Are you struggling with debilitating injuries because you were recently involved in a bus accident in St. Petersburg, Florida? You don’t have to navigate this challenging time in your life on your own. Call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, and discover how our St. Petersburg bus accident attorneys can help you stand up and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Since 2001, our top-rated Florida litigators have been fierce advocates for bus accident victims and families whose lives have been turned upside down by these tragic crashes. Unafraid to stand up to powerful government agencies, bus companies, and insurers, we’ve led our clients to millions of dollars in life-changing compensation.
Benefit from a team with 119+ years of experience handling complex cases like yours. Contact our law office in St. Petersburg, FL, to get started with a free, no-obligation case evaluation today at (727) 314-5988.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’re Hurt in a St Petersburg, FL, Bus Accident
You’re supposed to be focused on recovering from your painful physical injuries and trauma related to your St. Petersburg bus accident. How can you also figure out why your bus accident happened, who caused it, and what to do if the insurance company refuses to take your claim seriously?
Our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers are here to take on every aspect of your bus accident lawsuit for you while you focus on your recovery.
We can do the following in service of your bus accident claim:
- Investigate your bus accident to determine the cause(s) and who’s to blame
- Gather and analyze critical pieces of evidence, including bus maintenance records, driver records, photographs of the scene, property damage, and resulting injuries, video footage, witness statements, medical records, accident reports, and more
- Consult with bus accident and injury experts as we build and value your claim for damages
- Anticipate strategies to deny your claim, shift blame, or limit your financial payout
- Handle settlement negotiations with the bus company, government agency, insurance carriers, negligent third-party motorist, and other parties on your behalf
- Litigate your bus accident case in front of a jury in Pinellas County, if necessary
We understand that this is your one opportunity to fight back and demand accountability for your bus accident injuries. We intend to help you make the most of it. Our law firm works on contingency, so there’s absolutely no cost to hire us unless we win your bus accident case.
Call to learn more about the benefits of a partnership with our personal injury law firm during this difficult time in your life.
How Common Are Bus Accidents in Florida?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, hundreds of bus accidents are reported across the State of Florida every year.
In 2021, there were 1,133 auto accidents involving buses in Florida. These accidents caused at least 869 injuries and 25 deaths.
This marked a significant increase from the year prior, when just 914 bus accidents occurred across the Sunshine State. That year, 755 people were injured in Florida bus accidents, while another 16 were killed.
Who’s Liable for a Bus Accident in St. Petersburg?
Many times, bus accidents happen because someone is negligent. In Florida, anyone whose negligence contributes to a bus accident can be financially responsible for the resulting damages.
Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, liable parties might include:
- Negligent bus driver
- Negligent school bus driver
- Bus company or service
- Government agencies or bus services, like the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
- School district
- Third-party motorist (e.g., driver of a passenger vehicle, truck driver, motorcyclist, Uber or Lyft driver)
- Bicyclist or pedestrian
- Bus passenger
- Property owner
Bus accidents can also happen when a bus or another vehicle is defective. Faulty tires, brakes, or steering columns can cause a bus to malfunction and, in turn, contribute to a collision. In these situations, the company that manufactured the bus or vehicle could be liable for damages.
Shared Responsibility for a Bus Accident in Florida
Florida is a pure comparative negligence state. Anyone who contributes to an accident – including victims – can share responsibility for the consequences of a bus accident.
Under the state’s law, damages are reduced in direct proportion to a plaintiff’s degree of fault.
For instance, sharing 10 percent responsibility for a bus accident will result in a reduction of damages by 10 percent.
You’ll want to be ready to be blamed for the bus accident – especially if you were a bystander or an occupant of another vehicle. The bus company may try to limit its own liability by shifting blame. The less liability they share, the less they’ll have to pay for your injuries and suffering.
Our bus accident attorneys in St. Petersburg will be ready to fight back against these claims. We’ll defend you at every turn, demanding persuasive evidence of shared responsibility and working hard to gather evidence that minimizes your role in the wreck.
What Causes St. Petersburg Bus Accidents?
Some of the most common causes of bus accidents in St. Petersburg, FL, include:
- Distracted driving
- Inexperienced drivers
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Braking errors
- Following too closely
- Failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists
- Merging errors
- Drowsy driving
- Negligent bus maintenance
- Bus defects
- Limited visibility
- Bad weather conditions
- Negligent hiring
Our attorneys will carefully examine the details of your bus accident to determine precisely why and how it happened. With this information, we can actively pursue compensation from anyone who indirectly or directly contributed to your crash.
We Handle All Types of Bus Accident Cases in St. Petersburg, FL
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we proudly represent clients who have suffered injuries in:
- Commercial bus accidents
- Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus accidents
- School bus accidents
- Tour bus accidents
- Charter bus accidents
- Private rental bus accidents
- Fatal bus accidents
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our compassionate legal team if you or a close family member has been injured in a St. Petersburg bus crash. We’re here to offer guidance and support 24 hours a day.
What Damages Can I Get If I File a St. Petersburg Bus Accident Claim?
When you file a bus accident lawsuit, you can potentially recover compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.
Economic damages are intended to make you financially whole after you’ve been injured in a bus accident.
Examples include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Disability
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages are intended to compensate for the trauma, suffering, and life changes you experience because you’ve been in a bus accident.
Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic physical pain
- Mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring
- Embarrassment
- Loss of consortium
Our St. Petersburg bus accident attorneys will dig deep and work to understand the full scope and impact of your injuries. We’ll conduct an exhaustive investigation and coordinate with respected experts and specialists. The more we know about your injuries – and how they’ll affect your life moving forward – the better prepared we’ll be to get a result that really represents what your bus accident case is worth.
Fighting To Help You Recover Compensation for All of Your Bus Accident Injuries
Whether you’re a passenger on the bus, a pedestrian, or an occupant of another vehicle, the injuries you suffer in a bus accident can be catastrophic.
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you seek compensation for all of your bus accident injuries, including:
- Whiplash
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Eye injury
- Dental injury
- Joint injury
- Soft tissue damage
- Burns
- Nerve damage
- Amputation
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Crushing injury
- Chest injury
- Wrongful death
Get to the closest hospital or emergency room in St. Petersburg as soon as you can after your bus accident. Once you’ve received treatment and your condition is stable, don’t hesitate to reach out to our law office to discuss your rights and legal options.
How Long Do I Have To File a Bus Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
In Florida, you’ll typically have four years from the date of your bus accident to file a claim for damages.
If you’ve lost a family member in a fatal St. Petersburg bus accident, you’ll have two years to seek damages in a wrongful death action.
Don’t let too much time go by without taking action after your St. Petersburg bus accident. When the statute of limitations deadline expires, you’ll lose out on the opportunity to demand the compensation you need and deserve.
Protect yourself by enlisting the help of our experienced personal injury attorneys in St. Petersburg. A member of our team is always here to take your call – 24/7/365.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Petersburg Bus Accident Lawyer
Did you recently suffer serious injuries or lose a family member in a car accident involving a bus in St. Petersburg, FL? Call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Our St. Petersburg bus accident attorneys are ready to help you navigate the complexities of a legal claim for damages and fight to maximize your financial recovery.
Put top-rated, award-winning Florida trial attorneys in your corner. Give yourself every opportunity to get the money you deserve. Contact our law office in St. Petersburg to get started. Your first case evaluation is 100 percent free, so call now.