Were you or a loved one hurt in a bus accident in Boston, MA? You may have the right to receive compensation for your injuries. An experienced Boston bus accident lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP can fight to maximize your compensation award while you focus on recovering.
Our lawyers have provided aggressive, compassionate legal advice to accident victims for more than a decade. If you were injured in Boston, Massachusetts, we’re here to fight for you, too.
We offer a free consultation so that you can learn more about your legal rights without risk or obligations. Contact our law offices today at (774)-214-2515 to schedule yours.
How Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP Can Help After a Bus Accident in Boston
If you were hurt in a bus accident, you may be entitled to compensation. That’s easy to say–but it’s not always so easy to get money in your pocket. Settlement negotiations can take months, if not years–and the insurance companies will try to minimize your compensation award at every turn.
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we have over 100 years of combined experience handling these cases. We’ve negotiated countless settlements. That means we know all the tricks the insurance company will try.
When you hire us, our Boston personal injury lawyers will:
- Launch a comprehensive investigation to find out who is responsible for your accident
- Search for evidence to support your claim
- Work with experts who can testify about what your case is worth
- Aggressively negotiate to recover the full financial recovery you deserve
You deserve time to focus on your recovery if you’re seriously hurt. We’re here to help. If you’re ready to take the next step, call a Boston personal injury attorney who will stand by your side every step of the way.
How Common Are Bus Accidents in Boston?
According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data, 5,096 large buses and trucks were involved in fatal crashes during 2018. Transit buses accounted for 35% of these fatal crashes–and school buses were unfortunately involved in 40% of all fatal crashes.
Considering that the MBTA is one of the largest transit authorities in the country, serving over 1 million passengers with over 390,000 bus trips daily, bus accidents in Boston aren’t that uncommon.
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we handle all types of bus accident cases, including those that involve:
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MTBA) buses
- Brockton Area Transit (BAT) buses
- Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) buses
- Bolt buses
- Megabus
- Greyhound buses
- Tour buses
- School buses
- And more
If your accident involved a large bus, things can quickly become complicated. Call our law firm today for help navigating the complex legal system here in Boston.
What is My Boston Bus Accident Case Worth?
The primary factors that will influence the value of your bus accident case include:
- Are your injuries severe/permanent?
- Can you work while you recover? Will you ever return to work?
- Will you be able to earn as much money after you return to work?
- The types of services you needed to rely upon while you recovered
- How the injury changed your life
The responsible parties might try to diminish the value of your bus accident claim by blaming you for the accident. If they succeed, you might lose your right to compensation.
Under the modified comparative negligence laws in Massachusetts, you can recover compensation as long as you were less than 51% responsible for the accident. If shared fault is an issue in your case, it’s important to get legal advice quickly so that we can fight to minimize your role in the crash.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Bus Accident Victims?
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we know how important it is to get the most compensation available if you were seriously hurt.
Boston accident victims are entitled to hold the responsible party liable for both their economic and non-economic damages.
That means you may be entitled to reimbursement for:
- Medical bills
- Past and future lost wages
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy or rehab
- Property damage
You can also recover money to make up for the emotional impact of the crash.
That might include compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Multiple parties might share in the blame for the crash. That means you can recover compensation from each party in proportion to their percentage of fault. Our Boston bus accident attorneys are here to fight for what’s fair. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today for help with your injury claim.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Bus Accident Injuries
Buses are some of the largest and heaviest vehicles that travel throughout the Boston area. Because of that, bus accident victims often sustain much more serious injuries when compared to other car accident victims.
Some bus accident victims will face lifelong challenges–especially when unrestrained on a bus or walking the streets as a pedestrian.
At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we’ll fight to win fair compensation for all of your bus accident injuries, which might include:
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Bone and ligament injuries
- Organ damage
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Loss of limbs
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you were hurt, reach out to our Boston bus accident lawyers today. We’ll start investigating your case right away. That way, we’ll have the best chance of locating the strong evidence you need to build your injury claim and establish your right to compensation.
What Causes Most Bus Accidents in Boston, Massachusetts?
Like any other major city, the roads in Boston can get congested. Dangerous conditions are possible when large buses are sharing the roads with smaller passenger vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. However, bus accidents often happen because a driver was negligent.
Some of the most common causes of bus accidents in Boston include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting and driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating (following too closely)
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal lane changes
- Illegal or unsafe turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Equipment failures
- Road hazards
All negligent parties can be held accountable for their actions under Massachusetts personal injury laws. But first, it’s necessary to find out who and what caused the accident.
Our Boston personal injury lawyers at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP can help you identify the exact cause of the crash. Reach out to schedule a free case evaluation today if you or a loved one were injured in a Boston bus wreck.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Bus Accident in Massachusetts?
Most bus accidents happen because someone was negligent. To recover compensation, you have to prove that someone was careless.
Potentially responsible parties in a bus accident case might include:
- Bus drivers
- An at-fault driver in a passenger vehicle
- Government transportation authorities
- Bus maintenance companies
- Pedestrians or bicyclists
- Private bus companies
- Product manufacturers
If the bus driver was to blame, the company that owned the bus can usually be held responsible based on employment law theories. In many cases, that means the city of Boston itself will ultimately be accountable.
However, you still have to prove that the responsible party did something wrong. That means finding proof that:
- A duty of care existed
- The responsible party breached that duty of care by failing to exercise reasonable caution
- The breach caused your injuries
- You suffered damages
That might sound overwhelming if you don’t have a lot of experience navigating the personal injury process. At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we’re here to help. Between us, we have over 100 years of legal experience. We’ll do everything we can to win the fair compensation you deserve.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bus Accident in Massachusetts?
If you were hurt in a bus accident, you have a limited amount of time to act. The relevant time period depends on who was responsible for the accident. The statute of limitations in Massachusetts gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit against a private company or an at-fault driver.
You might have even less time to take action if the city of Boston is involved. If your bus accident injury claim involves the city, the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act requires you to file an initial notice of claim with the MBTA or relevant transit authority within two years of the accident.
These time limits are extremely important. If too much time passes, you lose your right to compensation entirely. That’s why it’s always a smart idea to speak with an experienced Boston bus accident attorney as soon as possible if you were hurt.
Contact a Boston Bus Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Were you or a loved one injured in a Boston bus accident? Was the accident someone else’s fault? Call a trusted Boston bus accident lawyer at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP today. We have the skills, experience, and resources you need to maximize your financial recovery if you were hurt.
As always, your initial consultation is 100% free of charge. All you have to do is call to create an attorney-client relationship.
Our Boston personal injury law firm also provides:
- Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Boston, MA
- Car Accident Lawyers in Boston
- Construction Accident Lawyers in Boston, MA
- Boston Dog Bite Lawyers
- Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers in Boston
- Boston, Massachusetts Medical Malpractice Lawyers
- Motorcycle accident attorney in Boston
- Boston, MA Premises Liability Lawyers
- Boston, Massachusetts, Product Liability Lawyers
- Slip and Fall Lawyers in Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston Taxi Accident Lawyer
- Truck Accident Lawyer in Boston
