Bus Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA Delivering Legal Assistance for Public Transport Accidents in Philadelphia County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania
Bus accidents in Philadelphia can involve everything from isolated instances of harm to collisions that result in mass injuries. Bus passengers, pedestrians, and the occupants of other vehicles on the road have legal rights when injured through the negligence of a bus driver or another party—but they’re likely to face numerous challenges. The Philadelphia bus accident lawyers at van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim can step in and provide the skilled legal guidance you need to overcome the obstacles and recover the compensation you deserve.
Nothing can undo the harm you have suffered, but securing the full bus accident injury compensation you’re entitled to gives you the chance to make the most complete recovery possible, physically and financially. Contact us today to get started with a free consultation, and find out how our bus accident attorneys in Philly can help you move forward at no upfront cost.
The Challenges of Winning a Bus Accident Claim in Philadelphia
When you’ve suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence, you have the right under Pennsylvania law to pursue financial compensation for your losses. Just because you’re legally entitled to compensation doesn’t mean getting the monetary damages you deserve will be easy or straightforward. Cases involving bus accidents can be particularly complicated.
Proving Liability for a Bus Accident
To have a successful claim for financial compensation, you need to identify a defendant and establish their liability for your losses. You need evidence to support your claim against each defendant.
In some instances, liability may be fairly straightforward. A bus driver may make an egregious error behind the wheel that directly causes an accident. In other instances, it takes a thorough investigation by experienced bus accident attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, to identify all possible defendants and theories of liability. Multiple vehicles may share fault for a collision. Other factors, like unsafe conditions inside the bus or on the road, can be contributing factors. In some instances, negligent maintenance or defective parts contribute to dangerous malfunctions.
As your Philly bus accident lawyers, we will focus on getting to the bottom of the cause of the accident. By identifying all possible defendants, theories of liability, and sources of insurance coverage or compensation, we can begin building a claim for the full amount of compensation you deserve.
Documenting Damages
The point of getting compensated for your bus accident injuries is to make you as whole as possible. That means your claim must highlight the full impact of your injuries on your life, physically, emotionally, and financially. An important step our bus accident attorneys in Philly take in recovering our clients maximum compensation is identifying and documenting their damages. We consider all of the ways your accident has affected you and will continue to affect you, possibly for a lifetime.
To establish the extent of your damages, we turn to medical records, wage loss statements, the opinions of expert witnesses in areas like medicine and finance, and other forms of documentation. The more comprehensively we can establish your need for compensation, the better position you are in to receive the maximum amount of monetary damages available to you.
Addressing the Impact of Government Immunity Laws
One particular challenge that applies to bus accident injury claims is overcoming limitations posed by government immunity laws. Many buses, like school buses and SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) buses, may be owned or operated by the government.
Under the Pennsylvania Sovereign Immunity Act (Section 8522 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 42), there are caps on the amount of compensation you can receive from a government entity. There are also additional requirements you must meet, such as a six-month deadline to provide notice of your intent to sue.
Although claims against government entities carry specific challenges, having experienced Philly bus accident lawyers on your side can help you overcome obstacles to receive the compensation you deserve.
How van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim Can Help
To ensure you’re prepared to build a strong case for liability, document all of your damages, and address issues involving government immunity and other challenges, you need professional legal assistance. Our firm is here to help, serving the injured throughout Philly and beyond.
Types of Bus Accident Claims Our Experienced Attorneys Handle
Our Philadelphia bus accident lawyers assist all victims injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. You can count on us to recover compensation for situations like the following:
- Bus passengers injured in single-vehicle crashes
- Bus passengers injured in collisions with other vehicles
- Bus passengers injured due to the forces of sudden acceleration, deceleration, or turns
- Bus passengers who suffer other injuries onboard a bus, such as slipping or falling while walking to or from their seat or getting hurt in wheelchair lift accidents
- Pedestrians struck by buses
- Cyclists struck by buses
- Motorcyclists struck by buses
- Passengers of other vehicles involved in a collision with a bus
- Drivers of other vehicles involved in a crash caused by a bus
Most bus accident injury claims focus on defendants like bus drivers and the organizations they represent—whether a for-profit bus company, a non-profit organization that has chartered a bus, or a government entity like SEPTA. However, there are certain situations in which another party may bear responsibility for the accident. Depending on the facts, we may explore whether you have any claim for compensation against defendants like the following:
- Other motorists
- The manufacturers of defective bus parts that cause an accident by malfunctioning
- A bus company or maintenance company that allows dangers such as fall hazards to exist onboard the bus
- Companies or entities responsible for maintaining roadways or public, private, or commercial property, if hazardous conditions caused your accident
For all types of injury claims, our Philadelphia bus accident lawyers provide comprehensive guidance throughout the legal process.
Our Approach to Winning Maximum Compensation for Bus Accident Victims
While bus accident cases can result in significant payouts, it takes hard work and considerable knowledge of the legal process to recover the full amount of monetary damages you’re entitled to. The team at van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim applies an effective approach to each case we handle, focusing on:
- In-depth investigations of the causes of bus accidents
- Gathering of evidence
- Identification of all potential defendants and sources of compensation
- Development of personalized legal strategies and arguments based on the specific facts of every client’s unique situation
- Management of all deadlines, claims paperwork, legal documents and filings, negotiations, and interactions with the defendant and their insurance company
- Representation in all efforts to resolve your case for fair compensation, including settlement negotiations, legal proceedings, and, if necessary, a trial
We know how important it is that you receive the full amount of compensation you’re entitled to. Otherwise, you may never have the resources you need to make the most complete physical and financial recovery. Our goal throughout your case is to secure an outcome that compensates you as fully as possible.
Why Choose van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim?
For Philadelphia bus accident lawyers you can depend on, choose van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim. Clients throughout all neighborhoods of Philly and beyond turn to us for the comprehensive support we provide when handling complex injury claims and our proven record of results.
Comprehensive Legal Support for Injury Cases at No Upfront Cost
Every bus accident is unique. You need the guidance of Philadelphia bus accident lawyers who recognize the full breadth of this area of personal injury law. Whether you slipped and fell climbing the stairs of the bus, suffered whiplash due to a bus driver’s abrupt acceleration or sudden stop, or sustained serious injuries in the impact of a collision, van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim is here to guide you through the legal process.
We have extensive experience in all areas of personal injury law and are prepared to fight for injured bus passengers, pedestrians, occupants of other vehicles, and victims of slip and fall accidents.
The Skills and Knowledge to Manage Complex Bus Accident Cases
No case is too small for our bus accident attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, and no challenge is too big for our skills in legal practice. Whether you were the only victim injured in the incident or one of many affected by a massive collision, you need to be represented by an attorney who knows how to overcome the complex issues involved in Philly bus accidents. From establishing liability and documenting damages to managing deadlines and overcoming matters of government immunity, we’re equipped to address whatever concerns lie ahead.
A Reputation for Producing Maximum Results
We’re a results-driven law firm with a history of recovering more than $100 million to compensate our clients. Our focus is always on getting the injured victims who trust their claim to us maximum compensation for their injuries. In the case of a bus accident victim we represented who was left permanently disabled by his injuries, we were willing to accept nothing less than every dollar of insurance coverage available through every policy that applied. The $1.65 million settlement we secured for him is exactly that: the maximum compensation possible in our client’s unique situation.
Contact the Philadelphia Bus Accident Lawyers at van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim Today for a Free Case Review
The legal process can be intimidating, especially when getting the compensation you deserve requires you to take on a government entity like SEPTA or a commercial bus company. You don’t have to figure this all out on your own. Our firm is here to be your guide and your advocate, pursuing every dollar of compensation you deserve.
For help from bus accident attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, contact van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim online or call 215-486-0123 today.
