Detroit Bus Accident Lawyers

Thousands of large buses traverse the Detroit area every day, but not all of them make it safely to their destinations. If you or a loved one has experienced pain and suffering as a result of a bus accident, you may have the right to seek compensation for your injuries.

Detroit is full of a wide variety of buses, from public transportation, to private charter buses, to school buses. Some buses travel back-and-forth to Canada or throughout the state. The risk for bus accidents is high, especially during the winter months when many Detroit students and athletes are traveling out-of-state by bus.

At Mike Morse Law Firm, we believe that you need a legal team who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. If you are looking to maximize the amount you can recover, the legal professionals at the Mike Morse Law Firm will put their expertise to work for you so you can get every penny you deserve.

Find the peace of mind that comes from hiring an experienced lawyer. Contact us today at 855-MIKE-WINS for a free consultation.

City Bus Accidents in Michigan

Likely, we have all ridden a bus at some point in our life. In the Detroit area, an average of 85,000 people ride city buses every day. People rely on public transportation to get to their destinations in a timely and safe manner.

However, in 2018 alone, there were 15,539 large bus/truck accidents in Michigan, according to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. If you or a loved one were in one of these or another accident in the Detroit metro area, you should speak with a qualified personal injury attorney about your situation. Mike Morse Law Firm is Michigan’s largest personal injury law firm, and our bus accident lawyers are standing by ready to answer your questions.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

Bus crashes differ from other motor vehicle accidents for several reasons. First of all, the vehicle is much larger than a car and is thereby capable of causing much more damage upon impact. Additionally, the vehicle is owned and operated by a business and driven by a professional. The bus companies and drivers have a duty of care toward the passengers.

Consider the following common causes of bus accidents.

Bus driver recklessness

Due to their size, large buses are difficult to drive and maneuver. Even basic actions like stopping or turning a bus are more complicated than they would be in a smaller vehicle. Consequently, bus drivers need to be well-trained, especially in making the proper observations before making a traffic maneuver.

If a bus driver fails to properly check his surroundings, he may cause damage to the bus or other vehicles. For example, if the driver fails to leave a sufficient distance between the bus and the vehicle ahead, he may not be able to stop in time, therefore rear-ending the other vehicle. Additionally, turns can be tricky in the operation of a big vehicle, and too wide of a turn can cause collisions with other objects or people.

Additionally, a bus driver may be found negligent for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, while fatigued, or while distracted. Another factor that can cause the driver to display insufficient care is weather conditions, such as rain, ice, and snow, which call for the driver to adjust stopping distance and other factors.

Injuries in a bus accident may be more severe than in another passenger vehicle due to a few unique circumstances. For example, in buses, it is legal for a person to stand while the bus is in motion. If the bus comes to an abrupt stop, though, a standing passenger may be thrown, resulting in serious injury. Another factor is that passengers are not required to wear seatbelts in a large bus, so there is less protection in the event of an accident.

These factors emphasize why it is so important for bus drivers to operate their large vehicles with extreme care. Bus companies are also responsible for ensuring that their drivers have the necessary qualifications and operate their vehicles in a safe manner. At Mike Morse Law Firm, we proudly represent bus accident victims in and around Detroit, Michigan. Contact a Mike Morse bus accident lawyer today to begin a thorough investigation of your case.

Negligence or recklessness of another driver

Sometimes bus accidents happen not as the result of the bus drivers’ actions, but that of another person. For example, when a bus is cut off without sufficient time to stop, or when another driver engages in dangerous conduct or maneuvers. These reckless actions can cause bus crashes, resulting in a massive amount of damage. There can also be the case of faulty buses which can lead to injuries of both the passengers and the bus driver themselves. In such cases, if the driver developed disabilities due to the accident, they may be eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits.

Multi-vehicle accidents involving large buses can be difficult to pinpoint liability. That’s why you need the help of the largest personal injury law firm in Michigan. Contact one of our bus accident attorneys today to get started on your case and get the peace of mind you deserve while recovering from your injuries.

Inclement weather

Weather conditions affect every vehicle, but the larger the vehicle, the more these road conditions may prove to be dangerous. In Detroit winters, roads can become icy and slick, making it difficult for large vehicles to stop. If your bus accident happened on a day when the weather affected road conditions, weather may be a factor in your case. Contact a bus accident lawyer today for help to determine the facts relevant to your case.

Road defects

Road conditions can disrupt a driver’s ability to correctly maneuver a vehicle. This is especially true with large buses, where potholes can cause severe disturbances that result in an accident. Dangerous road conditions cause many accidents. If poorly maintained roads were a factor in your accident, you need to speak with a lawyer for bus accident cases.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a bus accident, it is likely that one of the above factors contributed to causing the accident. It’s important to find an experienced attorney who will fight for victims’ rights in bus accidents in order to recover the financial compensation they deserve. At Mike Morse Law Firm, we know that each bus crash case is unique, and a lawyer is standing by to help with your case today. Call us at 855-MIKE-WINS for more information.

Michigan No-Fault Insurance Benefits With Bus Accidents

No-fault insurance benefits enable the injured party to receive payment for medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Most bus passengers are covered under the Michigan no-fault insurance law. To see how this law directly affects your case, you must speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

At Mike Morse, our attorneys are well-versed in how the law works, and we want to put our experience to work for you. Contact us today to find the answers to your bus crash questions.

How To Hold the Bus Company Responsible

If you sustained injuries as a passenger in a bus, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries. If the accident was caused by the negligent driving of the bus driver, you are not limited to only suing the driver for financial compensation. You may also sue the bus company since they have the responsibility to make sure that their drivers are competent and well-trained.

For example, a bus company might become aware of erratic behavior or recklessness on the part of a driver. If the bus company fails to remove the driver from his job, the bus company may be held liable for the driver’s actions.

Bus companies may also become liable for an accident by failing to maintain their buses properly. Accidents due to preventable mechanical problems or lack of safety features may allow a passenger to seek compensation from the bus company.

Additionally, drivers of other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists who are injured in a collision with a bus may also be able to seek compensation for their injuries.