versus private parties will have different filing deadlines, with government claims generally having a much shorter window (a shorter statute of limitations) than claims against private parties.
  • Whether the injuries were discovered or fatal after the date of the wreck also matters. While the statute of limitations for Louisiana bus accident claims generally starts counting from the date of the wreck, it can start later IF the injuries aren’t detected until after the crash OR the injuries prove fatal after the accident.
Get a clear answer to this question in a free, confidential consultation with a Covington bus accident attorney at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers.
The passenger bus flew off the road and crashed into a tree.
Bus accident lawyer

How Can a Covington Bus Accident Lawyer Help Me?

All the complex work needed to initiate, advance, and resolve your potential claim will be taken care of by a Covington bus accident attorney. That means having an experienced ally in your corner who knows how to build, present, and win these types of cases.

Specifically, here are some of the things a lawyer can do for you after a Covington bus accide

  • Explain your rights while identifying every option for recovery.
  • Determine liability for the bus accident while carrying out deeper investigations to strengthen your case.
  • Identify, gather, and preserve the important evidence for your case.
  • Seamlessly handle court filings, case deadlines, and other complicated administrative details essential to advancing your case.
  • Strategically communicate and negotiate with insurance companies, protecting your rights and interests at every interaction.
  • Help you determine when bus accident settlement offers are fair or when it may be necessary to consider the next steps.
Without a lawyer in your corner, navigating this complex process while dealing with bus accident injuries can be extremely challenging. It can also result in mistakes, missed deadlines, and lost opportunities to recover the full compensation you may deserve.
Instead, let a Covington bus accident lawyer from Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers fight for you and put your claim on track for success. We will do everything possible to achieve the best possible outcome to your bus accident claim.

What Kind of Compensation Is in a Bus Accident Settlement?

Bus accident compensation depends on the injuries, damage, pain, and suffering resulting from a wreck. It also hinges on what you can prove when it comes to your injuries and suffering, as well as negligence and liability.

That said, bus accident settlements and compensation generally cover damages for losses like (but not limited to):
  • Medical bills (past and future)
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Lost wages, benefits, and bonuses (past & future)
  • Property damage
  • Funeral expenses (after deadly crashes)
At Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, we understand bus accident compensation will never change the past or reverse the permanent losses caused by these wrecks. We also know how compensation can help survivors and families heal and start to put their lives back together.

Talk to a Covington Bus Accident Lawyer Before It’s Too Late

After a bus accident, the sooner you get answers, the better. Find out more about your rights and legal options by contacting a Covington bus accident lawyer at Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers.

With tireless dedication and a reputation for diligence, integrity, and success, we provide extraordinary counsel and the highest quality representation when it’s time to fight for justice. Discover the difference our team can make in your case and recovery by contacting us today.

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