We’ve Achieved Million-Dollar Results
Representing Injured
Passengers
At Goodman Acker, P.C. our Michigan bus accident lawyers actively represent victims injured as passengers in Detroit bus accidents. If you or your family member was injured as a passenger on a bus, whether you were riding on a Detroit City Bus or a SMART Bus, you do have legal rights and may be able to collect compensation for your injuries. We can help you determine if you have a personal injury claim. Contact our team online or by phone at 248-286-8100 to schedule a free consultation today with our dedicated and seasoned personal injury attorneys.
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Filing a Claim for Bus Accident Injuries
Bus Accident Lawyer Helping Injured Get Compensation
Large buses are very difficult to drive and maneuver, and, when involved in a crash, their size and weight can do considerable damage to passengers, other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Victims of accidents may suffer serious injuries and be left dealing with physical and emotional pain and suffering as well as the financial costs of medical, hospital, and rehabilitative bills, and loss of income from being unable to work. Some injuries may even lead to death.
If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a bus accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses through insurance or a personal injury lawsuit. While no amount of money can compensate for what you are going through, a successful claim can help alleviate your financial problems, and allow you to concentrate on getting well.
However, bus accident claims are extremely complicated, and the bus company and its insurance provider will have investigators begin gathering evidence to help them deny liability and avoid paying, and it is difficult to go up against them on your own.
Fortunately, the Detroit bus accident lawyers at Goodman Acker, PC, are available to help. Our skilled and experienced attorneys know how to deal with large bus companies and their insurers who will do everything they can to get you to settle for less than your case is worth.
We provide a free consultation to help you understand your rights and determine the best way to handle your case, so call us today to get started.
Why Choose Our Bus Accident Attorneys in Detroit, MI?
Bus accident cases are different from other motor vehicle crash cases, so it is important to find an attorney with the experience and resources to deal with local, state, and federal laws. There are also often multiple companies, insurance companies, and possibly government entities involved. Here are some reasons why we feel you should choose Goodman Acker to represent you:
- We have 150+ years of combined legal experience.
- We get results and win large settlements, such as the $15.3 million judgment for a catastrophically injured woman struck by an exploding manhole cover. Founding partner Barry J. Goodman has won a $14.5-million arbitration award as well as a number of seven-figure verdicts for injured clients.
- We have a success rate of 99% for cases we conclude. You can read testimonials from clients we have helped.
- We are routinely featured by newsgroups, like Fox 2 News and Local 4 Detroit.
- The achievements of our team have earned us numerous firm and individual credentials, including:
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Inclusion on the Super Lawyers® list
- AV® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Inclusion on the Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2021 Hall of Fame list
- We are accessible and available 24/7 for client emergencies.
- We offer free initial consultations to get you started.
- We work on a contingency basis, so you pay us nothing unless we win, and you get your money.
How Our Bus Accident Attorney Works for You
Bus companies may try to destroy evidence that can be used against them, so it is essential to perform a detailed inspection of the damage to the bus before it is repaired and to start investigations as soon as possible while evidence and witnesses can be found. When you have our Goodman Acker legal team on your side, we will start working on your case immediately. We will:
- Meet with you to discuss how the accident happened, who the at-fault parties may be, and determine what your case may be worth.
- Ensure that you get proper medical treatment and that all injuries are documented.
- File all the necessary paperwork and forms.
- Investigate the accident to gather and preserve evidence, such as from damage to the bus, traffic photos and videos, police and medical records and reports, and interviews with witnesses and first responders.
- Hire bus accident reconstruction experts to testify as to fault and life-care experts to estimate the costs and extent of your injuries and the effects on your life into the future.
- Deal and negotiate with insurance companies and their attorneys for a fair settlement.
- Build your case and take it to court if necessary.
At Goodman Acker, we have advocates who speak your language, including Aramaic and Arabic and we are available when you need us. We have the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to handle complicated bus accident cases.
