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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) operates over 1,500 buses in the DC Metro area, covering 325 routes in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Thousands of commuters rely on these buses and trust they will provide safe riding between destinations. Unfortunately, driver error, poor maintenance, and other issues cause bus accidents to occur too frequently, resulting in devastating personal injuries for passengers and other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Bus accident victims often require specialized care, including long-term physical and psychological treatment. Worse, claims against WMATA can be notoriously complex. You will need a Washington, DC bus accident lawyer from Regan Zambri Long to help you with the claim and get you the compensation you deserve following such an accident.
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Bus accident claims can be challenging to navigate on your own. Dealing with a government agency or an insurance company can be frustrating. They can easily reject your claim and blame you for the accident. If your claim is approved, you may only receive the bare minimum of what your claim is worth. You need a bus accident attorney from a law firm with the experience to get you the compensation you deserve.
The Washington, DC bus accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have the experience and resources to take on the WMATA or a private bus company. We understand the complexities of these types of personal injury lawsuits and will fight for your rights so you receive the maximum compensation your crash injury claim is worth.
Called by Washingtonian Magazine the “lawyer you call when you want to sue WMATA,” Senior Partner Patrick Regan has successfully handled hundreds of bus accident claims throughout the DMV. Our bus crash attorneys have won tens of millions of dollars in damages for our clients and understand the complexities of handling bus accident claims against the WMATA and private bus companies.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a bus accident, call the DC bus accident attorneys of Regan Zambri Long today for a no-obligation, free consultation.
The cause of a bus accident and the type of bus involved can determine who may be held responsible for your injuries or the loss of a loved one. Depending on the circumstances, possible responsible parties for the bus accident may include:
WMATA: If the driver of a DC Metrobus is at fault for your accident, then you may be able to hold WMATA accountable for your injuries and damages. This is generally the case when driver error or lack of maintenance on the vehicle causes an injury. There is a specific process the injury victim needs to follow to file a claim. This includes submitting the claim within a set deadline and ensuring it is filed with the appropriate agency. Missing the deadline or filing with the wrong entity could lead to the claim being denied.
Because time is essential in a Metrobus accident case, it’s important to contact a DC bus accident attorney at Regan Zambri Long as soon as possible after the crash to get your claim started immediately. Our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers work diligently to file your paperwork with the appropriate agency promptly.
The School District: If your child was injured while riding a school bus, a school bus accident lawyer in DC may be able to hold the school district liable for the accident, including crashes caused by driver error. Poor maintenance, lack of proper training, or hiring negligent drivers are all causes of school bus accidents and result from negligence on behalf of the school district.
When a child is harmed in a school bus accident, their parents or legal guardians have two options for collecting compensation on their behalf. The first option is for the parents or guardians to file a lawsuit on the child’s behalf. Or, the minor child could wait until they become of age to file a lawsuit. In that case, the child has until age 21 to file a personal injury claim.
Private Bus Company: If a private company owns the coach that caused the bus accident, then that company’s insurance should cover your injuries and damages. For example, after a tour bus accident, you may be able to file a claim against the tour company for any injuries you may have sustained.
The Bus Manufacturer: In some cases, the manufacturer may be liable for a bus crash caused by defects in the vehicle components. For example, if faulty brakes prevent the bus from stopping, the driver may crash into another vehicle. The impact could throw you to the floor, causing a serious head injury. If the braking system had a design flaw the manufacturer failed to correct before the bus was produced, they could be responsible for putting a dangerous product on the road.
Another Motorist: In some cases, another motorist may cause a crash. You may be able to collect compensation from that driver’s insurance policy, the motor coach company’s insurance policy, and your own.
Usually, bus accident victims do not know who caused the accident or what parties may be liable for the damages. A Regan Zambri Long Washington, DC bus accident lawyer can investigate the incident, determine the cause, and find all responsible parties.
One of the major causes of bus accidents in Washington, DC, can be traced back to driver error. Too often, a crash could have been avoided if one or more parties had acted responsibly. The most prevalent causes of bus accidents in the DC metro area include:
Bus drivers need to be adequately trained to handle these large vehicles. But even the best-trained driver could easily ignore the rules of the road. Therefore, when a driver violates their duty of care and drives recklessly, you have cause to file a claim against the bus driver.
Examples of driver negligence include:
Like trucking companies, bus companies may cut corners and fail to maintain their buses regularly. A defective part can quickly endanger the public without regular maintenance to keep buses from running correctly.
The bus company may also be held responsible for how its employees acted before and after the accident. For example, the company could be liable for the accident if the bus driver was not adequately trained.
Inclement weather can easily make driving dangerous for even the most experienced driver. For example, a sudden winter storm can turn the roadway into ice. Adequately trained drivers know they must drive cautiously in bad weather; however, many take chances to meet their schedules. This can easily result in a deadly accident.
Another driver’s negligence can cause a bus crash. Like bus drivers, other drivers must drive safely and follow the road rules. However, this is not always the case, which can result in a deadly accident.
It’s the government’s responsibility to maintain the roads. But if the road was either poorly constructed or is not being maintained and the road conditions caused the accident, the government may be held liable for the accident.
