Mississippi Bus Accidents Lawyers

When you compare bus collisions to car and SUV crashes, you’ll often find much more severe damage and life-threatening injuries. Buses are far larger and heavier than smaller standard vehicles, which makes them capable of doing a substantial amount of damage. Unfortunately, those whose lives are forever changed by a bus accident don’t always get the compensation they deserve. In fact, securing full and fair compensation can be an uphill battle—and that’s why it’s important to have a strong and experienced legal team fighting for you.

At Gardner Law Group, we are committed to helping victims like you fight for justice after an accident. Call us at 228-436-6555 to reach our Biloxi office or 228-762-6555 to reach our Pascagoula office.

Why Bus Accidents Are So Complicated

A number of factors set bus accidents apart from other types of vehicle crashes. To start, buses are much larger than your standard personal vehicle. The collisions they cause are more similar to semi-truck accidents than they are to car or SUV collisions. These crashes can also be far more complex than your standard car accident. 

In addition to damage caused to public and private property, drivers and passengers may suffer serious injuries. On top of that, you have to consider the potential harm caused to occupants of the bus. This drives up the number of potential injury claims and decreases the amount that each victim may be able to collect.

Additionally, there are very different procedures involved depending on who owns the bus involved in the crash. The bus may be owned by a public entity or a private entity—and your ability to collect depends largely on which category your claim falls into.

Claims Involving Government Entities

If you were hit by a bus run by the government, you have to act very quickly if you want to protect your right to seek compensation. This is the case whether your claim is against the state government or a local municipality. At least 90 days prior to suing the government, you have to submit written notice of your claim to the entity’s chief executive officer. If your claim is against the county, that means submitting a notice to the chancery clerk of the county. If your claim is against the city, you must serve the city clerk.

Your claim must be in writing, delivered in person or by registered or certified mail, and include a statement of the facts in your case. Include the circumstances of the injury, the extent of the injury, how and when it occurred, the names of all involved parties, and the amount of compensation you are requesting.

Upon submitting your claim, the statute of limitations pauses for 95 days. However, note that the statute of limitations is much shorter for claims against the government. From the date of the accident, you have one year to file your claim. You must wait to file your claim until you either receive a denial of the claim or the 95-day timeframe expires. After the 95-day window expires, you have just 90 days to file your claim. If you wait any longer than that, you cannot take any more action against the government for the accident in question.

Mississippi, like many other states, caps potential damages when you are seeking compensation from the government. You are limited to a maximum of $500,000 in total compensation and you cannot receive any punitive damages. Furthermore, attorney’s fees are not recoverable in cases against the government unless otherwise specified under the law.

As you can see – if your claim involves a governmental entity, you are in for a long battle. It is crucial to work with a bus accident attorney with extensive experience in lawsuits against the government, since missing any deadlines may lead to zero compensation for you.

Claims Involving Private Bus Companies

On the other hand, if the bus company involved in your crash is a private organization, the process you follow is much the same as any other personal injury claim. Mississippi allows victims three years from the date of an injury to seek compensation against the liable party. There aren’t specific notice periods and compensation limits like there are in government claims. However, these claims can still be very complicated, due to the amount of money at stake. While they may be less complex than claims against the government, you will still need to go to great lengths to prove that you are owed compensation.

Factors Affecting Your Compensation

A number of factors affect how much compensation you actually receive for your bus accident. To start, if you are partially at fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced. Mississippi is a comparative negligence state, so as long as you are not 100% at fault, you can still recover your losses. However, your compensation will be reduced proportionate to your share of liability.

Other factors that may come into play include the extent of your injuries, the amount of evidence available to support your claim, the amount of insurance carried by the bus company, how many other victims are trying to file for the same accident, and the role of any other potentially liable parties.

How Gardner Law Group Can Help

At Gardner Law Group, we understand how devastating bus accidents can be. You’re likely left with major physical injuries, significant mental trauma, and massive financial losses. We’ll support you throughout this difficult time as we advocate for you, build a case against the liable party, and fight aggressively for every bit of compensation you are owed. Whether your claim is against a government entity or a private company, we know what it takes to secure justice for our clients.

Call Us Today to Start Your Claim

The sooner you reach out to Gardner Law Group after your Mississippi bus accident, the sooner we can begin working on your case. Let’s get started with a free consultation. You can contact us online, call our Biloxi office at 228-436-6555, or call our Pascagoula office at 228-762-6555.