Ocala Bus Accident Lawyer

Ocala Bus Accident Lawyer

Have you been injured in a bus accident in Ocala, FL? Whether you were a passenger, pedestrian, or an occupant in another vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries you have suffered. The experienced Ocala bus accident lawyers at Allen Law Firm, P.A. are here to help you fight for the full compensation you deserve. 

Since 2007, our attorneys have fought for injury victims and we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients after all types of accidents, including Ocala truck accidents, Ocala commercial vehicle accidents, Ocala train accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, taxi accidents, and other motor vehicle accidents. We will put our years of experience to work for you too.

Contact our Ocala office or give us a call at (352) 351-3258 for a free consultation to discuss your case and how we can help.

How Allen Law Firm, P.A. Can Help After Your Bus Accident in Ocala, Florida

How Allen Law Firm, P.A. Can Help After Your Bus Accident in Ocala, Florida

Bus accident cases are notoriously complicated. A bus accident can result in life-changing injuries and multiple parties are often hurt. It’s common for multiple parties to share fault and, in many cases, a government entity shares at least some liability. This means there may be multiple insurance companies involved all trying to shift blame.

When you are left with serious injuries due to someone else’s negligence, a long fight with the insurance company is the last thing you deserve. An Ocala personal injury attorney at Allen Law Firm, P.A. will fight for you and seek the damages you are entitled to.

Allen Law Firm, P.A. was founded by Bill Allen who has over 28 years of legal experience and holds the prestigious Martindale-Hubbel AV Preeminent rating. This is a distinction only 10% of attorneys hold. Our law firm boasts hundreds of years of combined insurance experience from former claims managers and adjusters to give us an edge in negotiations.

Choose Allen Law Firm, P.A. and count on us to:

We are proud to represent clients in Ocala, Florida with sound legal advice and passionate representation. Contact our law office today to schedule a free case review with an Ocala bus accident lawyer who will fight for you.

How Common Are Bus Accidents in Ocala, FL?

While public transportation is generally considered safe, bus accidents are far from rare. 

Ocala bus accidents may involve:

  • School buses
  • Charter buses
  • SunTran buses
  • Greyhound buses
  • Shuttle buses
  • Commercial buses 

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), intercity buses made up 12%, transit buses made up 40%, and school buses made up 35% of fatal bus accidents between 2008 and 2018. In 2017 alone, there were 11 fatal bicycle accidents and 41 fatal pedestrian accidents across the country involving buses.

In Florida in 2018, the Florida Department Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported 386 injuries involving commercial bus drivers and passengers. 69 of these injuries were incapacitating.

Alarmingly, Florida has a high rate of school bus accidents and these crashes are on the rise. Between 2012 and 2015, school bus crashes increased 16% in the state. In 2015, there were 2,698 school bus accidents in Florida, although most were in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Fortunately, Florida is one of the few states to require seatbelts for school children on buses. Despite rising crash rates, injuries have decreased.

What Is My North Central Florida Bus Accident Case Worth?

What Is My North Central Florida Bus Accident Case Worth?

The value of your personal injury claim depends on many factors. There is no way to determine the exact value of your claim, but an experienced Ocala personal injury attorney can help you estimate the value during your consultation.

The value of your economic damages will be the easiest to calculate, although future damages – such as anticipated future medical care and reduced earning capacity – can require the help of experts.

The value of non-economic damages can be challenging to calculate as these damages have no intrinsic financial value. 

The value of your emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other damages may be determined by multiplying your economic damages by 1 to 5 based on:

  • The severity of the injuries
  • Circumstances of the accident
  • Treatments you received
  • Whether you were partially at fault
  • Whether you suffered permanent disability, disfigurement, or impairment 

Our Ocala bus accident attorneys will help you understand the value of your claim and what you can expect depending on whether your case settles or goes to court.

What Kind of Damages Are Available to Ocala Bus Accident Victims?

When you are injured in a bus accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to many types of damages for the harm you have suffered. 

Our Ocala bus accident injury lawyers will help you recover money for:

Allen Law Firm, P.A. works with medical experts to determine the extent of your injuries and the value of your damages. We will fight for maximum compensation to help you move on with your life and get the care you need.

Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Bus Accident in Florida?

It’s common for multiple parties to share liability for a bus accident. When more than one party is liable, all parties are generally required to pay for their share of damages.

Florida is a modified comparative negligence state with a 51% recovery bar. You are still entitled to recover if you are partially at fault for your accident, but the amount of compensation you can recover may be reduced. Your recovery will be reduced based on your share of fault. You also cannot recover compensation if you are found to be mostly at fault for the accident.

If you suspect you share fault for the accident, it’s crucial to work with an experienced Ocala bus accident injury lawyer. Other parties and insurance companies will try to shift as much blame onto you as possible. Allen Law Firm, P.A. will conduct a careful investigation of your accident to build evidence that puts the blame where it belongs.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All Your Bus Accident Injuries

We understand just how devastating a bus accident can be. You can count on Allen Law Firm, P.A. to fight for maximum compensation for all the injuries you sustained in your accident. 

This might include:

The financial burden of your injuries should not be on your shoulders. We will fight to hold the responsible parties accountable for the harm you have suffered.

What Causes Most Bus Accidents in Ocala, Florida?

Bus accidents can be caused by many factors, but negligence is usually at the heart of most traffic accidents. 

Common causes of Ocala bus accidents include:

  • Speeding, a factor in about one-third of all accidents
  • Distracted driving, a typical contributing factor to crashes
  • Reckless driving when a driver darts in and out of traffic, tailgates, or engages in other risky behavior
  • Drunk driving
  • Drowsy driving, which contributes to 1,550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries every year according to the NHTSA
  • Older or inexperienced bus drivers, according to research, both increase the risk of a serious accident 

Other factors may also cause or contribute to a crash such as defective bus parts like brakes, improper bus maintenance, a dangerous intersection, or road defects.

Our Ocala bus accident attorneys will conduct a careful investigation into your crash to determine how it happened and who is to blame.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Bus Accident in Florida?

Multiple parties may be financially responsible for the injuries you sustained. After investigating your accident to determine how it happened, our personal injury lawyers will gather evidence to prove negligence. 

You may have a claim for compensation from the:

  • Bus driver
  • City transportation company
  • Bus company
  • Bus manufacturer
  • Other drivers or negligent parties such as pedestrians 

To prove negligence, your lawyer will work to show that the negligent party owed you a duty of care, breached this duty in some way, and caused your injuries. 

Liability in a bus accident is more complicated than it is in other traffic accidents, however, as it may involve a government entity or multiple liable parties. Bus operators are also common carriers who owe passengers a higher duty of care than other motorists on the road.

Allen Law Firm, P.A. will conduct a thorough investigation to gather evidence to prove negligence. This evidence may include testimony from an accident reconstruction expert, police reports, damage to vehicles, onboard vehicle data, and more.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Ocala Bus Accident in Florida?

You have a limited time to file a lawsuit to recover damages after a bus accident. Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases was recently changed. You will have four years to submit your claim if your accident occurred on 3/23/2023 or before. The deadline is two years if your accident occurred after that date. If your case is not filed on time, the courts will not hear your case and you lose your right to compensation.

If a government entity like the City of Ocala is liable for your injury, you must also give the Department of Financial Services notice within three years and allow for a 180-day investigation period. The statute of limitations for these cases is just three years.

If someone you love was killed in a bus accident, you have just two years to file a wrongful death claim.

There are exceptions to the statute of limitations in some cases, so confirming the deadline for your situation with an attorney is strongly recommended.

Contact Our Ocala Bus Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation

A bus accident can leave you with life-changing injuries, but the insurance company won’t be on your side. You deserve an experienced personal injury lawyer who will protect your rights and fight for the money you deserve.

Call Allen Law Firm, P.A. to schedule a free consultation with an Ocala bus accident lawyer who will fight for you. We work on a contingency-fee-basis so you never have to pay out-of-pocket costs for the legal representation you deserve.

Our personal injury law firm in Ocala, FL also provides:

Visit Our Law Office in Ocala, FL

112 S Pine Ave,
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258

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