Did you recently suffer injuries in a bus accident in Tampa, Florida? You may have the right to file a claim against the bus company, negligent driver, or other responsible parties. The experienced Tampa bus accident lawyers at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to make the most of your fight for compensation.
Since 2001, we’ve been a trusted ally to bus injury victims and families across the Tampa Bay area. Our clients benefit from over 119 years of combined experience and a team that’s won millions in settlements and jury awards.
Position yourself to get the best result in your Tampa bus accident case. Contact our Tampa law office today to set up a free consultation and discover why you’ll want us leading your fight for compensation.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help If You’ve Been Hurt in a Bus Accident in Tampa, FL
Bus accidents tend to be different from other types of motor vehicle crashes. It can be challenging to determine the precise cause of a bus accident. Liability can extend to several parties. Many buses in Tampa are operated by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and other government agencies, which can add a layer of complexity to injury claims.
The good news is that you don’t have to take on these challenges on your own. All you have to do is turn to our trusted injury lawyers in Tampa for help.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve spent more than 20 years taking on insurance companies, government agencies, and other powerful adversaries on behalf of deserving clients like you.
When you choose our bus accident attorneys in Tampa, FL, you’ll benefit from the level of personalized service and representation you deserve. Our team will take on every aspect of your bus injury case so that you have time to rest, recover, and begin to move forward with your life.
As we navigate your case, we will:
- Independently investigate your bus accident
- Collect evidence that can be used to build and support your claim for damages, including medical records, accident reports, state and federal investigation reports, vehicle maintenance records, hiring records, photographs, physical evidence from the scene, and witness statements
- Speak with experts and specialists who can provide insight into the more detailed aspects of your case
- Negotiate with the bus company, insurance company, and/or other liable parties on your behalf
- Have a top-rated Florida trial attorney bring your case to a jury in Hillsborough County, if necessary
You never have to worry about the cost of hiring our Tampa bus accident attorneys. We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay nothing unless we win your case. There’s no out-of-pocket cost to you since our fee comes directly out of your financial recovery.
Don’t hesitate to give our compassionate legal team in Tampa a call to arrange a time to discuss the details of your bus accident case today. Your first case evaluation is always 100 percent free.
Are Bus Accidents Common?
Buses are a fairly safe way to get around a busy city like Tampa, Florida. With over 200 buses servicing Tampa, it’s easy to find a route to get you to your destination. However, riding the bus doesn’t come without risks.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 156 fatal bus accidents reported nationwide in 2020. This reflected a 33 percent drop from the year prior, when the nation saw 235 deadly bus accidents.
School buses are involved in the most fatal crashes, accounting for 38 percent of all fatal bus accidents between 2010 and 2020. Transit buses account for 35 percent of fatal crashes, while intercity buses are involved in 11 percent of deadly bus crashes.
In Florida, there are hundreds of reported bus accidents every year. School buses, in particular, are involved in many of these collisions.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2,701 school bus crashes were reported across the Sunshine State in 2021. That’s about 7 school bus accidents every single day.
Tampa and surrounding cities in Hillsborough County saw 196 of these collisions.
What Causes Most Bus Accidents in Tampa?
Bus accidents are, for the most part, a consequence of human error. Negligence – or the failure to act reasonably under the circumstances – plays a big role in Tampa bus accidents.
Some of the most common contributing factors include:
- Speeding
- Driver inexperience
- Driver distraction
- Driving while fatigued (often in violation of FMCSA or Florida state hours of service regulations)
- Drugged or drunk driving
- Unsafe left turns
- Wide right turns
- Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Unsafe merging
- Driving in a bus’s blind spots
- Negligent hiring
- Negligent bus maintenance
- Road rage
- Tailgating
Other factors, including vehicle malfunction, vehicle defect, unsafe road conditions, and bad weather conditions, can also contribute to a car accident involving a bus in Tampa.
What Do I Have To Prove To Win a Bus Accident Case in Tampa, Florida?
Most bus accident cases in Tampa are based on negligence.
In a negligence action, you have the burden of proving that the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused you to get hurt and suffer damages.
If the defendant is a bus driver or bus service, proving negligence can prove to be a bit easier. That’s because buses are classified as common carriers. A common carrier is a person or business that transports people from one place to another in exchange for compensation.
In Florida, common carriers assume a heightened responsibility to get passengers to their destinations safely. Since there’s a heightened duty of care, it can be easier for bus drivers and companies to breach it.
Even minor acts of negligence can be considered a breach of duty of care and make it easier for an injured bus passenger or another bus accident victim to win a claim for damages.
What Are the Most Common Bus Accident Injuries?
Bus passengers, occupants of passenger vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other individuals involved in a bus accident can sustain severe and catastrophic injuries.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we advocate for bus accident victims who have sustained:
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue damage
- Dental injury
- Head injury
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Whiplash
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Crushing injury
- Chest injury
- Amputation
- Internal bleeding
- Wrongful death of a family member
Get to the closest hospital in Tampa or seek other emergency medical treatment immediately after your bus accident. Once your condition is stable, don’t hesitate to reach out to our personal injury attorneys to learn about your legal rights and options.
Who’s Liable For My Bus Accident Injuries and Damages?
Liability can extend to any party that is directly or indirectly responsible for causing your bus accident.
Depending on the results of a thorough investigation, liable parties might include:
- Negligent bus driver
- Another negligent driver on the road
- Bus passenger
- Charter bus company
- Public bus service
- Tour bus company
- Government agency
- Property owner
- Bus manufacturer
- Vehicle manufacturer
- Employer of a negligent party
Our bus accident attorneys in Tampa will carefully analyze the details of your case, determine why it happened, and establish liability. Once we know who’s at fault, we’ll aggressively pursue all available damages from them on your behalf.
What Compensation Can I Get If I File a Bus Injury Claim?
As the victim of a bus accident in Tampa, you can generally receive compensation for your monetary losses (known as economic damages) and the suffering you endure (known as non-economic damages).
These compensatory awards can include money for:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Disability
- Lost job opportunities
- Nursing assistance
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll work closely with experts as we build and value your claim. The insight they provide can allow us to more fully understand how your accident and injuries affect your life – and how it might impact it in the future. The more information we have to work with, the better prepared we’ll be to get you a result that reflects what your bus accident case is worth.
Is There a Deadline For Filing a Bus Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida gives bus accident victims four years from the date of a crash to initiate a legal claim for damages. If you’ve lost a family member in a fatal Tampa bus accident, you’ll have just two years to take action. You’ll also generally have less time if you intend to sue a governmental entity.
Don’t let the statute of limitations expire before filing your claim. Once the deadline expires, you lose the opportunity to assert your rights and demand compensation from responsible parties. Reach out to us promptly if you aren’t sure if you can still file a lawsuit in your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted Tampa Bus Accident Lawyer
Are you struggling with injuries after a bus accident in Tampa, Florida? Speak with an experienced Tampa bus accident lawyer at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers today. You may have the right to recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We’re here to help you win your case and get every cent you deserve.
Give our law office in Tampa, FL, a call to arrange a time for a free, no-obligation case evaluation today.
Our personal injury law firm in Tampa, FL, also provides:
- Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Tampa
- Brain Injury Attorneys in Tampa
- Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Tampa
- Car Accident Lawyer in Tampa, FL
- Child Injury Lawyers in Tampa
- Construction Accident Lawyer in Tampa, FL
- Dog Bites Attorneys in Tampa
- Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Tampa, FL
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Tampa
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Tampa
- Premises Liability Attorney in Tampa
- Product Liability Lawyers in Tampa, FL
- Slip and Fall Lawyer in Tampa
- Truck Accident Lawyer in Tampa, FL
- Uber Accident Lawyers in Tampa
- Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Tampa
- Workplace Accident Attorney in Tampa, FL
- Wrongful Death Lawyer in Tampa