Have you or someone you know been hurt in an MBTA accident in Boston? Handling the aftermath on your own can be challenging. You have enough on your hands with managing your physical recovery and trying to deal with mounting financial strain of medical bills and income losses.
Facing this difficult time can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. A Boston bus accident lawyer from Earley Law Group can step in to help you through. They can deal with all the legal details, talk to insurance companies for you, and work to get you the compensation you deserve.
Don’t try to tackle going against the MBTA alone. Contact Earley Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can assist you with your bus accident injury claim.
Why Should I Hire an Attorney for My MBTA Bus Accident Claim?
Hiring an attorney for your Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MTBA) bus accident claim is a smart move because these cases involve many unique challenges. For one, state agencies have their own teams of lawyers. Additionally, these cases often require detailed investigations and the gathering of substantial evidence to prove what happened.
A good attorney knows how to tackle these challenges head-on and make sure your side of the story gets the attention it deserves. This means you have a better chance of getting fair compensation for your injuries and financial losses. Without an attorney, you might find yourself overwhelmed and at a disadvantage.
If you need legal support for your MBTA bus accident case, look no further than Earley Law. We proudly offer what we call the Earley Experience. This means we’re committed to making the legal process as straightforward and stress-free for you as possible. We understand the importance of exceptional customer service and promise to work tirelessly to deliver the outstanding experience you deserve. Your satisfaction matters deeply to us. If, for any reason, you’re not fully satisfied with the Earley Experience, we promise to go the extra mile to make it right.
Our unwavering commitment has earned us over 600 positive Google reviews from clients who have experienced our quality service and outstanding results first-hand. Contact us today and discover why so many accident victims trust Earley Law for their legal needs.
Why Are Bus Accident Injury Claims So Complex?
Bus injury claims can be tricky to deal with for several reasons. These accidents are not like car crashes because they involve larger vehicles, more people, and, often, public transportation systems. This can make determining what happened and who is responsible more challenging.
Here are some reasons why these claims are particularly complex:
- Multiple Parties Involved – After a bus accident, you might have to deal with several potentially liable parties, including the bus driver, the company that owns the bus, other drivers, and even government agencies. Each one might have a different story about what happened.
- Severe Injuries – Buses are big and heavy, which means bus accidents can cause serious injuries. This can lead to larger medical bills and more time away from work, so bus accident claims are often worth more and harder to settle.
- Legal and Regulatory Issues – Transit agencies like MBTA must follow specific rules set by the government. Understanding these rules and proving the agency didn’t follow them adds another layer of difficulty to filing your claim.
- Evidence Gathering – Collecting proof in bus accidents usually means getting information from multiple sources, like bus cameras, driver records, and witness statements. This takes a lot of extra work and requires knowing where to look for evidence.
- Insurance Complications – Buses have different insurance policies than regular cars. These policies are often much larger and involve more complex terms, making negotiations trickier.
What Should I Do After a Bus Accident?
If you get hurt in an MBTA bus accident, there are several essential steps you should take afterward to protect your rights and lay the groundwork for a solid legal case. Here’s what you should do:
- Gather contact information from witnesses.
- Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and any damage.
- Get a copy of the bus driver’s information and the bus number.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you feel fine.
- Keep a detailed record of your injuries and medical treatments.
- Follow all medical advice and keep appointments with your doctors.
- Keep track of your income losses if you miss work due to your injuries.
- Contact a knowledgeable Boston bus accident attorney from Earley Law as soon as possible.
- Inform your insurance company about the accident.
- Avoid discussing the accident details or your injuries on social media.
- Keep a journal documenting how your injuries affect your daily life.
- Save all receipts and bills related to the accident.
- Avoid signing insurance documents or accepting settlement offers without legal advice.
Who Could Be Held Responsible for an MBTA Bus Accident?
Several different parties might be responsible for an MBTA bus accident. Understanding who these parties are is essential for seeking justice and fair compensation. Here are some examples of parties that could be liable:
- Bus Driver – Bus driver negligence causes many bus accidents. If the bus driver was not driving safely, such as by speeding or driving while distracted, they could be responsible for the wreck.
- MBTA – If the accident was due to something like poor bus maintenance or insufficient driver training, the MBTA might be liable.
- Other Drivers – Sometimes, other drivers are involved in causing bus accidents. If another driver did something wrong, like running a red light and hitting the bus, that driver could be at fault.
- Bus Manufacturer – If the accident was caused by a problem with the bus itself, like faulty brakes or steering issues, the company that made the bus might be at fault.
- City or State Government – The condition of the roads and traffic signals can also lead to accidents. If poor road maintenance or unclear traffic signs played a role in the accident, the city or state agency that maintains them might be liable.
- Maintenance Companies – Sometimes, outside companies are responsible for bus maintenance. A maintenance company could be at fault if they didn’t do their job right and something like failed brakes caused the accident.
If you get injured on a city bus in Boston, you can file a claim to recover compensation for the harm you suffered. This could include bus accident compensation for:
- Medical bills for treatment you’ve already received
- Projected medical expenses for care you will likely need in the future
- Lost wages if you can’t work because of your injuries
- Loss of future earning ability if you can’t earn as much as before
- Pain and suffering for the physical and emotional stress from your injuries
- Loss of enjoyment of life if you can’t participate in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed
- Property damage if your car was totaled or you lost personal property in the accident
If you think you were partly at fault for an MBTA bus accident in Boston, you might still be able to get money from a personal injury claim. Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which says you can still receive compensation as long as you are less responsible for the accident than all other responsible parties.
However, if you are partly at fault, the amount of money you can get will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re 30 percent at fault for an accident that costs you $10,000, the most you could receive is $7,000 instead of the full amount. So, even if you think you were partly to blame, it’s still worth talking to a bus accident lawyer in Boston about your case.
In Massachusetts, you have three years from the accident date to file a bus accident lawsuit. However, you must first file a written claim with the MBTA within two years of the accident date, and you can’t file a lawsuit against the MBTA unless they have denied your claim.
If you wait too long and miss these deadlines, you won’t be able to take your case to court to recover money for the harm you suffered. This is why it’s so important to contact a lawyer right away. A Boston bus accident attorney from Earley Law will know about the strict filing deadlines and handle your claim quickly. They’ll gather all the necessary information and file your claim paperwork before time runs out. Getting a lawyer involved early on means they can start working on getting you compensation without any delays.
Every day, MBTA buses navigate the busy streets of Boston, which means they encounter a range of accident risks. Common types of accidents involving MBTA buses include the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- Side-swipe accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Accidents at intersections
- Collisions with parked vehicles
- Bus rollovers
- Bus fires
- School bus accidents
- Crashes involving bicycles or pedestrians
- Collisions with motorcycles
- Mechanical failure accidents
MBTA bus accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries, such as:
- Cuts and scrapes
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Sprains and strains
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Burn injuries
- Dislocations
- Amputations
- Facial injuries
- Dental injuries
- Psychological injuries
- Fatal injuries