Have you suffered injuries in a bus accident in Tampa, Florida? Whether you got hurt because the bus driver was careless or the bus company was negligent, you shouldn’t hesitate to call Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers. Call our Tampa bus accident lawyers at (813) 800-0810. You may be entitled to compensation, but we are here to help you.
Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers is a respected personal injury law firm known for its relentless pursuit of justice for injury victims and families in Tampa. Our award-winning Florida trial attorneys stand up to powerful corporations on behalf of everyday people, winning millions of dollars on their behalf.
Benefit from a team with 15+ years of legal experience and show the bus company that you won’t settle for less than you deserve. Call our Tampa law office to get started today. There’s no charge for an initial case evaluation.
How Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Bus Accident in Tampa, FL
Just because you have the right to seek compensation for your bus accident injuries doesn’t mean it will be easy. The bus service and its insurance company will work hard to prevent you from getting the compensation you need to pay for your medical care, offset the wages you’ve missed out on during your recovery, and help you cope with the pain and suffering of your bus accident.
The best thing you can do is put yourself on a level playing field by hiring an experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer to handle your bus accident case.
Your choice of representation matters. Injury victims and families in Tampa have trusted the award-winning litigators at Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers for years. Led by a former insurance defense attorney, we offer personalized, compassionate representation and have the resources needed to take on huge corporations and win life-changing results.
When you ask for our help after a bus accident in Tampa, FL, we will:
- Investigate the circumstances of your bus accident
- Review results of inquiries conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and state investigative agencies
- Review property damage, dash cam footage, witness statements, cell phone records, forensics reports, bus maintenance records, bus service hiring and training policies, and other evidence
- Hire expert witnesses to collaborate with our legal team as we build your case
- Assess your damages and determine what your personal injury case is worth
- Make sure your bus accident claim complies with applicable Florida state law and procedure
- Work to recover the best possible settlement agreement during negotiations
- Take your bus accident lawsuit to trial in Hillsborough County if the bus company (or another liable party) refuses to take responsibility for your injuries
Our Florida bus accident attorneys represent clients on a contingency fee basis. This means our fees are directly dependent on the results we’re able to achieve. You pay nothing until we’ve recovered compensation for your bus accident claim.
Contact our Tampa law office to learn more about working with our respected legal team. Your first consultation is free.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Tampa?
In 2023, 1,258 bus accidents were reported across the state of Florida. Statistically speaking, bus accidents are more likely to happen in urban parts of the state, like Tampa.
Most of Tampa’s bus accidents happen because someone makes a mistake. That’s why the primary cause of action for bus accident claims is negligence.
Specifically, leading contributing causes include:
- Bus driver negligence, including speeding, distracted driving, unsafe turns, braking errors, blind spot errors, fatigued driving, and illegal passing
- Bus company negligence, such as inadequate bus inspections and maintenance, negligent hiring and training, or FMCSA safety violations
- Vehicle defects and malfunctions
- Road defects, such as potholes, obscured signage, or malfunctioning traffic signals
- Bad weather conditions
Under Florida law, anyone who contributes to a bus accident can be liable for resulting damages. So, it’s critical that you fully understand exactly why and how your accident happened. Our Tampa bus accident attorneys will thoroughly investigate your crash and work to uncover the cause. Once the cause is clear, we’ll be able to pursue compensation from those at fault.
Are Buses Common Carriers?
Florida law defines a common carrier as a person, firm, or corporation that transports persons or commodities for hire, offering their services to all such as may choose to employ the common carrier and pay their charges.
In other words, a common carrier is a service that transports people or cargo from one place to another in exchange for payment. So, yes, buses are considered to be common carriers.
This is important because common carriers – such as bus drivers and bus companies – are held to a higher standard of care. Rather than exercising reasonable diligence, common carriers must exercise the “highest degree of care that is consistent with the type of transportation used and the practical operation of the business of a common carrier of passengers.” Florida law explains that a common carrier – like a bus service – would be considered negligent if they “[do] something that a very careful person would not do under like circumstances or [fail] to do something that a very careful person would do under like circumstances.”
Put more plainly, bus drivers and bus companies can be liable for mistakes that might not otherwise be considered negligent if committed by other parties. This can make it easier for you, the bus accident victim, to prove your case and recover compensation from a bus company in Tampa.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Tampa Bus Accident Victims?
Whether you’re suing the Hillsborough Transit Authority, a private bus company like Greyhound, or another at-fault party, you’ll have the right to request compensatory damages for your crash-related injuries.
Compensatory damages can include two types of awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are paid to help you deal with the monetary losses you experience, such as:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
Non-economic damages are paid to help you deal with more personal trauma, including:
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Scarring
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Reduced quality of life
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Embarrassment
- Pain and suffering
The best way to maximize your recovery is by hiring an experienced bus accident lawyer in Tampa, FL, to handle your case. Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers will work hard to evaluate your damages and build a claim that positions you to recover a top-dollar monetary award.
Can I Get Compensation If I’m Partly At Fault For a Bus Accident in Florida?
Yes, but only if you’re assigned less than 51 percent of the blame for the bus accident. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, damages are prohibited when a victim’s liability is greater than half.
If you share some of the blame, your damages will be reduced proportionately to fault. So, if you’re 10 percent responsible for the bus accident, you should only expect to recover 90 percent of the value of your bus accident claim.
Common Bus Accident Injuries
At Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers, we work tirelessly to help bus accident victims recover compensation for their:
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Crushing injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Eye injuries
- Concussion injuries
- Brain injuries
- Chest injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burn injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of loved ones
Report your bus accident to 911 right away, and then make sure you seek timely medical treatment at the closest hospital to you in Tampa. These steps will be instrumental in helping you win your case and obtain fair compensation from the negligent bus company.
What is the Statute of Limitations For Bus Accident Lawsuits in Florida?
Florida has a strict two-year statute of limitations for most bus accident lawsuits, including those related to the wrongful death of a bus accident victim. However, there could be exceptions to the two-year limit in some cases.
You must file your personal injury claim on time if you want to recover compensation. When the filing deadline passes, you will most likely lose the ability to hold the bus service accountable for your damages.
Arrange a Free Case Review With an Experienced Tampa Bus Accident Lawyer
Call Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your legal rights and options after a bus accident in Tampa, Florida. You may be entitled to compensation, but the bus company will work hard to deny your claim. Our Tampa bus accident lawyers have the experience and resources necessary to help you make things right.
As top-rated Florida litigators with over 15 years of experience, we’ve helped Tampa injury victims win millions in financial awards. Today, we’re here to be your most passionate legal advocate, too.
Arrange a time for a free consultation by contacting us today.