For decades, our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have been helping victims and their families recover compensation after these types of negligence cause an accident to occur. Our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers will go after the other party responsible and ensure you get the justice you deserve.
The personal injuries caused by a bus accident can be extensive and severe. First, buses or coaches are much larger and heavier than typical vehicles. If a bus crashes into a car, the car will likely sustain much more damage than the bus. The same is true of accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists.
Second, bus passengers typically do not wear seatbelts and may stand if the bus is crowded. In an impact, riders could fall or be thrown into seats, against windows, or other passengers.
Some of the most common types of bus accident injuries include:
If you suffered a severe injury in a bus accident, call the DC bus accident attorneys of Regan Zambri Long.
Like a truck accident, you can file a personal injury claim against the company’s insurance for your injuries. However, your claim can be a little more complicated when you have a claim against the government.
When filing a claim against the WMATA, the doctrine of sovereign immunity may apply. Sovereign immunity prohibits your ability to sue the government in some instances.
To file a lawsuit, you must first file a Notice of Claim to the Office of Risk Management within six months. The notice must contain the following information:
WMATA responds in approximately five business days; however, it may require additional time to investigate the accident depending on the complaint.
Given the complexity of claims against the government, connecting with a Washington, DC bus accident lawyer is the only way to guarantee your rights are being preserved.
Like a truck accident, you can file a personal injury claim against the company’s insurance for your injuries. However, your claim can be a little more complicated when you have a claim against the government.
When filing a claim against the WMATA, the doctrine of sovereign immunity may apply. Sovereign immunity prohibits your ability to sue the government in some instances.
To file a lawsuit, you must first file a Notice of Claim to the Office of Risk Management within six months. The notice must contain the following information:
WMATA responds in approximately five business days; however, it may require additional time to investigate the accident depending on the complaint.
Depending on the severity of the injuries and the circumstances surrounding the accident, bus accident victims could receive the following compensation for their accident:
Call a Washington, DC bus accident lawyer from Regan Zambri Long to secure maximum compensation for your injuries. Our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers have secured multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, and we can do the same for you.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you and your bus accident lawyer may be able to hold the at-fault driver and/or bus company liable for your injuries. In some cases, the bus owner or a third party could be held at fault for the accident.
Contacting a bus accident attorney immediately after the accident is best to file a personal injury claim as a bus passenger.
If you lost a family member in a bus accident, you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party.
In Washington, DC, you have two years from the date of death to file a lawsuit. However, the responsible party may claim that the death was not connected to the accident injuries. A DC personal injury attorney will review your loved one’s medical records to ensure there is no question about what caused their death.
Depending on whether you’re a passenger on the bus, a pedestrian, or another driver, your first step is to remain calm and call 911 as possible. Then do the following:
If the bus company or its insurance company calls you before you can speak with a Washington, DC bus accident attorney, keep the information about the accident to yourself. Do not agree to make a recorded statement, and do not sign any forms the company or insurance carrier sent you. Instead, contact a DC bus accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long immediately to protect your case.
Washington, DC is a no-fault state. This means your insurance company will pay for your injuries, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. In a bus accident, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance will cover medical expenses of up to $50,000.
However, PIP does not cover other damages, such as lost wages or pain and suffering. In addition, you are not required to purchase PIP insurance in Washington, DC. With the help of a Washington, DC personal injury lawyer, you must file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party to pay for all expenses.
This is why it’s critical to get a complete medical examination after an accident occurs, as it will be used to calculate the value of your claim. At Regan Zambri Long, our DC bus accident lawyers work with medical experts to ensure you get the compensation you need for your injuries now and for their long-term treatment later.
If you are a passenger on the bus at the time of the accident, the possibility of being responsible for the crash is unlikely. However, there are situations where you may have played a part in the personal injury. For example, let’s say you were being rowdy on the bus. You were sitting incorrectly on your seat and speaking to your friend behind you, then the driver stops short to avoid hitting a dog, causing you to fall. The court may find you partially at fault for your accident in this situation since you were sitting incorrectly in your seat.
DC, Virginia, and Maryland all follow the contributory negligence fault system. This law states that if the plaintiff is found at fault by any degree for the accident, they will not be able to recover any damages.
A Washington, DC bus accident lawyer can help you understand how contributory negligence can harm your personal injury claim.
To determine fault, the following elements must be present:
If the bus company or driver meets these four elements, they will be liable for your accident. Our DC bus accident lawyers can establish fault to build you the strongest claim for your bus accident injuries.
Our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Backed by decades of experience fighting against the WMATA, our firm has an established reputation for pursuing legal excellence in complex bus accident cases.
As our client, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing that we will protect your legal rights from start to finish. Our bus accident lawyers will do everything in our power to secure the maximum compensation you need to pay for injury-related expenses, such as medical care and lost income, as well as full compensation for all of your injuries, and physical and emotional consequences.
Our DC personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations, and we work on a contingency fee basis. Call Regan Zambri Long at (202) 980-3405 or contact a lawyer online today to discuss your legal options.
