888-843-8326 When a school bus accident occurs, students, bus drivers, pedestrians, and other motorists can suffer serious injuries. If you were involved in this type of crash, a Greensboro bus accident lawyer can help you pursue damages.
CR Legal Team has recovered billions of dollars for our clients. If you were injured in a crash involving a school bus, a school bus accident lawyer in Greensboro can help you file a claim and seek compensation for your losses.
How Our Greensboro School Bus Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you or someone you love was recently injured in a school bus crash, then Good News: CR Legal Team is here to support you.
A Greensboro personal injury lawyer can help with your case by:
- Investigating the accident: Our lawyers can collect police reports, photographs, witness statements, video footage, school bus records, and other evidence to establish what happened and who is at fault.
- Calculating your losses: Our lawyers can evaluate your medical bills, property damage, and other losses to determine the value of your claim.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: Our lawyers can handle communication with insurance companies and attempt to negotiate a fair settlement.
- Pursuing litigation: If a fair settlement proves impossible, our lawyers can fight for you in court.
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Injured? Talk to a lawyer for free.
Contact CR Legal Team now and let us Stand Up for the recovery you deserve.
Call 888-843-8326What Types of Compensation Can You Recover?
The compensation available after you or your child is injured in a school bus accident depends on the circumstances of the accident, the nature of your injuries, and who is legally responsible for the crash.
Potential damages include:
- Medical expenses: You may recover the cost of emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, therapy, and future medical care related to the accident.
- Lost income: If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages.
- Reduced earning capacity: You may be able to seek additional compensation if your injuries permanently limit your ability to earn a living in the future.
- Property damage: You could recover the cost of repairing or replacing personal property damaged in the accident, including your vehicle.
- Pain and suffering: You can seek compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the effects your injuries have on your daily life.
- Disability and impairment: If your injuries permanently affect your ability to work or perform everyday activities, you may pursue additional compensation.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: You may be able to seek additional compensation if your injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies, sports, social activities, or other aspects of life you previously enjoyed.
Who Is Liable for a School Bus Accident?
Liability for a school bus accident depends on how the accident happened and the relationship between the parties involved.
Potentially responsible parties include:
- The school bus driver: A driver may be held responsible if negligent conduct such as speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, or failure to follow traffic laws caused the crash.
- Another motorist: A passenger vehicle driver can be held liable if they were speeding, distracted, impaired, failed to yield, or illegally passed a stopped school bus.
- A school system: A public school system may be held responsible in certain circumstances, such as if a preventable mechanical failure causes a crash.
- The state: In North Carolina, some injury claims related to school bus accidents can be filed against the state under the Tort Claims Act (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-300.1).
- A private bus company: If a private company operates the school bus, the company may be held liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, poor supervision, or other misconduct.
- A maintenance company: A company responsible for inspecting or maintaining the bus may be liable if negligent maintenance contributed to the accident.
- A vehicle manufacturer: A manufacturer may potentially be responsible if a defective vehicle or component contributed to the crash.
- A parts manufacturer: A company that produced a defective brake, tire, steering component, or other part may potentially share responsibility for an accident.
- A government entity responsible for the roadway: In limited circumstances, a public entity may be responsible when a dangerous roadway contributes to an accident.
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Our Bus Accident Lawyers in Greensboro are ready to help.
Contact CR Legal Team now and let us Stand Up for the recovery you deserve.
Call 888-843-8326How Long Do You Have to File a School Bus Accident Lawsuit in Greensboro?
According to N.C.G.S. § 1-52, you typically have three years from the date of a school bus accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
However, in some situations, the deadline could be much shorter. For example, if you file a claim against the state under the Tort Claims Act, it must follow the Industrial Commission’s filing deadlines.
If you fail to file your accident lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you will likely forfeit the right to recover damages. Our Greensboro school bus accident lawyers can help make sure that doesn’t happen.
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Find out what your case is worth in Greensboro.
Contact CR Legal Team now and let us Stand Up for the recovery you deserve.
Call 888-843-8326Common Causes of School Bus Accidents in Greensboro
School bus crashes can happen for many different reasons.
Common causes include:
- Distracted driving: A bus driver may cause a crash by texting, using a cellphone, adjusting controls, talking to passengers, or engaging in other distracting activities.
- Speeding: Traveling too fast for traffic, weather, or road conditions can make it harder for a bus driver to stop or avoid a collision.
- Failure to yield: A driver may cause an accident by failing to yield the right of way at an intersection, crosswalk, or other location.
- Fatigued driving: Long shifts, insufficient rest, or demanding schedules may result in driver fatigue.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol, drugs, and certain medications can affect a driver’s judgment, coordination, and reaction time.
- Unsafe passing: Drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses or make unsafe maneuvers around buses can put children and other motorists at risk.
- Poor road conditions: Potholes, inadequate signage, malfunctioning traffic signals, construction zones, and other roadway hazards can contribute to a collision.
- Inadequate bus maintenance: Worn brakes, defective tires, steering problems, malfunctioning lights, or other mechanical issues can contribute to an accident.
- Vehicle defects: A defective component or design problem may cause a school bus or another vehicle to malfunction and crash.
- Inadequate training: Insufficient driver training or failure to properly prepare a driver for operating a school bus may contribute to an accident.
- Poor visibility: Rain, fog, darkness, glare, or obstructed views can make it harder for drivers to see students, pedestrians, vehicles, or hazards.
What to Do After a School Bus Accident in Greensboro
Everything you do after an accident with a school bus will either help or hurt your legal claim.
Be sure to:
- Report the accident: Notify the appropriate authorities, school officials, or other responsible parties.
- Document the scene: Take photographs or videos of the vehicles, the accident scene, and any visible injuries (if it is safe to do so).
- Gather witness information: Exchange contact information with anyone who witnessed the crash.
- Get medical attention: Seek medical treatment promptly, even if your injuries initially seem minor.
- Avoid admitting fault: Do not speculate about what caused the accident or make statements that could be interpreted as accepting responsibility.
- Be cautious with insurers: Do not provide a recorded statement or agree to a settlement before consulting a lawyer.
- Get legal help: The sooner you reach out to our school bus accident attorneys in Greensboro, the sooner we can start building your claim.
Contact Our School Bus Accident Attorneys in Greensboro
At CR Legal Team, We Stand Up For You®. Our Greensboro school bus accident attorneys can take on your case, negotiate with insurers, and fight for the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
Schedule a free case review to discuss next steps.
