NJ Transit/City Bus Accidents Attorney

City buses and NJ Transit provide reliable and affordable forms of transportation, and many New Jersey residents rely on them to run errands, go to work or attend school. Most city bus drivers are highly skilled drivers, but buses do sometimes get into wrecks for a variety of reasons. Since city buses are such large, heavy vehicles, when they collide with a smaller vehicle, they can cause extensive damage and horrific injuries. If you’re in a crash with a bus, you have some legal options for compensation.

If you’ve been a victim of a city bus accident in New Jersey and sustained injuries, reach out to an experienced New Jersey city bus accident attorney. Claims involving large vehicles such as commercial trucks and state, city or private commercial buses are complex and best handled by the best bus accident lawyers in the area at Ram Law. Contact us as soon as possible following a city bus accident.

What Causes City Bus Accidents?

Vehicle accidents happen every day. The same things that lead to car accidents are frequently the cause of city bus accidents.

Some of the most common causes of accidents include:

• Drowsy driving
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Aggressive or reckless driving
• Speeding
• Defective bus parts
• Poorly maintained vehicles
• Bad road conditions, such as potholes, uneven pavement, road obstructions or lack of signs

Large vehicles — like buses, delivery trucks  and tractor-trailers — often have a blind spot, which is an area the driver can’t see. It increases the risk of having a wreck. Making sharp turns, merging without looking or making sudden lane changes are other actions that increase the risk of an accident caused by a city bus.

Bad weather can make driving any vehicle more challenging, especially for large buses. Drivers who operate a bus on a foggy day or on slippery roads must always reduce their speed and drive even more carefully than usual. Because they’re pushed to keep to a tight schedule, drivers may feel the urge to rush in adverse conditions, but that leads to Jersey city bus accidents.

What Kind of Injuries Can Be Caused by City Bus Accidents?

Passengers inside city buses and school buses usually aren’t wearing seatbelts, so if the bus is jolted or flipped, they may be tossed around inside the bus. Pedestrians or the drivers of other vehicles may be hurt when they’re struck by a large vehicle like a bus.

Examples of injuries that may be caused by city bus accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neck or back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Damage to soft tissues or internal organs
• Cuts and lacerations

Limbs that were crushed in a New Jersey city bus accident may have to be amputated. Even if you only suffered minor injuries in an accident with a bus, you may be faced with substantial medical bills and other financial challenges.

Who Is Liable for an Accident with a NJ Transit Bus?

Driver error, carelessness or negligence causes many motor vehicle accidents, but when there’s an accident with a NJ Transit or other city bus, the bus driver may not be the only party at fault.

Others who may be partially liable include:

• The employer of the bus driver
• Mechanics who were hired to repair or inspect a bus to make sure it was safe to drive
• Manufacturers of bus parts that malfunctioned
• The government if the bus was a transit bus owned by the city or state

The individual or company that hired the bus driver is responsible for training and screening drivers to make sure they’re qualified to handle driving a city bus. All bus companies are expected to provide regular preventative maintenance to keep buses running smoothly and to promptly address maintenance issues.

Determining all parties who may be partly responsible for a bus crash is complicated. A knowledgeable bus accident lawyer has the skills and experience needed to research and review evidence to identify everyone who may be at least partially liable for your NJ city bus accident.

How Do I Prove Negligence on the Part of the Bus Driver or Company?

Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care. When drivers are negligent, they make poor judgements or react too slowly. To prove that there was negligence in a bus accident, you must have suffered physical harm or other damage.

Evidence that may help to prove negligence includes:

• Data from the bus or other sources indicating the bus was speeding
• A sobriety test proving the driver was intoxicated
• Eyewitness accounts that prove the driver failed to follow traffic signals
• Records indicating the company failed to provide adequate training
• Documents that show failure to thoroughly screen employees
• Maintenance logs that show that the bus wasn’t properly maintained

The police report often includes information that proves negligence on the part of the bus driver or company. Proving negligence can be a complex process and is best handled by an experienced city bus attorney who knows how to investigate the circumstances of the accident. Your attorney at RAM Law protects your legal rights while you heal.

How Do I Negotiate with the Bus Company or Their Insurance Company?

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may consider handling your own claim. An accident with another car may be simple enough to handle on your own, but an accident with a city bus is much more complicated.

You need to take several steps when negotiating with the bus company or insurance company, such as:

• Filing an insurance claim
• Gathering and organizing your records, such as medical bills, photographs and witness statements
• Rejecting the initial settlement offer if it’s too low
• Calculating the minimum settlement amount
• Sending a demand letter to the insurance company asking for fair compensation
• Emphasizing points that prove the settlement offer is too low
• Representing you in court if necessary

When negotiating a claim, be careful what you say to the insurance adjuster. Don’t say anything that implies you believe you were at fault. Be cautious about posting anything on social media that implies you weren’t hurt that badly. Avoid talking about your accident on social media at all.

Insurance adjusters know that individuals who do their own negotiating don’t have the legal knowledge to calculate fair compensation or to fight convincingly in court. When you try to handle a claim on your own, the settlement amount you accept is lower than you need it to be. Let a knowledgable bus accident attorney determine the amount of your fair settlement and take care of negotiating on your behalf.

What Kind of Compensation Am I Entitled to for My Injuries and Damages?

After an accident involving a NJ city bus, the amount of compensation you need to receive is determined by considering different factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• How much time you’re unable to work
• Whether your injuries are expected to heal with rehabilitation or are permanent
• How much pain and suffering were caused by the accident

Compensation can be based on economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include things that are clearly documented, like lost wages and medical costs. Your medical costs include long-term care costs and rehabilitation costs. Non-economic damages include other ways you have been harmed by the accident, such as developing depression or anxiety or dealing with physical pain and a reduced quality of life.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim after the Accident?

Many states have a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time you have before initiating a personal injury claim. In New Jersey, you must file a claim within two years of an accident.

If more than two years have passed:

• You can no longer file a claim.
• The other party can ask to have your claim dismissed.

The sooner you file a claim after any type of accident, the more about the accident you remember. If you’re planning to bring a lawsuit against a government entity, you may have to start the claim in a much shorter amount of time. An experienced bus accident attorney is familiar with local laws that apply to claims involving the government.

Seek the Justice You Deserve with the Seasoned Transit Lawyers at Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, L.L.P.

At Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, L.L.P., we understand the emotional and financial toll caused by an accident. Our compassionate  NJ Transit lawyers are committed to holding negligent parties accountable. Call the firm today at 732-247-3600 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options. Located in New Brunswick, Somerville, and Freehold, New Jersey, we proudly assist clients in Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and Somerset County.