Win Your Claim with Our Michigan Bus Accident Attorney

Any time you are in an auto accident, you run the risk of serious injury and legal trouble. However, when that accident involves public transportation, you need a Michigan bus accident lawyer who knows how to handle this special legal situation.

Types of Bus Accidents in Michigan Our David Christensen Lawyers Represent

Understanding the type of bus accident you’ve been involved in is crucial to determining liability and building a strong case. At Christensen Law, our Michigan bus accident attorneys have decades of experience handling cases across a wide range of scenarios. Below are some of the most common types of bus accidents we help clients with:

School Bus Accidents

School bus drivers have a heightened duty of care because their passengers are often young children. Unfortunately, accidents can still happen due to driver negligence. These incidents can result in severe injuries for children and other road users.

Public Transit Bus Accidents

Accidents involving public transit buses often occur due to negligence by either the bus driver or other motorists. For example, impatient drivers may make reckless decisions to overtake a slower-moving bus, causing a collision. Alternatively, bus operators may fail to exercise due caution, leading to crashes that injure passengers, pedestrians, or other drivers.

Shuttle Bus Accidents

Shuttle buses operated by hotels, universities, or airports are a convenient way to transport passengers. However, due to their design, these buses are prone to rollovers if a driver takes a turn too sharply or becomes overly hasty. Injuries in shuttle bus accidents can be severe, especially when passengers are not adequately secured.

Freight Bus Accidents

Freight buses are designed to carry cargo instead of passengers and are subject to strict weight limitations. If these weight limits are exceeded, the bus becomes harder to control. In such cases, liability may extend to the company or individuals responsible for loading the vehicle.

Private and Charter Bus Accidents

Private and charter buses, often rented for tours, parties, or events, require careful maintenance and skilled drivers. When a bus company fails to properly inspect and maintain their vehicles or hires unqualified drivers, they may be held accountable for accidents. These crashes can leave passengers and others on the road with devastating injuries.

Understanding Your Options After a Bus Accident in Michigan

If you’ve been injured in a bus accident in Michigan, you must know about the types of claims you can pursue for compensation with the help of our bus accident attorneys. Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws, combined with the potential for third-party negligence claims, allow victims to recover economic and non-economic damages. But it’s all circumstantial. Families confronted with the loss of a loved one in a bus accident can file for wrongful death. Such claims provide a path to secure financial support and justice. Below, our Michigan bus accident lawyers break down the types of claims available and how they can help you recover after a bus crash.

First-Party Claims (No-Fault Benefits) in Michigan Bus Accidents

According to the statute, no-fault auto insurance covers any injuries suffered from using a motor vehicle, including buses. Your policy is personal, so even if you aren’t in your car, you will still be covered for injuries suffered while riding a bus.

But if you use the bus because you don’t have a car, your no-fault case could become more difficult. You may be able to seek compensation through the policy of a relative who lives with you. But if you don’t have one, you may have to file a claim with the bus’s insurance policy. Bus companies’ insurance providers are only required to pay if no other benefits are available, so expect a fight.

To clarify, under Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance system, individuals injured in bus accidents can file a first-party claim with the applicable insurance provider to recover economic damages. This applies regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Key aspects include:

• Medical expenses: All accident-related medical bills, such as hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, and rehabilitation.
• Lost wages: Up to 85% of lost wages for up to three years if you cannot work due to your injuries.
• Replacement services: Reimbursement for tasks you cannot perform while recovering, such as housekeeping or childcare.

Your own insurance policy pays these benefits or, if you don’t have coverage, the insurer of another household member or Michigan’s Assigned Claims Facility.

Third-Party Bus Accident Claims in Michigan Bus Accidents

If you are seriously injured in a bus accident, you may qualify to file a third-party lawsuit against the bus driver or the company or agency he or she works for. This can get complicated.

First, your Michigan bus accident lawyer will have to find out who owns the bus you were on – the government or a private contractor. If it was a private bus company, you can file your Third Party case just like in any other auto accident case.

But if a city, a municipality, or the state owned the vehicle, and it is operated by a government employee, you are in for another hurdle. The government is generally protected from having to pay people who get injured in the course of its business.

There is an exception for bodily injury and property damage caused by a government driver’s negligent behavior. That includes police vehicles, inspectors’ cars, and municipal bus accidents. Even though there is an exception to government immunity, you can expect the city’s attorneys to fight your Michigan bus accident lawyers on this issue or claim that the government shouldn’t be responsible for the behavior of its driver.

To clarify, unlike no-fault benefits, these claims focus on recovering non-economic damages caused by someone else’s fault.

• Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the reduced quality of life.
• If your financial losses exceed the no-fault coverage limits (e.g., significant wage loss).

