If you want to visit someone in Baltimore or getaway to NYC, Greyhound can be a reliable and affordable option out of Philadelphia. They are North America’s biggest bus company in fact.
Greyhound transports hundreds of people into and out of Philadelphia each day from their Filbert Street Station. But beyond booking tickets, they should be held responsible when accidents involving their buses leave passengers or people in other vehicles injured. If you are hurt in a collision involving a Greyhound bus you need to talk to a Philadelphia bus accident attorney, like Edith Pearce, the founder of The Pearce Law Firm P.C.
Edith Pearce has taken on national transportation companies and won compensation for the victims of bus accidents. She has earned money to reimburse victims for hospital bills, lost wages, and physical and emotional suffering. If you are hurt and worried about bills contact The Pearce Law Firm for a free evaluation of your bus accident case.
Dangers of Greyhound Buses In Philadelphia
When you get into a car with someone else you place your life in that driver’s hands. That same faith is needed when you ride a Greyhound bus, only that it could be 50 or more lives placed in that bus driver’s hands. That is a big responsibility because more than 18-million passengers board Greyhound buses each year.
That can be a scary thought when you consider the driver may be working too many hours without enough sleep. CNN reported on the dangers of fatigued bus drivers. They found that in a single year 37% of passenger bus crashers were due to driver fatigue. Greyhound Bus Drivers are supposed to take breaks every 150 miles, but they’ve been known to go double that without stopping.
Greyhound bus accidents can lead to life-changing injuries for victims. The normal injuries seen in car accidents are all possible in bus accidents. Things such as whiplash, traumatic brain injury, and fractured bones.
Some Greyhound buses come equipped with seatbelts, some don’t have them. There aren’t any airbags protecting passengers either. A lack of seatbelts and airbags can be especially dangerous because tour buses face a higher risk of tipping over in an accident. This can send passengers colliding with the side of the bus, and each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I answer questions from Greyhound?
You should not offer any statements to Greyhound representatives after an accident until you consult a lawyer.
Greyhound may ask for you to make a statement in writing, or verbally, or both after an accident. It may be disguised as an “accident report.” You should not say anything about what happened or even tell them you’re okay. First, you may be injured and not feel the pain until the next day. Second, Greyhound will try to use any statement you make to dispute what you say later. Better to let your attorney handle any questions from their company.
How long do I have to file a claim for damages against Greyhound?
2 Years.
In Pennsylvania, the victims of personal injury have up to two years to file a civil lawsuit. When filing a claim against a major corporation like Greyhound it’s important to get an attorney working on your case as soon as possible. Accident reports, medical documents, witness statements, and other evidence will be easier to gather in the first days and weeks after the accident.
Do bus accident cases usually end with a settlement?
A large majority of injury lawsuits settle before a civil trial becomes necessary. Some experts believe somewhere between 80%-90% of cases settle out of court. A settlement can come at any time after filing your claim. You would sit down with your attorney to decide if the offer is fair or not. There are times when an insurance company will refuse to settle even though their policyholder was in the wrong. In this case, your attorney will have been preparing your evidence and contacting witnesses in the event a jury trial is necessary.
What to Expect in Compensation after a Philadelphia Greyhound Accident
It’s impossible to know just how much you may receive in a settlement or a court award. The severity of your injuries will partly determine your compensation. The level of negligence of the bus company will also factor in.
If you are awarded compensation, you can be reimbursed for many of your hardships suffered since the bus accident:
- Medical bills: The bills you have already received and any care you’re expected to need in the years to come.
- Loss of income: The wages you’ve given up by having to miss work over your injuries. The hours you’re expected to miss in the future.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement: Money for physical therapy and medical equipment needed. Compensation for career training if you can’t go back to your old job.
- Psychological suffering: Depression and anxiety issues. The trauma of living through a devastating bus crash. Will you be able to face getting back on the road ever again? Has your enjoyment of life been affected?
- Travel costs: The expense of doctor visits, second opinion physician visits, counselor appointments, and meetings with your lawyer.
Contact a Philadelphia Bus Accident Attorney
After a bus accident involving a serious injury, contact a highly rated Philadelphia Bus Accident Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. No matter if you were in a crash involving a Greyhound, a tour bus, a SEPTA bus, or any other kind of transportation, talk your case over with Edith Pearce. There are no obligations or fees for a consultation. Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and if she represents you, you will not be treated like just another case or file.