Bus collisions can cause catastrophic injuries and loss of life. If you suffered severe injuries or lost a loved one, a Dallas bus accident lawyer could seek the compensation you deserve. The personal injury lawyers from Domingo Garcia can be with you during every step of this challenging process. Backed by countless five-star reviews and decades of experience, we’re confident in our ability to represent you.
Contingency Fees in Dallas Bus Accident Cases
At Domingo Garcia, we do not want to add to the financial stress of our clients. We understand that you might have a pile of medical bills from your injuries. You might not have a paycheck coming in if you cannot work because of your wounds. We do not want to give you yet another bill to pay.
You will not have to pay upfront legal fees to Domingo Garcia to handle your case. Instead, we work diligently throughout the case and only get paid at the end if we win. We will receive a percentage of the settlement proceeds or jury verdict for our legal fees. We have a strict “no fee unless you win” policy.
What Domingo Garcia Can Do for You After a Dallas Bus Crash
People usually do not realize how much work goes into handling injury claims after a Dallas bus accident. If they try to handle these things for themselves, they can easily become overwhelmed and accept a lowball settlement offer out of desperation.
We want you to get all the money you deserve for your injuries and losses. When you work with us from the beginning on your bus accident claim, we can:
Investigate the Accident
We perform an extensive investigation on the injury claims we handle. We do not treat our clients like numbers. We will look into what caused the wreck and how the crash impacted your life.
Keep the Channels of Communication Open
When you have an ongoing legal claim, you deserve to know what is happening in your case. Also, your lawyer should take the time to listen to you and answer your questions.
At Domingo Garcia, we will communicate with you to let you know about developments in your case. Also, you can count on us to respond to your telephone calls and emails. We consider thoughtful communication and interaction with our clients to be a matter of respect.
Offer Legal Guidance
When we handle your bus collision claim, you will have the benefit of our years of experience and our legal knowledge. We can help to guide you through this challenging process of a personal injury or wrongful death claim, explain your legal options, and make sure that you understand what to expect.
File Your Insurance Claim
If you have ever had an insurance claim before, you will know about the mountains of paperwork these things can involve. We can handle the heavy lifting for you so that you can focus on getting well and rebuilding your life. You will not have to deal directly with the insurance company when we handle your case.
We can provide the information the insurer needs to evaluate your claim, and we can negotiate to try to settle your case. You will, of course, know what is going on throughout this process, even though you will not have to speak to the claims adjuster yourself. We will take care of all of that for you.
Manage Your Lawsuit
Some cases do not settle, so we might have to file a lawsuit to go after the compensation you deserve. If this happens, please realize that we can continue to negotiate with the defendant or the insurance company after filing the case.
We will conduct discovery to gather the evidence we need for your case. Also, we perform the trial work for you.
Recoverable Damages After a Dallas Bus Accident
Every personal injury case is different because each one has a unique set of facts. One accident might involve only minor injuries, while another collision might have catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
Here are some of the categories of damages that people pursue after getting hurt in a bus accident in the Dallas area:
- If you did not get paid when you were away from the job recuperating from your wounds, you could have a claim for lost income.
- The value of your personal property that was on the bus, like your luggage, laptop, medication, or other items that got damaged or destroyed in the collision can get added to your claim. This category could include damaged or destroyed personal property if you were in another vehicle as well.
- The cost of the medical care you needed for your injuries can be a part of your personal injury claim from the bus accident. The ambulance, emergency room, doctors, hospital, physical therapy, and prescription drugs are a few examples of medical costs that you can recover.
- You might have intangible losses like pain and suffering or disfigurement because of the bus accident. We can add these items to your injury claim.
Bus accidents can cause injuries that people do not survive. If your close relative passed away due to a Dallas bus accident, we could seek compensation for the legal beneficiaries through a wrongful death case.
Our Experienced Bus Accident Lawyers Handle Wrongful Death Cases
Texas law allows close relatives to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. Some of the monetary damages the family can pursue include:
- The final hospital and doctor bills
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of the income the deceased person provided to the family
- Loss of services the decedent performed for the benefit of the household
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and education
At Domingo Garcia, we can explore your individual situation to see how the loss of your loved one has harmed your family.
Our Case Results for Our Clients
Bus accident injury claims present more challenges than the new standard fender bender car crash. Here are some of our case results so you can see the settlements we have gotten for our clients:
- Commercial vehicle accident – lumbar fracture – non-paraplegia $1 million settlement
- 18-Wheeler truck accident $8,750,000 settlement
- Commercial motor vehicle accident $2,750,000 settlement
You can find many more great results on our webpage.
