Bus Accident Attorneys in McAlester

Helping Secure Your Future after a Serious Accident

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) defines a bus as “any motor vehicle designed to transport nine or more persons, including the driver.” Large buses capable of transporting 50 or 60 passengers are a common means of transportation in cities, between urban and suburban areas, between cities intrastate, and interstate throughout the United States. A typical interstate bus weighs about 48,000 pounds when loaded with passengers, luggage, and a full tank of diesel fuel, which is more than half the weight of a fully loaded 18-wheeler.

Bus accidents can injure or kill passengers on the bus, as well as others driving or standing in the vicinity. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2013 there were 280 bus accidents in which 48 bus passengers were killed. However, those same 280 accidents claimed the lives of 262 non-passengers, bringing the death toll to 310. Non-passenger deaths were, therefore, about 5.5 times higher than passenger deaths. Why? The most likely answer is that the weight of a bus, about 15 times the weight of a passenger car, combined with its speed, can make it an instrument of mass destruction.

If you were injured in a bus accident, you know how difficult it can be to deal with the emotional trauma of the event, let alone the resulting pain and suffering, and apprehension about high-cost medical treatment, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and loss of income. At Stipe Law Firm, our hard-working McAlester bus accident lawyers help by guiding you through the claims settlement process or litigation that’s required to obtain the compensation you deserve.

The Causes & Consequences of Bus Accidents

Bus accident cases are usually complex due to the scope of the event and the fact that so many people tend to be injured or killed in each accident. There may be multiple defendants, ranging from bus companies and drivers to local governments and school districts. Simply determining who sues whom may require intensive investigation and analysis.

Buses involved in accidents range from those used for school transportation to very large ones used for interstate travel.

The causes of bus accidents are numerous, but among the most common are:

• Inexperienced drivers
• Driver inattention
• Driving while intoxicated or while under the influence of drugs
• Aggressive driving
• Driving inappropriately for weather conditions
• Poor bus maintenance

If you have been involved in an accident, our compassionate bus accident lawyers in McAlester can help you determine the cause and who is at fault. We are dedicated to protecting the interests of accident victims and their families. This is especially relevant when bus companies seek to avoid responsibility or insurance carriers unreasonably reject claims, pressure victims to settle for low compensation, or needlessly delay payment. We work to identify responsible parties and fight to recover victims’ medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and more.