Boston Bus Accident Lawyers
Holding private and public bus companies accountable when accidents harm children and adults in Massachusetts
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Children and their parents rely on buses to get to school safely. Commuters rely on buses to get to work. Tourists and residents use buses to see the city, run errands, and for many other reasons. Due to the cost of owning a car, the convenience of riding a bus, or the variety of accessible routes, taking the bus is a common form of travel. Yet, travel on America’s highways is as dangerous as ever, and travel by bus is no exception. If you or a family member were seriously injured, whether on the MBTA, on a trip to Boston or other destinations, or even on a school bus, we’re here to help.
At Santoro & Gray, we understand the unique challenges in handling mass transit accident claims that often involve many victims, numerous regulations, and multiple defendants. Our Boston bus accident lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against bus drivers, bus companies, and repair and maintenance companies. We demand compensation for each victim’s financial and personal damages. Call us now to discuss your rights.
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How Santoro & Gray can help you
- What types of Boston bus companies do you file claims against?
- What are the different types of bus accidents that happen in Boston that you handle?
- What are the causes of bus accidents in Boston?
- Who is responsible when bus accidents occur in Boston?
- What’s the value of my bus accident claim in Boston?
- Do you have a Boston bus accident lawyer near me?
What types of Boston bus companies do you file claims against?
At Santoro & Gray, our lawyers represent children, their parents, and adults who suffer injury on any type of bus, including the following:
- School buses: Public and private buses help children of all ages, up to their senior year in high school, attend school, return home, and participate in after-school activities. The buses help students attend public, charter, and private schools in Boston and the Boston suburbs.
- The MBTA (the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority): This bus service is a part of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The MBTA operates 171 bus routes and four rapid transit routes in the Greater Boston area. The bus routes connect with local commuter rail and subway lines.
- Private bus companies: We file claims when private companies, local charter companies (that help transport Bostonians and visitors from around the world to enjoy all the wonderful places to visit in and around Boston), and other bus companies that help people get to work or travel throughout Boston. Some of the popular private bus lines include Boston Corporate Coach, GOGO Charters, Boston Charter Bus Company, and Greyhound.
- Shuttle bus companies: Our Boston bus accident lawyers also file claims when shuttles for hotels and other businesses help travelers get from homes and parking lots to their destinations. A few shuttle bus companies for Boston Logan International Airport include Massport, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Logan Express (part of Massport), and the Silver Line on the MBTA.
What are the different types of bus accidents that happen in Boston that you handle?
Our Boston bus accident attorneys handle all types of bus accidents, including the following:
- Accidents as passengers enter and exit a bus: These include slip-and-fall accidents and accidents with other vehicles that may try to pass the bus before the passengers can exit and cross the street.
- Visibility accidents: The length and width of a bus make it difficult to see, especially if a bus has a lot of passengers.
- Wide turn accidents: Buses often need to cross over into other lanes of travel to complete a turn.
- Rollover accidents: Buses are prone to rollovers if they take turns too fast or if the bus veers off the road.
- The types of accidents other vehicles may have: These include head-on accidents, rear-end accidents, broadsides, accidents in intersections, single-bus accidents, and multiple-vehicle accidents.
When bus accidents happen, the size of the vehicles and the number of possible passengers means that many people may suffer injuries.
What are the causes of bus accidents in Boston?
We listen to you, question the other people on the bus, work with investigators and the police, formally question the driver and all other defendants, speak with any eyewitnesses, and take other steps to show just how your bus accident happened.
Some of the reasons bus accidents happen include:
- Driver distraction, especially for drivers who rely on their GPS.
- Driver fatigue due to working long shifts or getting up too early in the morning.
- Failing to appreciate blind spots and manage the blind spots with mirrors, caution, and the latest technology.
- Having to cope with unruly passengers who play their music too loudly, move around the bus, fail to respect other passengers, and cause other distractions/disturbances.
- Drunk driving.
- Speeding, failing to yield, and other traffic violations.
- Failing to allow enough time and distance to stop.
- Failing to wait before reentering a highway after stopping to let passengers on and off.
- Failing to stop for buses.
- Driving too fast in a school zone.
- Driving too fast for the weather conditions.
- Improper bus maintenance.
- The failure of bus companies to vet their drivers.
- Many other causes.
It’s not just the drivers of the bus who may cause an accident. Other drivers on the road may be responsible for not using caution, such as when a bus stops to pick up or drop off passengers. Drivers must obey any stop signs that a bus has and any caution lights.
Who is responsible when bus accidents occur in Boston?
At Santoro & Gray, we understand the federal, Massachusetts, and Boston laws that govern all types of buses. For example, buses that any member of the public can use are generally considered “common carriers.” Common carriers owe the highest duty of care to their passengers. Generally, bus drivers must have a commercial driver's license (CDL) to drive a bus.
Our Boston bus accident lawyers represent bus passengers, the occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, bicycle riders, and families if a loved one dies in a bus accident.
We file claims against all responsible parties, including the following:
- The driver of the bus.
- The employer of the bus driver. Employers should conduct driving background checks and check the experience of their drivers. Generally, employers are vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their employees committed within the scope of employment.
- Public entities that own the bus and/or manage the bus routes and operations. These entities include the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. They may also include individual school districts.
- Private owners of buses.
- Manufacturers of defective buses or bus parts, such as brakes, tires, hydraulic systems, and other parts of the bus.
- Drivers of other vehicles.
Generally, state law and bus safety standards require that buses have regular inspections. Buses that need repair should be taken out of service until the repairs can be made. The owners of the buses or the maintenance and repair companies the bus owners contract with may be liable if an accident occurs due to the poor condition of the bus.
We understand the specific rules that apply when the defendant is a governmental agency or entity. Our lawyers also work to coordinate your personal injury or wrongful death claim with the claims of other passengers.
Please contact us as soon as possible, since the timelines for claims against any governmental agency are short, and because we need to investigate the cause of the accident as soon as possible.
What’s the value of my bus accident claim in Boston?
Bus accident victims may suffer catastrophic, permanent, chronic, or serious injuries. These injuries include brain injuries, spinal cord damage, loss of limb, broken bones, back and neck pain, organ damage, burns, and many other injuries.
At Santoro & Gray, we work with your doctors to understand the full scope and severity of your injuries. We also work with life planners, financial experts, and others to fully assess all your damages. We speak with you in detail to learn every way your life is more difficult following the accident.
Our team demands that the defendants pay for all your current and future damages, including:
- All your medical costs of every type
- Your lost income and benefits, including long-term disability compensation
- Your physical pain and emotional suffering
- Any property damage
- Any scars or disfigurement
- The loss of bodily function
- The loss of life’s pleasures
- The loss of consortium
We also file wrongful death claims if a bus accident in Boston is fatal.
Do you have a Boston bus accident lawyer near me?
Yes. We meet bus accident victims, parents, and families at our Boston Office located at 131 Dartmouth Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 35. We conduct consultations by phone and through online conversations. If your health or your child’s health makes traveling too difficult, we can make alternative arrangements to meet with you.
Our lawyers are here to guide you through each step of the claims process.
Contact our Boston bus accident lawyers now
We understand how anxious and upset you are. If your child is hurt, you want to protect them and ensure their future. If you were hurt, you want to return to good health and resume your life. At Santoro & Gray, we’ve earned the trust of former clients and the respect of insurance companies and defense lawyers for our dedication to our clients, our persuasive abilities in the courtroom, and our record of strong recoveries.
Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our personal injury and wrongful death lawyers handle bus accident cases on a contingency fee basis.