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Representing Clients in Bus Accidents Anywhere throughout North Carolina
Tractor-trailers, buses, and commercial transport vehicles present serious threats to other drivers on North Carolina roadways, such as I-40, I-95, Highway 74/76, Highway 140, Highway 421, and Highway 130 in the Wilmington area. With many trucks weighing in close to 40 tons and reaching 80 feet in length, their sizes alone are enough to cause overwhelming property damage and catastrophic injuries in an accident.
Types of Bus Accident Injury Cases: Who Is Liable?
To file an injury claim in a bus accident case, the first step is to identify all liable parties. These vary widely, based upon the facts in the case. The bus may have failed due to a manufacturing defect or a faulty part or system. In other cases, bus driver error led to the accident. The owner of the bus may be private, or be a governmental body such as city, county, or state. Each case must be addressed on an individual basis, with the first order of business being a determination of what parties can be held liable.
A full evaluation of the damages will involve medical data to determine the long term impact of the injuries upon the victim. Cases of catastrophic injury mean that the individual will be facing a life of challenges, and may be unable to work, or in the most tragic cases, has been left completely incapacitated. The financial damages in these cases must be adequate to cover all of the following:
- Lost wages
- Costs of medical care, now and future
- Pain and suffering
At the Rhine Law Firm, P.C., we take on bus accident cases involving serious or catastrophic injuries, as well as wrongful death claims for families who have lost a loved one. We call upon our professional resources to assist in the process of valuing a claim, such as financial experts, medical experts, and accident investigation experts. Over our years serving North Carolina residents in bus accident cases, we have developed a powerful network of professional resources to access in these cases. As litigators, we have an extensive track record of success in personal injury claims, and can evaluate your bus accident case at no cost to you. As we generally take on such cases on a contingency fee basis, you need have no concerns about legal fees until we are successful in recovering compensation for you.
Causes of Bus Accidents: What Happened?
- Driving too fast for weather conditions
- Alcohol or drug intoxication
- Unsafe driving practices
- Faulty safety systems (brakes, tires, etc.)
- Failure to properly train driver
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Faulty parts
- Failure to maintain bus and bus systems
- Driver fatigue
Private Buses vs. Public Buses: Injury Claims
Claims against private bus owners will be addressed differently than those involving public buses. It is imperative that your case is filed within the statute of limitations that apply to your specific situation. For public bus accidents that led to serious injuries, the process involves filing a claim form with the correct governmental agency. There is limited time in which to act in cases involving public bus accidents; it is advised that you connect with our firm immediately if you or a loved one was injured while travelling on public transportation. Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the State of North Carolina for a school bus accident will fall under the North Carolina Tort Claims Act; specific filings are required in cases in which the driver is an employee who works for the county or city in which you live.
Mr. Rhine’s experience in motor vehicle accident personal injury and wrongful death litigation involves large vehicle cases such as:
- Transit bus, train and trolley accidents
- Charter bus accidents
- UPS, FedEx delivery van, and commercial car and truck crashes
- Injuries from assault on public transportation
- School bus accidents
One may assume that city, county, or state buses will be eager to make right the damages. In fact, as with any costly claim, a settlement may be attempted, and governmental bodies are represented by skilled lawyers who are tasked with reducing the value of claims. Our lawyers have the litigation skills and knowledge that make it possible to level the playing field for the individual. With private bus companies, the process will move forward in a different manner, but in the end, any negotiations about the value of the settlement will also be impacted by the skills exhibited by your attorney.
If you were injured or have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident involving a Horizon, Greyhound, Wave Transit, or another public or private transportation bus, call Rhine Law Firm, P.C., in Wilmington. Attorney Joel Rhine is a trial lawyer with 30 years of experience and knowledge standing up to teams of corporate defense attorneys. He will work with accident reconstruction experts, when necessary, to determine the exact cause of the bus wreck and the parties that should be held liable for compensating you for your injuries and financial damages.
Our Promise to You
Not Sure Whether You Have a Bus Accident Case? Let Us Answer Your Questions
We offer a free consultation to review the circumstances of your accident and provide a clear explanation of your options for moving forward, if you have a legitimate claim for damages.
Call us at (910) 772-9960 or send an email with a brief description of the circumstances of your bus accident. We will set up an opportunity for a free consultation as soon as possible. Office hours 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and weekend appointments also available. If our Wilmington auto accident lawyers handle your case, you will pay no attorneys’ fees unless you win monetary damages in a settlement or jury verdict.
We are proud to serve the people of North Carolina.
Although our primary office location is in Wilmington, North Carolina we represent clients nationally and across the state of North Carolina. Some of the many areas we serve are listed below.
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