St. Petersburg Bus Accident Lawyer

Are you struggling with debilitating injuries because you were recently involved in a bus accident in St. Petersburg, Florida? Call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers at (727) 314-5988, and discover how our St. Petersburg bus accident attorneys can help you stand up and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Since 2001, our top-rated Florida litigators have been fierce advocates for bus accident victims and families whose lives have been turned upside down by these tragic crashes. Unafraid to stand up to powerful government agencies, bus companies, and insurers, we’ve led our clients to millions of dollars in life-changing compensation.

Benefit from a team with 119+ years of experience handling complex cases like St. Petersburg train accidents, car accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents in St. Petersburg, truck accidents, and more. Contact our law office in St. Petersburg, FL, to get started with a free, no-obligation case evaluation today.

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How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’re Hurt in a St Petersburg, FL, Bus Accident

You’re supposed to be focused on recovering from your painful physical injuries and trauma related to your St. Petersburg bus accident. How can you also figure out why your bus accident happened, who caused it, and what to do if the insurance company refuses to take your claim seriously?

Our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers are here to take on every aspect of your bus accident lawsuit for you while you focus on your recovery.

We can do the following in service of your bus accident claim:

Investigate your bus accident to determine the cause(s) and who’s to blame
Gather and analyze critical pieces of evidence, including bus maintenance records, driver records, photographs of the scene, property damage, and resulting injuries, video footage, witness statements, medical records, accident reports, and more
Consult with bus accident and injury experts as we build and value your claim for damages
Anticipate strategies to deny your claim, shift blame, or limit your financial payout
Handle settlement negotiations with the bus company, government agency, insurance carriers, negligent third-party motorist, and other parties on your behalf
Litigate your bus accident case in front of a jury in Pinellas County, if necessary

We understand that this is your one opportunity to fight back and demand accountability for your bus accident injuries. We intend to help you make the most of it. Our law firm works on contingency, so there’s absolutely no cost to hire us unless we win your bus accident case.

Call to learn more about the benefits of a partnership with our personal injury law firm during this difficult time in your life.

How Common Are Bus Accidents in Florida?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, hundreds of bus accidents are reported across the State of Florida every year.

In 2021, there were 1,133 auto accidents involving buses in Florida. These accidents caused at least 869 injuries and 25 deaths.

This marked a significant increase from the year prior, when just 914 bus accidents occurred across the Sunshine State. That year, 755 people were injured in Florida bus accidents, while another 16 were killed.

Who’s Liable for a Bus Accident in St. Petersburg?

Many times, bus accidents happen because someone is negligent. In Florida, anyone whose negligence contributes to a bus accident can be financially responsible for the resulting damages.

Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, liable parties might include:

Negligent bus driver
Negligent school bus driver
Bus company or service
Government agencies or bus services, like the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
School district
Third-party motorist (e.g., driver of a passenger vehicle, truck driver, motorcyclist, Uber or Lyft driver)
Bicyclist or pedestrian
Bus passenger
Property owner

Bus accidents can also happen when a bus or another vehicle is defective. Faulty tires, brakes, or steering columns can cause a bus to malfunction and, in turn, contribute to a collision. In these situations, the company that manufactured the bus or vehicle could be liable for damages.

Shared Responsibility for a Bus Accident in Florida

Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. Anyone who contributes to an accident – including victims – can share responsibility for the consequences of a bus accident.

Under the state’s law, damages are reduced in direct proportion to a plaintiff’s degree of fault. However, you cannot recover any damages if you are mostly at fault.

For instance, sharing 10 percent responsibility for a bus accident will result in a reduction of damages by 10 percent.

You’ll want to be ready to be blamed for the bus accident – especially if you were a bystander or an occupant of another vehicle. The bus company may try to limit its own liability by shifting blame. The less liability they share, the less they’ll have to pay for your injuries and suffering.

Our bus accident attorneys in St. Petersburg will be ready to fight back against these claims. We’ll defend you at every turn, demanding persuasive evidence of shared responsibility and working hard to gather evidence that minimizes your role in the wreck.

