CONNECTICUTBus Accident Lawyer

Bus accidents are major events that are quite different from ordinary car accidents. In addition to being large, buses are usually carrying a sizable number of people. When buses collide or slide off the road, dozens of people can sustain serious injuries.

At Tehrani Law Group, we make it our business to help accident victims through the personal injury process. If you were hurt in a bus accident, we can help identify who is to blame. We can then negotiate a tough settlement to get you the money you deserve for your injuries. To find out more, contact us today to speak with a Connecticut bus accident lawyer.

Types of Buses on the Road

Tehrani Law Group can help anyone injured in a bus accident. Many buses are owned by the state or municipal governments, but others are owned by private companies. Bus accidents typically involve:

• School buses
• Shuttle buses
• Charter buses
• Greyhound bus lines
• CT transit buses
• Other buses

Regardless of the type of bus involved, you might be able to sue if you were injured in a collision. A key consideration is determining the fault for the crash.

If you were riding the bus, then any of the following could be at fault:

• The bus driver for driving negligently or recklessly;
• The bus company for not maintaining a safe fleet of buses or for negligently hiring a dangerous driver;
• The bus manufacturer or a mechanic, if a bus defect contributes to the accident;
• Another driver on the road, who might have hit the bus or forced it off the road;

You might not have any idea what caused the collision, and that’s okay. These are terrifying events. Reach out to our legal team promptly so we can investigate. We can review the police report, talk to witnesses, and possibly inspect the bus.

If you were a motorist or pedestrian struck by a bus, then you can sue many of the same people. Chances are a negligent bus driver is to blame for your collision. This driver might have been fatigued, distracted, or intoxicated.

Bus Accident Injuries

Injuries are often serious. Many occupants of smaller vehicles sustain catastrophic injuries in a collision with a bus. They might suffer amputation, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other disabilities. Many will, unfortunately, die from their injuries.

Some people end up slipping and falling off a bus. They can suffer serious head or back injuries, up to and including paralysis. Other injuries tend to include:

• Brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Herniated discs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Vision impairment
• Lacerations and Bruising

Even those riding on a bus can suffer painful injuries in a collision. Because most buses lack seatbelts, you can be tossed around the bus and collided with seats or other passengers.

Suing the City for a Bus Accident

Many buses in Connecticut are owned and operated by the state. CTtransit is the largest bus provider in the state. They have eight divisions in Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, New Britain, Bristol, Meriden, and Wallingford. Other public buses are run by the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority and various transit districts.

Generally, sovereign immunity prohibits citizens from suing the state. However, Connecticut has made an exception when people are injured by a negligent state employee operating a motor vehicle. This means that you can typically bring a personal injury claim against the government when one of its buses injures you.

However, the claims process might be different if your child was hurt in a school bus accident. Many school districts own and operate their own buses, while other districts contract with private companies for services. You can typically sue even in these situations when a driver was negligent, but you should hire a lawyer experienced in making these claims.

Bus Accidents Are Common in Connecticut

Based on data collected by the University of Connecticut, our state has seen thousands of bus accidents since 2020. In fact, 1,965 school buses crashed from 1/1/2020 to 11/30/2022. Another 570 accidents involved buses that were not school buses. In total, roughly 2,500 bus accidents happened in this state over a three-year period. Hundreds of people were injured in these wrecks.

Tehrani Law Group is a leading firm committed to helping state residents with personal injury cases. If you schedule a consultation, we can review whether you have a valid claim. If hired, we will get to work negotiating with insurers, documenting your losses, and performing other critical tasks. Bus companies have legal teams at their disposal who will fight to prove they are not to blame. You need a lawyer in your corner as well.