Texas Statute of Limitations for Bus Accident Injury or Wrongful Death
We understand that you will have a multitude of things to take care of after a severe injury or the loss of a loved one from a bus accident. Still, we caution you that you do not want to wait very long to take legal action for your losses. Evidence you need for your case can disappear if not preserved right away.
Also, Texas only gives you two years to file a lawsuit for personal injury or wrongful death, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Even if you are negotiating with the insurance company and trying to settle your claim, you can lose all legal rights to compensation if you miss the lawsuit filing deadline.
Accident Statistics by Type of Bus
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that of all the buses involved in fatal accidents nationwide during the decade from 2010 to 2020:
- 11 percent were intercity buses
- 38 percent were school buses
- 35 percent were transit buses
The school bus fatal crash statistic could be even more alarming when you consider that some school buses do not drive far and seldom travel at highway speeds.
Four Mistakes to Avoid After a Dallas Bus Collision
You might be surprised to learn that certain missteps could affect how much you can recover. Here are a few things you would want to avoid doing to protect the settlement value of your case:
Talking to Other People at the Scene of the Accident
You will not want to stand around chatting with other people at the bus accident site. They could twist your words of compassion into an admission of fault, something you never intended. It is best merely to exchange insurance and contact information with others at the scene and not engage in conversations.
Giving a Statement to the Press
Bus crashes are newsworthy events. A reporter might shove a microphone in front of your face and ask for a comment. It is best to politely decline an interview or comment. Anything you say could be used against you in your personal injury case.
It often takes weeks or months for the authorities to determine fault in these crashes. If the at-fault party has footage of you on camera making a statement that conflicts with what the investigation eventually finds, it could harm your injury claim.
Posting on Social Media
The defendant’s insurance company will likely get access to your social media accounts. Posting anything at all on social media can backfire on you in your personal injury case. We usually advise our clients to take a complete break from social media until after their claim gets resolved.
Trying to Handle Your Injury Claim by Yourself
You have more than enough things that you have to do after getting injured or losing a loved one in a Dallas bus crash. You do not have to take care of the injury or wrongful death claim on your own.
Instead, you can focus on healing from your wounds, rebuilding your life, and helping your family through this crisis when you have Domingo Garcia take care of your legal matters. You can count on us to be there for you.
Types of Buses in Dallas Collisions
You can find various types of buses on the roadways in and around Dallas. The type of bus that gets involved in a crash will determine things like who can be liable and what remedies are available to bus accident victims. In Dallas, there are several types of buses on the streets, including:
- Public school buses
- Private school buses
- Public transportation buses
- Charter buses
- Tour buses
- Buses operated by government entities
A Dallas bus accident attorney will explain who can be legally accountable in your situation, based on, among other things, the type of bus involved in your collision.
Types of Bus Accidents in Dallas, TX
Several different events can cause a bus crash. Here are some of the more common types of bus collisions in the Dallas area and what can lead to them:
Head-On Crashes
Wrong-way drivers can cause head-on collisions. The driver of a car can get confused or be under the influence of alcohol and drugs and be in the wrong lane as a result. Also, when a car tries to pass a bus on a two-lane road, there might not be enough space to complete the passing maneuver safely, and the car could strike oncoming traffic.
Side-Impact Crashes
A car could strike the side of a truck, causing a side impact or T-bone collision because the car ran a red light or failed to stop at a stop sign. It can be difficult, if not impossible, for a large vehicle like a bus to stop in time to avoid a side impact accident in this situation.
Single-Vehicle Crashes
Single-vehicle bus crashes are often the result of the driver falling asleep at the wheel, being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or having a medical emergency. Single-vehicle accidents can also happen when an animal dashes across the street in the path of the bus or a pedestrian suddenly steps into the road without warning.
A Bus Left the Roadway
Buses are wide vehicles, filling much of the space of a traffic lane. It does not take much for the wheels on one side of a bus to veer from the lane and leave the roadway. When this happens, the difference in height and surface material can cause the bus to lose control, skid, spin around, and even flip.
Rear-End of the Bus Gets Struck
The vehicle behind a bus could crash into the back of the bus due to the driver of the car tailgating, speeding, or not paying attention.
A Bus Rear-Ends Another Vehicle
The bus could rear-end another vehicle for the same reasons that a car could. For example, suppose the bus is following a vehicle too closely, driving too fast, or the driver is distracted. If a car cuts in front of the truck and then slows down, the truck might not be able to avoid a rear-end collision with the car.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents tend to happen in areas of road construction where the pavement is uneven. A car might be able to navigate uneven pavement more easily. With the greater height of a bus, a rollover accident is more likely on uneven pavement.
Outcomes from Bus Crashes in Dallas
A bus accident only takes seconds to happen, yet the consequences can last months, years, or even a lifetime. After a bus collision, you might have to deal with:
Physical Injuries
Whether you were a passenger on the bus or were driving your own car, you could suffer catastrophic injuries, such as brain trauma and paralysis.
Property Damage or Loss
A bus accident can damage or destroy other vehicles and the personal property of people involved in the crash. You might have massive repair bills on your car. Your personal property in your car or with you on the bus might have to be replaced or fixed. You might need to buy a new bicycle if yours cannot be repaired after a bus collision.
Intangible Losses
Intangible losses can include things like having extensive scars and disfigurement from your wounds. You might develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the terrifying experience of the bus crash. You could experience physical discomfort and emotional distress, also called pain and suffering, from your injuries.
Dallas Bus Accidents Can Cause Severe Physical Injuries
A bus accident can cause life-changing injuries, including:
- Fractured arms, legs, joints, vertebrae, ribs, skull, and facial bones
- Spinal cord damage that can lead to weakness, loss of function and sensation, and paralysis
- Paralysis can also happen because of localized trauma not focused on the spinal cord
- Disfigurement of extensive scars from wounds, surgical incisions, and other medical interventions
- Head wounds, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussions
- Amputation of one or more of a person’s arms, legs, hands, or feet
- Burns from explosions or fires during or after the crash
- Significant damage to muscles or nerves, with or without fractures
This is a small sample of the many types of devastating injuries a person can suffer because of a bus crash. Be sure to talk with your personal injury attorney about all of your injuries, how well you healed after the medical treatment, and how your wounds have affected your life.
Factors that Can Cause a Dallas Bus Accident
Sometimes the bus driver is at fault when there is a bus crash. In some other accidents, another driver caused the collision.
Drowsy Driving
Negligent bus drivers may operate a vehicle under the influence of fatigue. Driver fatigue can cause many of the same impairments as driving while intoxicated, such as a loss of coordination and poor judgment.
Poor Driving Decisions
Drivers of cars and buses can be guilty of simple errors of judgment, like thinking that they can pass another vehicle safely when there is not enough space to do so.
Speeding
Speeding could either be exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for the road or weather conditions.
Alcohol or Drugs
One should never get behind the wheel after consuming alcoholic beverages or taking drugs that could impair a person’s physical or mental driving abilities.
Reckless Driving
Bus operators may engage in reckless behaviors (such as cutting off other drivers) to get to their destinations on time.
Distraction
There have always been sources of distraction for drivers. Talking with bus passengers, eating, drinking, or daydreaming could take a person’s eyes or mind off of the road.
Now, there are even more distractions with multiple electronic features built into cars in the form of gadgets, touchscreens, and infotainment. Also, portable electronic devices like tablets, notebooks, and cell phones, have many tempting apps and functions. Anything that takes a person’s eyes or attention off of the road could cause a bus accident.
We can pursue the liable parties and help you hold them accountable for how their actions affected your life.
What do Previous Clients Share About Our Texas Law Firm?
We thrive on the feedback our clients leave behind. After the resolution of their cases, some have shared:
- “They really seek to get the best compensation and I recommend the services of attorney Domingo Garcia. My case was resolved soon and with a just resolution. I do not regret hiring the Law Offices of Domingo Garcia for my car accident case.” – J.P.
- “I want to say thank you to attorney Miguel Cazarez and everyone at the Law Offices of Domingo Garcia for winning my case. My attorney was very experienced and professional. I recommend this law firm, everyone is intelligent in how they handle themselves and help us get the best results for our situation.” – V.E.
We’re confident that at the conclusion of your personal injury claim, you’ll feel good about your decision to partner with us. We go above and beyond for every injured person who walks through our door. We do everything in our power to resolve your case and compel fair compensation from the liable party.
Connect With Our Dallas Law Firm After Your Bus Accident
All that you need to do to get started with Domingo Garcia is to call for a free consultation. There is no obligation. We are happy to provide bilingual assistance for our clients. You will not have any upfront legal fees. You will only have to pay legal fees if you win.
