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Minnesota Bus Accident Lawyers

Experienced advocacy for children and adults when Minnesota bus accidents cause injuries or deaths

Minnesota children regularly ride school buses to and from school, and to after-school activities. Adults use public and private buses to get to work, meet people, or enjoy the sights and sounds of Minnesota. At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we understand the unique challenges in filing claims against bus drivers and bus companies. These challenges include which regulations govern bus companies, the coordination of multiple claims for multiple victims, the causes of bus accidents, and insurance issues that differ from car accidents. Our Minnesota bus accident lawyers demand compensation for all your financial and personal damages. Call us now to discuss your rights.

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What are the different types of bus companies in Minnesota?

Minnesota has the following types of bus companies, all of whom owe a duty to their passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians to drive safely:

  • School buses. The various public school districts and private schools provide bus transportation for students throughout Minnesota.
  • Public bus companies. Metro Transit services 70,000 riders every week. Arrowhead Transit is Minnesota’s largest rural public transport company – servicing the following 10 counties in Northeastern Minnesota: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Carlton, Pine, Chisago, and Isanti. SMART is another public bus company.
  • Private bus companies. There are many private bus companies, such as Greyhound, that take people around various Minnesota locations. There are also charter companies that groups can hire to take them around the state.
  • Shuttle bus companies. Airports, hotels, and other businesses often use shuttle bus services to take people from the parking lots to their destinations.
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What different types of bus accidents do you handle?

At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we represent the victims of all types of public and private bus accidents, including the following:

  • Accidents while drivers are taking students to and from school, and to after-school activities
  • Accidents while students/passengers are getting onto or exiting a school bus
  • Any type of auto accident that other vehicles may have, including head-on crashes, rear-end collisions, broadside accidents, intersection accidents, single-bus accidents, and accidents with other vehicles
  • Rollover accidents
  • Wide-turn accidents
  • Blind-spot accidents

Why do bus accidents happen in Minnesota?

Many bus accidents happen for the same reason that car and truck accidents happen. These reasons include:

  • Driver distraction
  • Drunk driving
  • Speeding and other traffic violations
  • Driving too fast for traffic conditions

Some of the other reasons that bus drivers may cause bus accidents include the following:

  • Blind spots. Drivers of buses regularly have to rely on mirrors, other technology, and extra caution to see in other traffic lanes, behind the bus, and even in front of the bus.
  • Unruly students or passengers. Students may not stay in their seats. Some adult passengers can play loud music, upset other passengers, or be a distraction for the driver due to other reasons.
  • The center of gravity of a bus. The center of gravity of a bus is different from that of cars, making buses more prone to rollovers.
  • Driver fatigue. Many school bus drivers have to get up in the very early hours of the morning. Some public and private bus drivers work long hours with minimal rest breaks.
  • Turning. It takes a lot of skill and experience to make right or left turns at intersections, into the streets of a neighborhood, and into the schools or other Minnesota destinations.

Other drivers may be responsible for bus accidents for many of the same reasons. Drivers need to come to a complete stop when buses indicate that stopping is necessary — such as at stop signs, lights, and picking up or dropping off passengers.

Our Minnesota bus accident lawyers also work with professionals to show that defective bus parts or improper bus maintenance is the cause of a bus accident.

Who is liable for a Minnesota bus accident?

At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we understand the laws, regulations, and bus industry standards that govern driving buses including common carrier laws. We also understand the traffic laws that non-bus drivers must follow. Our Minnesota bus accident lawyers file claims against any of the following defendants who are responsible for your bus accident, your child’s bus accident, or the death of a loved one:

  • The bus driver. Drivers must use extra caution because they are transporting people other than themselves.
  • The bus driver’s employer. Employers are generally liable for the negligence of their drivers. Employers may also be liable for failing to ensure the driver has a commercial driver’s license, the necessary experience to operate a bus, and a clean driving record. Our lawyers have the skill and experience to determine who the driver’s employer is.
  • The owner of the bus. The owners may be school districts, private owners, governmental entities, rental companies, and other businesses.
  • Manufacturers. We file product liability claims against the manufacturers of defective bus parts such as brakes, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, and other parts of the bus.
  • Maintenance and repair companies. Buses should undergo routine state inspections and other regular safety inspections. For example, school buses must undergo different types of inspections depending on the type of school bus.
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Our lawyers understand the unique issues involved with filing claims against public/governmental agencies and entities. We’re prepared to coordinate your claim with any other accident claims since most bus accidents injure multiple people.

How much is my Minnesota bus accident claim worth?

Our Minnesota bus accident lawyers work to place your health and finances in as close a position as possible to the way they were before the accident. We work with your doctors and our network of doctors if necessary to determine the full scope and severity of your injuries.

We demand that the responsible parties pay for all your damages, including:

  • All your medical expenses of every nature.
  • All your pain and suffering.
  • The income you lost/will lose because your injuries prevent you from working.
  • Any property damage.
  • Any scars or disfigurement.
  • The inability to use a body part.
  • The loss of life’s pleasures and the loss of consortium.

If your child is in a bus accident, we work with your child’s doctors to fully understand their healthcare needs while they’re a child and through adulthood. If a loved one dies in a bus accident, we file wrongful death claims on behalf of the family members.

Do you have a Minnesota bus accident lawyer near me?

Yes. We meet accident victims, parents, and families at our offices located at 1505 Division Street in Waite Park, Minnesota, and 701 Xenia Ave. S., in Golden Valley, Minnesota. When necessary, we make arrangements to see accident victims away from our office. Our bus accident lawyers also speak with clients by phone and through online video consultations.

We’re here to answer your questions, explain your rights, and prepare you for each stage of your claim.

Contact our Minnesota bus accident lawyers now

Our lawyers understand your anxiety. There are now medical appointments, lost time from school or work, and bills to pay. At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we’ve helped many personal injury victims and the families of wrongful death victims obtain strong recoveries. We have 50 years of experience holding negligent drivers and companies accountable for the harm they cause. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our lawyers represent accident victims in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs.