Vancouver, WA Bus Accident Lawyers
Experienced advocacy for passengers who are injured in a Vancouver, WA bus accident
The drivers and owners of school, private, and public buses need to be extra careful because a bus accident is likely to injure or kill multiple riders - and because children often don’t appreciate the dangers of unruly behavior while riding in a school bus. At Philbrook Law Office, PS, our Vancouver bus accident lawyers have the experience and resources to show how bus accidents happen, why they’re preventable, and who is responsible. Our record of successful litigation of bus accident claims includes a $82,500 award for a man who suffered neck, shoulder, and back injuries after being injured in a rear-end collision with a school bus.
How do our Vancouver bus accident lawyers help?
How do you advocate for bus accident victims in Vancouver, WA?
At Philbrook Law Office, our Vancouver bus accident lawyers work with the police, other government officials, and our own investigators to determine how your bus accident happened and who is responsible. We also question every defendant, every witness, and anyone who might have information about the bus accident.
We understand the unique laws (including common carrier laws) and duties that apply to bus drivers, bus companies, and governmental agencies that operate bus services.
Some of the common causes of bus accidents include:
- Distracted driving. Bus drivers or other drivers who text, speak on a cell phone, look at a GPS instead of listening to a GPS, eat, drink, brush their hair, apply makeup, look at the other people in the car, or take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel for any reason are a danger to themselves and others. Bus drivers, especially school bus drivers, can become distracted if any of the passengers become unruly.
- Speeding. Generally, the speed limit near schools is reduced. The speed limit in most school zones in Vancouver and Battle Ground is 20 mph. Some conditions may apply, such as that children must be present or the sign must be flashing to indicate school is in session, and a slower speed is required.
- Driving too fast for conditions. Bus drivers (school and private drivers) need a commercial driver’s license because driving a bus is difficult and because there are passengers on board. Bus drivers need to be sure they can control their bus in bad weather, on slick roads, when turning, and when traffic is congested.
- Driving while tired. Many school bus drivers pick up students very early in the morning. Private bus drivers often drive long distances, sometimes into the late hours of the night. Bus drivers need to be properly rested at all times.
Other causes of bus accidents include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving through stop signs or red lights, failing to yield the right of way, and other traffic conditions.
Bus drivers need to ensure that they stop at designated bus stops. Drivers need to assist riders who have disabilities. Car drivers who are waiting while passengers enter or exit a bus must make sure everyone is on the bus or is in a safe spot when driving behind a bus or passing a bus.
What types of buses are involved in Vancouver, WA bus accidents?
There are many different types of buses that operate in Vancouver and Battle Ground. These buses include:
- School buses. Vancouver Public Schools operates 162 buses that transport 16,000 students every school day. The buses travel about two million miles every year.
- Municipal buses. The Vine is a Vancouver transit service operated by C-Tran. The two lines are the Green Line which runs from Vancouver to the Vancouver Mall, and the Red Line which runs from center city Vancouver to the eastern suburbs.
- Private bus companies such as Greyhound buses.
- Private tour and charter buses.
Our Vancouver bus accident lawyers represent personal injury accident victims and the families of anyone killed in a bus accident. We handle all types of bus accidents, including broadsides, head-on crashes, rear-end collisions, rollovers, wide-turn accidents, single-vehicle accidents, multiple-vehicle accidents, and other serious accidents.
How common are school bus accidents?
According to the National Safety Council, 108 people died in school bus accidents in 2021. School bus accidents include accidents while the bus is moving and while children are getting onto or off the bus. Sixteen percent of bus accident deaths involved pedestrians and three percent involved bicycle riders. Many of the people killed were passengers in vehicles other than the school bus. Nationwide, nearly 490,000 yellow school buses were in operation nationwide during the 2021-2022 school year.
Who is responsible for a Vancouver, WA bus accident?
At Philbrook Law Office, our Vancouver bus accident lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against all responsible parties. The defendants may include:
- The bus driver
- The driver of another vehicle
- The owner of the bus or the other vehicle
- The bus driver’s employer or the other driver’s employer
- The Washington Department of Transportation, Vancouver Public Schools, or any other governmental agency responsible for municipal or school bus services
- The manufacturer of any defective bus parts
What types of injuries do bus accidents cause?
Bus accidents often involve multiple victims. The victims often suffer catastrophic, permanent, or severe injuries because of the weight and mass of a bus. Many buses don’t have seat belts or airbags. The passengers can collide with each other.
Our Vancouver personal injury lawyers work with your doctors and our own network of doctors to fully show the severity of your injuries, the possible complications, the medical care you’ll need, and the cost of the care.
Common bus accident injuries include:
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma
- Traumatic amputation/loss of limb
- Neck, back, and shoulder injuries
- Broken bones/fractures
- Burn injuries
- Nerve, tissue, ligament, muscle, and tendon damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological trauma
- Internal organ damage
Children are especially prone to serious injuries and complications due to their small size and continued growth into adulthood.
Our Vancouver bus accident lawyers demand compensation for each victim’s pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, and any other damages such as property damage and scarring and disfigurement damages. We file wrongful death claims if a loved one died in a Vancouver bus accident.
Do you have a Vancouver, WA bus accident lawyer near me?
Philbrook Law Office meets clients at our offices located in:
- Vancouver, WA. 300 W. 39th Street
- Battle Ground, WA. 105 N Parkway Ave. Ste 104
- Portland, OR. 107 SE Washington St.
We serve clients in the greater Portland area and throughout Oregon and Washington.
If you are too injured or hurt to come to our office, we will meet you in a hospital, another medical facility, or your home. Our personal injury lawyers also offer virtual conferences and telephone consultations.
Contact Philbrook Law Office today to discuss your Vancouver bus accident claim
Children and adults place their trust in bus drivers and bus companies. When that trust is broken, injured passengers and the families of anyone killed in a bus accident deserve compensation for their injuries and loss. Our Philbrook bus accident lawyers are skilled at negotiating settlements and arguing your rights before juries. To schedule a consultation at one of our offices in Vancouver or Battle Ground, WA, please call us or complete our contact form.
We also represent injury victims and families in the greater Portland area and throughout Oregon. Personal injury consultations are free. We handle bus accident claims on a contingency fee basis.