Need legal help with injuries from a bus accident in Chattanooga? The lawyers at Gary Massey Injury Lawyers have successfully handled many bus accident cases for victims like you. We have the resources to maximize your chances of receiving the compensation and justice you deserve.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Types of Bus Accident Cases We Handle in Chattanooga
Buses are used daily in Chattanooga by commuters, students, tour groups, and other individuals and organizations. Like all vehicles on Tennessee’s roads, buses can be involved in serious accidents that cause devastating injuries to passengers and other motorists.
Buses that are commonly involved in crashes in Chattanooga include:
- CARTA (Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority) Buses: We pursue claims involving city-operated buses, including collisions due to driver negligence or mechanical failures.
- School Buses: We stand up for children and families injured in accidents involving public school transportation, including Hamilton County school buses.
- Private Charter Buses and Tour Buses: From sightseeing tours around Lookout Mountain to events downtown, we handle cases where negligence by tour companies or drivers leads to injury.
- Intercity Buses Like Greyhound or Megabus: These large carriers are responsible for thousands of passengers each year. When accidents happen, we hold national companies accountable.
- Church or Community Organization Buses: Whether transporting members to events or services, these buses must meet safety standards. We investigate any failures that lead to harm.
- Airport, Hotel, and Corporate Shuttle Buses: Whether you are injured while traveling to or from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport or exploring the downtown area, we pursue claims involving shuttle operators who don’t operate safely.
If you have been involved in a bus accident in the Scenic City, including an accident involving a CARTA bus, it is imperative you seek the assistance of a Chattanooga bus accident lawyer to file an injury claim and recover damages for any injuries sustained.
Getting full and fair compensation can be difficult without having experienced legal representation on your side as soon as possible after the accident, but we’re here to help.
Main Causes of Bus Accidents
Like all motor vehicle accidents, bus accidents are caused by many factors. Some of the most common include:
- Driver error, recklessness, and/or negligence (including inexperienced driving and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs)
- Poor vehicle maintenance and/or untimely repair
- Defective auto parts or equipment
- Severe weather
- Hazardous roadways
While bus accidents in Chattanooga have many causes, one of the most common is driver error. Sometimes, these mistakes result in only minor injuries like in the recent collision between a school bus and SUV at the intersection of Greenwood and Moss Road. Other times, the outcome is far more tragic, like the fatal school bus crash that killed six elementary school students on Talley Road.
Local Factors That Contribute to Bus Accidents in Chattanooga
The causes of bus accidents in Chattanooga are similar to those that cause bus accidents in any other city in America. However, the Scenic City has a few unique traits that can make bus accidents more likely and dangerous.
Some of these local factors include:
- Busy Streets and Intersections: High-traffic areas like Market Street, Brainerd Road, and Amnicola Highway are known for frequent congestion, lane changes, and heavy pedestrian activity, all of which can increase the likelihood of bus collisions.
- School Zones and Common Bus Routes: With dozens of school buses transporting students daily across Hamilton County, reduced speed zones and frequent stops can create conditions where driver inattention or speeding can lead to serious accidents.
- Construction Zones on I-24 and I-75: Ongoing construction projects on major interstates leading in and out of the city often lead to sudden lane shifts, reduced speed limits, and narrow driving conditions, making it harder for larger vehicles like buses to maneuver safely.
- Tourist Congestion Near Attractions and During Events: Seasonal spikes in foot and vehicle traffic around downtown Chattanooga during Riverbend Festival and popular destinations like the IMAX and Tennessee Aquarium increase the chances of shuttle, tour, and transit bus accidents.
In addition to these factors, Chattanooga is a rapidly growing city, with thousands of people moving here every year. The annual increase in traffic density is often more than the city’s roads can safely maintain during peak traffic volumes, especially for large vehicles like buses.
Another factor that contributes to Chattanooga bus crashes is the inherent danger on some of our roadways. Our firm has handled bus crash cases involving accidents along some of the most congested and treacherous stretches of interstates in our area, including I-24 and I-76. Construction, stop-and-go traffic, and complicated merge and exit patterns all contribute to driver confusion and error, leading to bus accidents.
Dangerous intersections in Chattanooga, like Vance Road and Lee Highway, Eastgate Loop at Brainerd Road, and Spring Creek at Brainerd Road all increase the risk of a bus accident due to heavy congestion, limited visibility, and other roadway hazards. Our firm has represented countless clients who were victims of Chattanooga’s most dangerous roads and intersections. We have deep knowledge of the traffic patterns, road conditions, and signage issues that contribute to accidents on our local roadways.
Who May Be Liable in a Chattanooga Bus Accident?
As with any crash, the most important aspect of a bus accident case is to first determine who is liable for the crash. Unlike passenger vehicle accidents where the driver is usually the sole liable party, bus accidents may involve another liable party—or multiple parties in some cases.
Commonly liable parties for bus crashes in Chattanooga include:
- The bus driver
- The bus company (CARTA, private charter, etc.)
- Maintenance contractors
- Government entities (city or state) for poor road conditions
- Third-party drivers who caused the collision
Determining liability isn’t always an easy or obvious process. Parties may blame each other, and proving whose negligence contributed to or caused the crash requires experience and in-depth investigation skills.
At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, we know what it takes to look at bus accidents as a whole and piece together exactly what happened and who’s responsible for our client’s damages.
How Could Bus Accidents Be Prevented?
In most cases, a bus accident can be prevented by driving lawfully and safely for the current conditions of the road. Even in harsh weather, a driver should be able to operate a bus safely by making turns more carefully, altering speed, and/or travel routes. If a bus driver does not drive lawfully and safely, then the bus driver, as well as his or her employer, may be held liable for the injuries and/or fatalities caused by an accident.
Transportation departments or other state agencies and bus equipment manufacturers may also be held liable if the accident was caused by hazardous roadways or defective parts or equipment. As experienced injury attorneys, we can ensure that all at-fault parties will be held accountable for the injuries and wrongful deaths caused.
What Are Common Bus Accident Injuries?
Bus accidents can contribute to a wide range of injuries. Though some may be mild, very often, victims of bus accidents suffer catastrophic injuries, including brain injury, broken bones, spinal cord injury, internal trauma, back and neck injuries, and head injury. A serious injury could affect a victim for the rest of his or her life and even result in disability.
Serious injuries incur serious financial and emotional costs. Medical treatments, lost wages, rehabilitative treatments, lower quality of life, and pain suffering are common losses for injured bus accident victims.
If you are involved in a bus crash, seeking immediate medical attention is important to treat your injuries as well as to document them. Records from medical providers are essential for any future legal action you may pursue.
Chattanooga has excellent medical facilities that are well-equipped to handle emergency care. As eastern Tennessee’s only Level 1 Trauma Care facility, Erlanger Baroness Hospital provides around-the-clock critical care for the most serious injuries. Other options for medical treatment include CHI Memorial Hospital and the Parkridge Medical Group which offers eight medical care facilities throughout Chattanooga. Your medical records from any of these reputable providers will be invaluable should you choose to pursue legal action down the road.
Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer
Full recovery from injuries sustained in a bus crash is often not possible without holding the negligent party accountable for the suffering they’ve caused. The attorneys at Gary Massey Injury Lawyers help injured victims and the families of wrongful death victims recover by pursuing the compensation they deserve.
Our attorneys have a deep knowledge of and strong ties to Chattanooga. We understand the special challenges faced by bus accident victims in our community. We know the factors that contribute to bus accidents on our most dangerous roadways. And we have strong relationships with top medical providers and a network of trusted support resources to help you during recovery and beyond.
Bus accident victims shouldn’t go it alone. Contact us today to find out how our team of experienced Chattanooga lawyers can help you.