Damages Our Detroit Bus Accident Lawyers May Recover
There are two types of claims a Detroit bus accident victim may be entitled to file. The first claim is a Michigan no-fault insurance benefit claim, which would include payment for medical bills, lost wages, household, and attendant care services (in-home nursing care), and more. Bus passengers, other drivers, bikers, bicyclists, and pedestrians injured in a bus accident may also be entitled to no-fault insurance benefits.
If you do not have your own auto insurance policy, you can file a claim through your spouse’s or other live-in relative’s insurance company. If your claim is denied, your bus accident attorney can file a lawsuit for the PIP (personal injury protection).
The second type of claim is to file a personal injury lawsuit. In a successful case, you may recover an award called damages to compensate for your economic monetary expenses from the accident and your noneconomic damages as well. Noneconomic damages do not have a specific monetary value, but negatively impact your life, and may include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anguish, or depression
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Bus Accident Lawyers in Detroit, MI, Must Prove Negligence
Proving negligence is essential in winning a personal injury case. Our attorneys would have to prove that another party (the defendant in the case) was negligent and at fault for the accident and resulting injuries. This means establishing the following legal elements:
- Duty. The defendant owed you a duty of care not to cause harm.
- Breach. The defendant breached that duty by actions or failure to act.
- Cause. This breach caused the accident that injured you.
- Damages. You suffered damages as a result.
Depending on the individual circumstances of the accident, in addition to the bus driver, there may be additional parties who can be held responsible for bus accidents. Some potentially liable parties may include:
- The company that owned the bus.
- Manufacturer of the bus or its parts if these failed.
- Third-party contractors or other drivers that may have been involved in the crash.
- Government entities responsible for public buses.
- Maintenance crews for buses.
Through our investigations, our Detroit bus accident lawyers will seek to identify all parties who may have contributed to the accident, as they all may have assets and insurance that can go toward a settlement. We will then utilize the evidence and expert testimony to prove negligence.
Detroit Bus Accident Attorneys Answer Frequently Asked Questions
After a serious bus accident, you are bound to have questions and concerns. These are best answered at your free consultation, but to get started, here are some answers to frequent questions our bus accident attorneys often are asked:
Damage award amounts for bus accidents vary widely and may range from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the individual circumstances of your case. In general, settlements will be higher in situations where injuries are severe and require expensive treatment and continuing care or if a wrongful death was involved.
Government entities are typically protected from having to pay those who are injured on their property or during their business. However, there is an exception if the bus driver’s negligent behavior caused the accident, so depending on the situation, a lawsuit may be filed.
If a loved one died in a fatal bus accident, the surviving family members can file a Michigan wrongful death lawsuit file. Compensation may be awarded for funeral and burial expenses, the pain and suffering endured by the deceased before death, the loss of companionship and care, the loss of income and support, and pain and suffering of mourning family members.
Yes, Michigan has a deadline, called a statute of limitations, for filing claims for personal injuries. According to the law, (section 600.5805) you generally must file your case within three years of the accident, with limited exceptions, such as if you were insane or under the age of 18 at the time of the accident. In addition, the claim for no-fault insurance benefits must be filed within one year of the accident.
The good news is that hiring our personal injury lawyers does not cost anything upfront. You pay nothing unless and until we win your case, and then fees are taken out of the settlement.
When you have Goodman Acker on your side, we will be there for you throughout the entire legal process, answering any questions and keeping you informed.
Call Our Detroit Bus Accident Lawyers for Help
At Goodman Acker P.C., our bus accident lawyers represent victims injured in Detroit bus accidents. We know how to successfully navigate multiple companies and multiple insurance companies, and deal with claims of governmental immunity and the intersection of local, state, and federal laws that apply to most bus companies and regional transportation authorities in the state.
Our entire staff is committed to helping our clients who have suffered personal injury obtain the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. With millions of dollars recovered on behalf of our clients and a 99 percent success rate in winning cases, you can feel confident that we will do everything possible to win your case. With our more than 150+ combined years of experience, you can rest assured that we will provide you with reliable guidance and handle all legal hurdles and requirements needed to help get you the settlement you deserve.
Call us today at 248-286-8100 for a free, no-obligation consultation. When you have our Michigan bus accident attorneys working for you, you can focus on your recovery while we focus on winning your case.
LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN
Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]
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