To succeed in a third-party claim, you must prove:

1. The other party’s negligence (e.g., reckless driving or failure to maintain the bus).
2. That their actions caused your injuries.
3. That your injuries meet Michigan’s threshold injury requirements like body function serious impairments, permanent disfigurement, or death.

Wrongful Death Claims in Michigan Bus Accidents

If a loved one tragically dies in a bus accident, family members can pursue a wrongful death claim. This is a type of third-party claim aimed at recovering damages for the surviving family members, such as:

• Loss of financial support the departed would have provided.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Loss of companionship, guidance, and emotional support.

A wrongful death claim is typically brought against the negligent party, such as the bus company, driver, or other motorists involved.

Filing Claims Against Government Agencies for Bus Accidents in Michigan

Michigan law now requires any lawsuit asking the state government to pay money be filed in a special court called the “Court of Claims” located in Lansing. So if you are suing a government agency, you may have to take a special trip to file your case. Sometimes, your case will even get split up. The Court of Claims will hear the part about the government agency, while your local circuit court hears the third-party lawsuit against the driver.

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Why You Need a Michigan Bus Accident Attorney from David Christensen Law

Bus accident cases in Michigan are often far more complex than they appear on the surface. Multiple parties may be involved, laws governing liability can be confusing, and the process of recovering compensation can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to recover from injuries. Here’s why working with an experienced bus accident attorney from our Michigan firm is crucial:

We Identify All Liable Parties

One of the most critical steps in any bus accident case is determining who is responsible. Liability in bus accidents is extremely complex. When reviewing your case, we will consider all possible parties involved:

• The bus driver: If they showed negligent behavior, such as driving under the influence, speeding, or being distracted, they could be held liable for the crash.
• The bus company: Employers can be responsible for the actions of their drivers, especially if they failed to train, supervise, or vet the driver properly. Additionally, if the company neglected regular maintenance, it may be liable for mechanical failures.
• Another motorist: A reckless or negligent driver may have caused the accident by colliding with the bus or forcing it to take dangerous evasive actions.
• Manufacturers: Defective parts, such as brake failures, tire blowouts, or steering system malfunctions, may place liability on the manufacturer of the bus or its components.
• Government entities: If a public transit agency operated the bus, or if poor road conditions contributed to the crash, government agencies may be partially responsible.

A Michigan bus crash attorney from our firm will investigate the accident, review police and accident reports, gather witness statements, and consult with experts to decide who should be held accountable.

We Handle Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance System

Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws allow bus accident victims to recover first-party benefits regardless of who caused the crash. However, filing a no-fault claim is not always straightforward. A bus accident attorney from David Christensen Law can help by:

• Ensuring all medical expenses, lost wages, and replacement service costs are properly documented and included in your claim.
• Identifying the correct insurance provider, whether it’s your own no-fault policy, a family member’s policy, or the Assigned Claims Facility if no coverage is available.
• Handling disputes with insurance companies to ensure you receive the full benefits you’re entitled to.

We Pursue Third-Party Claims for Pain and Suffering

While no-fault benefits cover economic losses, non-economic damages like pain and suffering require filing a third-party claim. Your Michigan bus accident lawyer can help you:

• Prove negligence on the part of the responsible party.
• Establish that your injuries meet Michigan’s threshold for third-party claims, such as a serious impairment of body function or permanent disfigurement.
• Secure compensation for excess economic losses if your expenses exceed the no-fault coverage limits.

We File Your Claim in Compliance with Michigan’s Statutes

In Michigan, different types of bus accident claims have specific time limits you must follow to preserve your right to file a lawsuit.

Importantly, you must comply with the Bus Notice Provision if your accident involves a regional transportation authority (like DDOT, SMART, or CATA). This requires crash victims to serve written notice of their claim to the bus company within 60 days of the accident. Failing to provide proper notice within this timeframe means the bus company is not obligated to defend against your claim, and you may lose your right to seek compensation.

Our experienced Michigan bus accident lawyers can help ensure you meet all legal deadlines, including the 60-day notice requirement, and properly file your claim. We handle every aspect of the process, from preparing and serving notice to building a strong case for maximum compensation.

We Negotiate With Insurance Companies

All insurers try to lessen payouts or deny claims altogether, especially in complex bus accident cases. As we said, they will fight you hard. A seasoned bus crash attorney with plenty of Michigan cases under their belt knows how to counter their tactics, negotiate effectively, and push back harder for a fair settlement.

We Take Your Case to Trial if Necessary

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, an attorney will be prepared to take your case to court. Trial experience is invaluable in bus accident cases, especially when facing well-funded bus companies or insurance providers.

Contact an Experienced Michigan Bus Accident Attorney from Our Firm Now!

With all these complications, hiring an experienced bus accident attorney is important. Our experienced Michigan bus accident lawyers have been representing the victims of bus accidents for over 30 years. They will help you clear the hurdles and get the recovery you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and contingency-based representation!