What Causes St. Petersburg Bus Accidents?

Some of the most common causes of bus accidents in St. Petersburg, FL, include:

Distracted driving
Inexperienced drivers
Drunk driving
Speeding
Braking errors
Following too closely
Failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists
Merging errors
Drowsy driving
Negligent bus maintenance
Bus defects
Limited visibility
Bad weather conditions
Negligent hiring

Our attorneys will carefully examine the details of your bus accident to determine precisely why and how it happened. With this information, we can actively pursue compensation from anyone who indirectly or directly contributed to your crash.

We Handle All Types of Bus Accident Cases in St. Petersburg, FL

At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we proudly represent clients who have suffered injuries in:

Commercial bus accidents
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus accidents
School bus accidents
Tour bus accidents
Charter bus accidents
Private rental bus accidents
Fatal bus accidents

Don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our compassionate legal team if you or a close family member has been injured in a St. Petersburg bus crash. We’re here to offer guidance and support 24 hours a day.

What Damages Can I Get If I File a St. Petersburg Bus Accident Claim?

When you file a bus accident lawsuit, you can potentially recover compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.

Economic damages are intended to make you financially whole after you’ve been injured in a bus accident.

Examples include:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Rehabilitation
Disability
Nursing care
Property damage
Out-of-pocket expenses
Funeral expenses

Non-economic damages are intended to compensate for the trauma, suffering, and life changes you experience because you’ve been in a bus accident.

Examples include:

Pain and suffering
Chronic physical pain
Mental anguish
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Loss of enjoyment of life
Scarring
Embarrassment
Loss of consortium

Our St. Petersburg bus accident attorneys will dig deep and work to understand the full scope and impact of your injuries. We’ll conduct an exhaustive investigation and coordinate with respected experts and specialists. The more we know about your injuries – and how they’ll affect your life moving forward – the better prepared we’ll be to get a result that really represents what your bus accident case is worth.

Fighting To Help You Recover Compensation for All of Your Bus Accident Injuries

Whether you’re a passenger on the bus, a pedestrian, or an occupant of another vehicle, the injuries you suffer in a bus accident can be catastrophic.

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you seek compensation for all of your bus accident injuries, including:

Whiplash
Neck injury
Back injury
Spinal cord injury
Eye injury
Dental injury
Joint injury
Soft tissue damage
Burns
Nerve damage
Amputation
Concussion
Traumatic brain injury
Crushing injury
Chest injury
Wrongful death

Get to the closest hospital or emergency room in St. Petersburg as soon as you can after your bus accident. Once you’ve received treatment and your condition is stable, don’t hesitate to reach out to our law office to discuss your rights and legal options.

How Long Do I Have To File a Bus Accident Lawsuit in Florida?

In Florida, you’ll typically have two years from the date of your bus accident to file a negligence claim for damages.

If you’ve lost a family member in a fatal St. Petersburg bus accident, you’ll also have two years to seek damages in a wrongful death action.

Don’t let too much time go by without taking action after your St. Petersburg bus accident. There may be exceptions that give you more (or less) time. But when the statute of limitations deadline expires, you’ll lose out on the opportunity to demand the compensation you need and deserve.

Protect yourself by enlisting the help of our experienced personal injury attorneys in St. Petersburg. A member of our team is always here to take your call – 24/7/365.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Petersburg Bus Accident Lawyer

Did you recently suffer serious injuries or lose a family member in a car accident involving a bus in St. Petersburg, FL? Call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Our St. Petersburg bus accident attorneys are ready to help you navigate the complexities of a legal claim for damages and fight to maximize your financial recovery.

Put top-rated, award-winning Florida trial attorneys in your corner. Give yourself every opportunity to get the money you deserve. Contact our law office in St. Petersburg to get started. Your first case evaluation is 100 percent free, so call now.

Our personal injury law firm in St. Petersburg, FL also provides:

Visit Our Law Office In St. Petersburg, FL

Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyer – St. Petersburg
111 2nd Ave NE Suite 350
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 314-5988
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily