Erie
Bus Accident Lawyer

On This Page

1. Our Bus Accident Lawyers Can Help You
2. Bus Accident Damages
3. Types of Pennsylvania Insurance and their Coverage
4. Who Is At-Fault for My Bus Accident?
5. Bus Accident Lawsuit Deadlines
6. Secure an Erie Bus Accident Lawyer Today

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Were you recently injured in a bus accident? Do you believe another party was responsible? At Berger and Green, our team gets bus accidents. We can fight by your side for fair compensation, whether your accident was caused by an individual, municipality, or company. An Eric personal injury lawyer from Berger and Green can evaluate your case for free.

Our Bus Accident Lawyers Can Help You

If you’ve recently been in a truck accident, you likely have a lot on your plate. Not only are you dealing with recovery from your injuries, but you may be dealing with financial insecurity as a result of the accident. Trying to file a claim or lawsuit while you’re dealing with all of that would be a lot of added stress.

You may also be struggling to understand your case and the legal process. At Berger and Green, we have over 40 years of legal experience. We can apply this knowledge to your case and provide you with peace of mind. Here’s how we can help bus accident clients:

• Investigating your case and gathering evidence
• Advising you on the best route to fair compensation
• Reviewing your insurance policies
• Determining who’s responsible for your injuries
• Providing a case value estimation
• Pursuing a lawsuit, if necessary

As your legal team, we have two primary goals: to keep you informed and up-to-date on your case and to secure fair compensation on your behalf. While you heal, we’ll get to work. From negotiating with insurers to filing lawsuits, we’re ready to use our resources to help your case.

Can I Afford a Bus Accident Lawyer?

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the average cost of a car accident involving injuries is roughly $30,000. After an accident, some of your expenses may be covered by an insurer. However, you may still have some costs you can’t cover, like large medical bills.

At Berger and Green, we know that you might be under serious financial pressure. To ensure that we can provide our services to those in need, we work on a contingency-fee basis. This means we require no upfront fees and only get paid if we win. Hiring a bus accident lawyer from our team is risk-free.

Bus Accident Damages

After a bus accident, there are two primary types of damages, economic, and non-economic. 

Economic damages deal purely with out-of-pocket expenses, including:

• Medical costs
• Damage to your vehicle
• Lost wages
• Other expenses directly related to your accident

Non-economic damages are less straightforward. They reimburse you for the emotional toll of your accident, like pain and suffering or a reduced quality of life. Our team will talk with you to understand how your accident has affected your life–this way, we can fight for the compensation you deserve for your suffering.

Types of Pennsylvania Insurance and their Coverage

Erie is subject to state-wide automobile insurance laws. The required types of car insurance, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department are:

• Medical benefits: Covers your own injuries after an accident.
• Bodily injury liability: Covers other parties’ injuries in an accident.
• Property damage liability: Covers other parties’ property damage after an accident.

Limited and Full Tort Insurance

However, to make matters more complicated, Pennsylvania offers drivers the choice between limited tort insurance and full tort insurance. The type of tort insurance you carry impacts the types of damages you can pursue from other parties after an accident:

• Limited tort insurance: You are limited to only recovering economic damages, unless you fall within an exception. As noted before, this includes out-of-pocket expenses and medical costs.
• Full tort insurance: You can file a lawsuit to recover any damage caused by your accident, including pain and suffering, or a reduced quality of life. 

There are caveats to this rule. For example, if your injuries pass the “serious injuries” threshold or the driver that caused the accident has an out-of-state license plate, you can pursue both economic and non-economic damages, regardless of the type of insurance you carry.

We Can Handle Insurance Concerns and Questions

If you’re confused about the types of damages you can pursue, don’t fret. Our team is intimately familiar with bus accident law. We can explain which damages you qualify for and advise you on a fair settlement offer. In determining which damages you qualify for, we can review:

• Police reports
• Your medical records
• Doctor’s statements
• Traffic camera footage
• Input from expert witnesses
• Photographs or videos from the crash scene

Who Is At-Fault for My Bus Accident?

Bus accidents can be caused by several parties, including:

• Other drivers
• A bus driver
• A municipal agency
• A private bus company
• A municipality responsible for roadway maintenance

In your accident, any of these parties could be responsible. Another party not noted here may also have contributed to your accident. 

Our team can undergo a thorough investigation of your accident. Once we’ve identified the responsible party, we can pursue compensation. To receive compensation, you must prove that someone else caused your accident – we’re here to help you make that happen.

Can I Sue a Municipality?

Bus accidents often involve municipal employees. Under legal doctrine, employers can be held liable for the actions of their employees.

However, for an employer to be liable, you must prove that the relevant employee was operating within their “scope of employment” prior to the accident. The “scope of employment” is less complicated than it sounds, applying when:

• An employee is on the clock
• An employee is performing functions essential to their job

So, if the bus driver who caused your accident was on the clock, it’s likely that their employer is liable. If the bus driver’s employer is liable for your injuries, we will build a case against them and pursue the company or municipality for your compensation.

Bus Accident Lawsuit Deadlines

In standard personal injury cases, Erie residents have two years to file a lawsuit, per Pa. C.S.A. § 5524. This deadline applies if you’re filing a lawsuit against an individual driver or private bus company. 

However, if you believe your accident was caused by a municipal group, like the EMTA, you have to notify them of your claim within 6 months of the accident or risk losing your right to file a lawsuit. This deadline is considerably shorter than Pennsylvania’s standard statute of limitations. For this reason, we advise you to get started on your bus accident case as soon as possible. 

Secure an Erie Bus Accident Lawyer Today

Don’t waste time stressing over your bus accident case–call our offices today. We can provide you with a free case evaluation. During this initial meeting, you can discuss your hopes and concerns with an Erie bus accident lawyer. Let us put your worries at ease.