At The Epstein Law Firm, P.A., our New Jersey bus accident lawyers are dedicated to helping bus accident victims through the unique challenges they face.  Not only are bus accident injuries often very serious, but special rules might apply if the bus was operated by the government. You can trust that we will stand by your side through every step of the legal process.

Leading New Jersey Injury Lawyers Help Bus Accident Victims Get Their Lives Back on Track in Bergen County and Throughout NJ

Millions of New Jersey residents rely upon the bus system for transportation each day.  New Jersey transit provides bus services both within New Jersey and across state lines, into NYC and Philadelphia.  School buses, tour buses and buses used to transport elderly and disabled patients crisscross the state. Unfortunately, more buses on the roads leads to a greater number of bus accidents.

Our lawyers have even been certified as trial lawyers by the New Jersey Supreme Court.  We do not charge up-front fees and your initial consultation is completely free. Our bus accident lawyers have over 120 years’ collective experience fighting for injured clients across New Jersey.  We are ready to put our expertise to work for you.

Call our bus injury attorneys in Rochelle Park, NJ, or fill out our online contact form to set up a free case evaluation with our trusted New Jersey bus accident lawyers today.

New Jersey Bus Accidents Cause Serious Injuries

Regardless of the type of bus involved, bus accidents tend to cause very serious injuries.  Both passengers in the bus and those in other vehicles are subject to a unique set of risks.  Bus passengers are usually not wearing seat belts. Drivers and passengers in private vehicles often suffer catastrophic injuries because of the size and weight of the bus itself.

Bus accidents often cause:

Our lawyers can help if you were injured in any type of New Jersey bus accident, including:

  • Multi-vehicle bus accidents
  • Car versus bus accidents
  • Bus accidents involving pedestrians
  • Bus rollover accidents
  • DWI-related bus accidents

Identifying the Cause of a New Jersey Bus Accident

Buses are obviously large and more difficult to maneuver than cars.  In some cases, a bus accident may be caused by the fact that the bus driver was unable to stop in response to other drivers’ actions on the road. 

Often, however, accidents are caused by errors on the part of the bus driver or bus company.  Bus drivers often work long shifts—and must remain particularly alert to safely maneuver the bus.  Many buses remain on the roads nearly around the clock, making responsible maintenance key to preventing accidents.

Some of the more common causes of New Jersey bus accidents include:

  • Fatigued driving
  • Driver distraction
  • Tailgating or failure to account for the bus’s increased stopping time
  • Inadequate bus maintenance
  • Failure to make proper observations
  • Defects in the bus equipment or mechanical failures
  • Speeding or aggressive driving
  • Drug or alcohol use,
  • Poor road conditions or bad weather

Bus accident victims—especially those injured as bus passengers—often have no idea what happened to cause their accident.  After all, it is the bus driver responsible for the vehicle. At The Epstein Law Firm, P.A., our talented accident lawyers are committed to getting the facts.  We have the skills to investigate even complex bus crashes to get to the bottom of what caused your accident.

Complex Procedural Rules in NJ Transit Bus Accident Cases

While establishing causation can be challenging, if NJ Transit (or another public carrier) is ultimately responsible, complex tort and notice rules also apply.  NJ Transit is a public entity. As such, it is entitled to a certain level of immunity under tort laws. For example, compensation for pain and suffering is only available if your accident caused:

  • Permanent injuries
  • Permanent disfigurement or
  • Dismemberment

Importantly, New Jersey bus accident victims have only 90 days to provide a notice of claim.  The notice of claim is a unique document that applies in cases involving public entities–it is different than the typical complaint filed in every injury case.  The accident victim must then generally wait six months before filing the formal lawsuit in order to give the public entity time to conduct its own investigation.

Getting the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer is particularly important to protect your future rights.  While filing the notice of claim in no way obligates you to file a lawsuit down the road, it is necessary to preserve your right to file a claim.

