Bus Accident Lawyer in Columbus, IN

When a bus goes off the road or collides with another vehicle in Columbus, the aftermath rarely involves just one injured person. A single crash can leave a dozen or more passengers, from schoolchildren riding home to seniors headed to a doctor’s appointment, searching for answers about who will pay for what happened to them. Sorting out fault becomes even more complicated when a government entity, a private charter company, and an insurer all start pointing fingers at one another.

Wagner Reese LLP has spent decades holding negligent parties accountable after catastrophic vehicle accidents across Indiana, and our attorneys bring that same commitment to bus and commercial vehicle collisions in Columbus and Bartholomew County. We know how to sort through competing insurance policies and government entities to identify every source of compensation available to our clients.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Columbus

Bus accidents happen for many of the same reasons as other vehicle crashes, but the scale of harm is often greater given the size of the vehicle and the number of passengers involved. Distracted or fatigued driving, failure to yield, and improper lane changes are common contributing factors, as are mechanical failures tied to poor maintenance schedules.

Commercial and public buses are subject to federal safety regulations, yet according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the number of buses involved in fatal crashes nationwide increased from 205 in 2021 to 213 in 2022, underscoring that these vehicles remain a serious safety concern on American roads. When a bus operator or maintenance company cuts corners, everyone on the road pays the price.

Injuries Our Clients Have Suffered in Bus Crashes

Because buses carry multiple passengers and offer limited protection compared to smaller vehicles, the injuries suffered in these crashes tend to be severe. We have represented clients dealing with a wide range of harm, including the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage
• Broken bones and crush injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Wrongful death of a loved one
  
  

No two bus accident cases look exactly alike, and the injuries our clients face often require years of medical care, rehabilitation, and lost income that must be accounted for in any recovery.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Columbus Bus Accident

Determining liability after a bus accident is rarely straightforward. Depending on the circumstances, the bus driver, the transit authority, a school corporation, a private charter company, or a third-party maintenance provider may share responsibility. Our vehicle accident attorneys investigate every angle of a crash, from driver training records to maintenance logs, to identify every party who contributed to the harm our clients suffered.

Government-owned buses, such as public transit or school buses, can also carry specific legal requirements and shorter deadlines for filing a claim, which is one more reason it helps to have experienced counsel involved early.

Government Notice Deadlines for Columbus Bus Accident Claims

Many of the buses involved in Columbus crashes, including school buses and public transit vehicles, are owned and operated by a government entity rather than a private company. When that is the case, the claim is not governed by the same rules that apply to an ordinary car accident lawsuit.

Under the Indiana Tort Claims Act, IC § 34-13-3, a claim against a city, county, school corporation, or other political subdivision is generally barred unless written notice is filed with the governing body within 180 days after the loss occurs, well short of Indiana’s standard two-year deadline for personal injury claims. Missing this shorter window can permanently close the door on a claim, which is one reason we move quickly to identify whether a government entity may share responsibility after a Columbus bus accident.

What Compensation May Be Available

Victims of bus accidents may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs resulting from catastrophic injuries.  Families who have lost a loved one in a bus crash may also be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim, which can help cover funeral expenses and the financial support the family has lost.

Why Columbus Families Choose Wagner Reese LLP

Wagner Reese LLP was founded in 1997 by Stephen Wagner, who was joined in 2000 by partner Jason Reese. Since then, our firm has grown into a boutique practice that is selective about the cases we take on, focusing on catastrophic injury and complex litigation rather than high-volume, quick settlement claims. Our attorneys bring a combined total of over 150 years of experience to every case, and our firm has been recognized by Super Lawyers and named a Tier-One Best Lawyers Law Firm.

We have represented clients with cases arising out of Columbus, and we understand the community and the roads our clients travel every day. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning our Indiana bus accident clients never pay out of pocket, and we are only paid if we recover compensation on their behalf.

Contact Wagner Reese LLP About Your Columbus Bus Accident Case

If you have been injured in a bus accident in Columbus, you do not have to face the insurance companies or the responsible parties on your own. If you are searching for a personal injury lawyer Columbus after a bus crash, you do not have to take on the insurance companies or the responsible parties alone. Our attorneys are ready to review the details of your case, explain your options, and pursue every available avenue of compensation on your behalf.

We treat every client as a person, not a case number, and we bring the same dedication to a Columbus case that we bring to cases in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, or anywhere else in Indiana. Reach out through our contact form today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward holding the responsible parties accountable.