Bus Accident Lawsuit Loans

Bus Accident Lawsuits and Uplift Legal Funding

Everyone involved in a bus accident is at risk of serious injury. If you’re a bus passenger, it is unlikely that you are wearing a seat-belt. Often, you could even be standing when the collision takes place. Because of bus size and weight, damages are likely more severe than typical car accidents. Bus accident lawsuit loans can help plaintiffs with severe injuries get back on their feet.

Frequently, these types of accidents can result in major injuries. If you have a bus accident case and need money to cover your financial obligations, Uplift can help. We provide fast bus accident lawsuit funding with low rates and great terms. In fact, we’re so confident, we offer to meet or beat any offer you receive from another company. Just send us a contract you received elsewhere, and we will save you money.

How a bus accident is different from a car accident

There are a few primary differences between a bus accident and a car accident. There are more safety features in a car than there are in a bus. The primary differences being seat belts and airbags.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, in 2017 seatbelts saved an estimated 14,955 lives. This means that the lack of seatbelts on most buses can lead to severe accidents. Additionally, nearly 3,000 lives were saved by frontal airbags.

Buses are at a higher risk for tip over and roll over than an average passenger vehicle. Additionally, people in bus accidents are just as likely to sustain injuries such as whiplash or fractures.

While bus accidents may not happen as frequently as car accidents, due to the differences in safety features, bus accidents can lead to more serious injuries.

Bus accident statistics and what causes them

According to the United States Department of Transportation, of the 36,560 highway fatalities in 2018, only 43 of them were a result of a bus accident.

According to a University of Michigan study, there are as many as 63,000 bus accidents per year. This includes all kinds of buses including commercial, private, public, school, and other special kinds of buses. Of those accidents an average of 14,000 individuals sustain injuries.

However, of those 14,000 injuries, only an average of 50 people (driver included) are killed per year as the result of a bus crash. Since 1975 there have never been more than 67 bus-related fatalities in the United States.

Common causes for bus accidents

Below we have listed eight of the most common causes for bus accidents.

• Bus company negligence – bus companies failing to keep buses up to safety protocol
• Driver negligence – the bus driver was unaware of their surroundings / vehicles
• Bus driver fatigue – bus drivers are sometimes required to drive with little rest
• Another driver – the passenger vehicle did not give right of way to the bus
• Bad weather – bad weather increases reckless driving and accidents
• Blind spots – a passenger vehicle is in the bus’s blind spot
• Left turns – when a bus makes a left turn into a car
• Bus fires – the engine of the bus catches fire

As passengers on a bus there is not much one can do to prevent the accident. You can buckle up if the bus you are on offers that feature. If you are standing on a bus you can make sure you have a firm grip on the handrail that you are holding onto.

Always make sure you are mindful of any potential spills on the bus that could also lead to injury. Always inform the bus driver of anything on the bus that is not safe.

Special bus legal issues

Typically when you are in an accident, the at-fault party is responsible for your medical bills and loss of income. This is true if you are on a bus and a passenger vehicle is at fault for your injuries. However, if the bus driver is at fault, things become more complicated.

Most buses are operated by government-owned entities. This means that they have a high likelihood of being self-insured. Suing a government entity is very complicated and has a short filing period relative to the typical state of limitations.

Below we have listed the filing period for bus accidents injuries in a few different states:

California

According to the California State Bar, the statute of limitations for suing a government entity is two years from the date of the accident.

Florida

According to the state of Florida, the statute of limitations for suing a government entity is three years from the date of the accident

Georgia

As stated in the Georgia statute of limitations state article, you have two years to file your claim against a bus company.

New York

In the state of New York, the plaintiff has 90 days to file a notice of a claim and 1 year and 90 days to file the lawsuit.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim.

Texas

The statute of limitations for suing government agencies in texas varies city by city. In Houston and Austin you have 90 days from the accident. However, in cities such as San Antonio you have 45 days.

What insurance pays for your bus accident

If the accident was the fault of a passenger vehicle then the injured party can seek compensation from that party’s insurance. If there are multiple injured people in this bus accident, you are only able to recover as much as that person’s policy allows.

For instance, if you and three other people have injuries, the at-fault party’s insurance will only be able to pay for the policy limit. If the policy limit is less than the total amount of injuries then you may have to go after your own insurance company to pay for the difference.

However, if the bus driver is the one at fault then you will have to go after the company. Most bus companies are owned by government entities. These entities are self-insured. While you may have a year or two to file your lawsuit, you generally have to file your claim less than a year after the accident occurs.

Non-accident related bus injuries

Not every injury you can get on a bus are the result of a bus crashing. Many injuries can be the result of the bus stopping abruptly or slipping on a wet bus floor. Many of these cases are more similar to premises liability claims than they are to typical car accident lawsuits.

If this happens that means the driver was negligent in keeping the bus in safe conditions. You can make a personal injury claim for this. Remember, you will have to do so immediately after the accident to avoid missing the statute of limitations.

Below we have listed some of the issues that may cause a non-accident injury:

• Wet floors – the floors have not been properly maintained and there are wet spots
• Cluttered aisle – there is trash on the floor that creates a tripping hazard
• Abrupt stopping – buses are known to make sudden abrupt stops. In doing so it could cause an individual to get severely hurt
• Broken door – a door failing to close properly can result in the injury of someone near the door
• Faulty ramp – for individuals who need assistance getting onto the bus, a faulty ramp can result in harm
• Sudden acceleration – bus drivers do speed in order to keep on schedule. Sudden speeding can cause people who are changing seats to lung forward and get hurt
• Assault – if a bus driver allows an individual who is clearly under the influence of drugs or alcohol to enter the bus, part of whatever assault that person commits is liable to the bus driver

Bus accident lawsuit funding FAQs

Below we have answered some common questions about legal funding for bus accidents

Do I qualify for a bus accident lawsuit loan?

There are only three requirements you need to meet in order to qualify for a bus accident cash advance:

1. You are 18 years and older – Uplift is unable to provide legal funding for minors
2. You have an attorney – in order to qualify for funding, you must have an attorney
3. You need cash now – you have exhausted all of your options and need cash now

If you meet each of the requirements above then you qualify for legal funding, and you can apply right now!

What is the application process like for bus accident lawsuit loans?

Uplift Legal Funding offers a quick and easy application process. We are on your side so you make sure we keep you informed every step of the way. There are only three steps:

1. Apply – use our online application to apply in less than 5 minutes
2. Your attorney provides documents – we collect case information from your attorney
3. Review – we review the documentation sent by your attorney to see how much you qualify for

That’s it! We can often approve funding within 24 hours of you applying.

Do you charge simple or compounding rates?

At Uplift Legal Funding we never change compounding rates. We have our rates for funding repayment on the front of our contract and it remains the same regardless of how long it takes your case to reach a settlement.

Simple rates mean we charge interest only on the original funding amount. 

Once I’m approved, how do I get the funds?

Once approved, we will send the money within 24 hours. We work with you to make this as fast and easy as possible. No bank account, no problem. There are no upfront fees for the delivery of funds. To learn more, visit our legal funding guide.

The best in legal funding for your bus accident case

While other pre-settlement funding companies may have an existing relationship with your attorney, we are on your side. We began Uplift Legal Funding to change the way plaintiffs get lawsuit funding. We are transparent and helpful. Our friendly case managers will guide you through the whole process and keep you in-the-know at all times. No rude employees at Uplift – you’ll have to go elsewhere for that.

Give us a call today at (800) 385-3660 or apply online today. You’ll immediately notice the Uplift Difference.