We Fight to Get Fair Compensation for New Jersey Bus Accident Victims

At The Epstein Law Firm, P.A., our lawyers are ready to take on the hard work necessary to firmly establish your right to fair compensation.  We will:

  • Investigate your case by obtaining police reports, bus maintenance records, insurance contact information, witness testimony and more
  • Determine whether the bus driver’s mistake caused your accident—and whether the bus company had appropriate hiring, training and supervisory procedures in place to prevent accidents
  • Take over all communication with the insurance company so that you can focus on your recovery
  • Negotiate with the insurance company to make sure your compensation award is fair and compensates for all anticipated future expenses
  • Retain medical experts to testify about the extent of your injuries if needed
  • Help you get the medical care you need
  • Work with you every step of the way so that you are fully apprised of your case process

Whether your bus accident involved a school bus, NJ Transit or even a private bus company like Coach USA, Boltbus, Greyhound or Megabus, our lawyers are ready to fight for your right to fair compensation.  Call us today to learn more.

Injured in a New Jersey Bus Accident?  Call Our Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation

Over our decades of experience, we have developed a reputation for exceptional legal advocacy.  We maintain a perfect-10 AVVO rating and have been ranked by our peers in the legal community as among the “Super Lawyers”.  Our reputation is important—after all, we are the ones who will step into the negotiating room with the bus company’s insurance company.

With our detailed knowledge of the insurance industry and skilled negotiating techniques, we are prepared to protect you from strategies insurance companies use to delay or deny claims.  It’s important not to wait to get legal help—in some cases, you may have as little as 90 days to file a claim. For more information, schedule a free case review today.

Free Consultations are Available When you Contact Our Tem Of Experienced New Jersey Bus Accident Lawyers Today

If you are ready to take the next step and contact a personal injury attorney, call or email The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. At our Rochelle Park office, we provide free initial consultations. We also work on contingency, which means that you do not pay any upfront fees unless we recover compensation for you. Call 201-231-7847.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bus Accident Claims in New Jersey

What should I do after a bus accident?

If you were in a bus accident — as a passenger, pedestrian or motorist — the first thing you should do is seek medical treatment. If necessary, call an ambulance and go to the hospital. You should also try to document the scene of the accident. Take photographs of the scene and the vehicles involved. Gather the contact information of the bus driver and any eyewitnesses. Then, consult a personal injury attorney.

Who is liable for my injuries?

Liability is always a major question after a bus accident. Several parties could be at fault for the accident, including the bus driver, the transit company or another motorist. Our legal team always carefully investigates the circumstances of your accident to determine who is liable.

I’m sure the bus driver does not have enough money to pay my claim. Who will actually be responsible for paying damages if I was injured in a bus accident?

The responsible party will depend on the accident cause and the type of bus involved. Bus drivers are almost always employees—either employed by a private company, the school district or the government entity operating the bus line. As employers, those entities must pay damages when their employees are negligent and cause accidents. Examples of who might be responsible include:

– The company that owns the bus
– The New Jersey government
– The bus manufacturer or designer
– The school board
– A company responsible for maintaining the bus

How will I pay my medical bills? What about my other damages?

Injuries can require expensive medical treatment. In many cases, you may be entitled to monetary compensation to help you pay for your bills. If you have other damages, such as lost wages, damages to your vehicle, emotional damage and loss of companionship, you may deserve compensation for these as well.

What types of compensation can I recover?

You can recover compensation for your out-of-pocket expenses, including medical bills, rehab costs and property damage. You can also recover damages to compensate for:

– Future medical care
– Lost wages
– Lost earning potential
– Pain and suffering
– Emotional trauma
– And more

Should I contact a lawyer?

You may think that hiring a lawyer is not necessary. However, working with a skilled personal injury attorney can help the legal process run smoothly and quickly. A lawyer can also work to obtain the maximum compensation available. It is in your best interests to schedule a consultation with a law firm that helps personal injury victims in New Jersey.

Testimonials

Due to the complexity of our case, most attorneys were not interested. Not only did Michael Epstein take our case, but he was able to manage the situation towards a multi-million dollar settlement that was well in excess of our expectations. They are practical, business-minded attorneys who demonstrated their expertise with every interaction. Michael & his team worked tirelessly & aggressively on our behalf and brought our case to a successful outcome.

Andrew W.

Michael Epstein and The Epstein Law Firm recently obtained a multi-million dollar settlement in an extremely complex and difficult financial services case. He and his team not only mastered the complex issues in the case, but also expertly handled all aspects of the negotiations. I cannot thank Michael enough for his dedication and hard work, and I highly recommend him and The Epstein Law Firm for those who need smart, creative, and aggressive lawyers who put their clients’ interests first.

Brian G.