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Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers - Personal injury attorneys located in 101 SW Main St. #1905 Portland, OR 97204

Portland Bus Accident Lawyer

Portland Bus Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a car accident involving a bus in Portland, OR? You may be entitled to compensation for the losses you’ve suffered–but it’s not always easy to get a fair insurance settlement deal. An experienced Portland bus accident lawyer from Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to maximize your compensation. Call our law offices at (503) 272-8986 to schedule a free consultation today.

Our attorneys are here to provide legal representation you can trust. We have over 17 years of experience handling complex personal injury matters. We’ve already recovered millions of dollars for injury victims like you.

We’re here to fight for the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

Why Call Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers For Legal Advice After Suffering Bus Accident Injuries in Portland?

People make mistakes every day. When those mistakes hurt others, we believe in holding the responsible parties accountable. However, negligent people and their insurance companies fight hard to avoid taking responsibility when a significant amount of money is on the line.

If you were a victim, our team at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help.

Our law firm was founded to help accident victims and their families recover fair compensation for their losses. Our Portland personal injury lawyer has been recognized by Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers.

When you hire our personal injury attorney, we will:

  • Investigate and determine the cause of your accident
  • Collect evidence to prove your case
  • Hire experts to testify on your behalf
  • Document your damages to prove how much compensation you deserve
  • File a claim with the insurance company 
  • Defend against blame-shifting strategies
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full settlement

The insurance claims process can be difficult. That’s why we have former insurance claims professionals on our team. They know how the other side thinks–and can help you walk away with a higher settlement award.

If you’re ready to learn more about the legal process, contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.

How Common Are Accidents Involving Buses in Oregon?

When large and heavy buses are involved in car accidents, there’s always the potential for injuries. Across the U.S., 108,000 injury-causing bus accidents were reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in 2020.

Bus wrecks also cause damage in the state of Oregon. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, 166 bus accidents were reported in 2021. Another 84 motor vehicle accidents involving school buses happened that year. 75 of those bus accidents occurred in the city of Portland.

Unfortunately, 100 of those bus crashes caused injuries. At least two bus accidents in 2021 were fatal.

We Handle All Types of Bus Accident Claims in Portland, OR

At Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all public transportation accident claims, including those involving:

  • TriMet
  • School buses
  • ACCESS shuttle buses
  • Swan Island shuttle buses
  • Washington Park shuttle buses
  • Private tour buses
  • Charter buses
  • Airport shuttle buses
  • Greyhound buses
  • Flixbus
  • Portland streetcars
  • MAX light rail cars

Whether you were a bus passenger, occupant of a passenger vehicle, or just walking down the street as a pedestrian, our lawyer in Portland is here to help you fight for the money you deserve.

What is My Portland Bus Accident Case Worth?

You should know how much your personal injury case is worth before accepting an offer from the insurance company.

Some factors that can influence your case value are:

  • Whether you suffered permanent or serious injuries
  • Whether your disability causes you to lose income during recovery
  • Whether you’ll ever make a full recovery
  • The strength of the evidence in your case
  • Your financial losses, including the cost of medical care and rehabilitation
  • How the injury is expected to change your future
  • Whether you share fault for the crash

Fair or not, the law gives you one chance to recover full compensation for your injuries. Your settlement or verdict should account for all of your current and expected future losses. If you settle for less than you deserve, you could be on the hook for future costs.

Our team at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers has seen cases like yours before. We’ll invest the time and resources to properly value your personal injury claim and fight for every available dollar.

Potential Damages Available for Victims in a Portland Bus Accident Lawsuit

You can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages.

We’ll start by assessing your economic damages, which are your financial costs, such as:

Your non-economic damages are meant to cover the pain, suffering, and trauma you’ve experienced, including:

While it rarely happens, juries in Oregon can award punitive damages. You can only seek punitive damages if the defendant’s acts were especially egregious or shocking.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for My Bus Accident Injuries in Portland?

Bus drivers rarely own the buses they operate. Instead, they’re employed by bus companies and other corporations. When the bus driver is negligent, their employer can also be held liable for those negligent acts under Oregon’s vicarious liability laws.

Other examples of potentially responsible parties in a bus accident case include:

  • Mechanics and repair companies
  • Companies hired to inspect the bus fleet for safety issues
  • The City of Portland 
  • School districts
  • Other government transit agencies responsible for road maintenance and oversight
  • Third-party motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists
  • Negligent bus passengers
  • Manufacturers of defective bus safety equipment 
  • Bus manufacturers

In serious injury cases, your damages could easily exceed the policy limits on any available insurance. To recover full compensation, it’s important to identify all responsible parties and demand fair compensation from each one of them.

What Happens to My Portland Bus Accident Claim if I’m Partly to Blame for the Accident?

Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence law. Injury victims lose their right to compensation once their percentage of fault reaches 51%.

However, it’s possible to share some blame and still recover partial compensation. When your share of fault is less than 51%, your award will be reduced by that percentage.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Bus Accident Injuries

Most bus trips finish without a problem. Still, buses can also increase safety risks in accident scenarios. When a bus is involved in an accident with a smaller passenger vehicle, the occupants are vulnerable to serious injuries.  

Because buses are top-heavy, they’re also susceptible to rollovers–especially when higher speeds are involved.

Our Portland bus accident attorney often represents crash victims who have suffered:

Recovering from a serious injury takes time. If you’re still recovering and can’t make it to our office, we’d be happy to come to you. Just give us a call to arrange your free case review today.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Portland, Oregon

The causes of bus accidents can vary from case to case. In most cases, the cause can be traced to negligent driving. Although bus drivers are common carriers and held to a higher standard of care, they can still make mistakes. When bus drivers make mistakes, crashes are much more likely.

Common causes of Portland bus accidents include:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way 
  • Tailgating 
  • Ignoring traffic laws
  • Inexperienced bus drivers
  • Wide and dangerous turns
  • Failure to check blind spots
  • Aggressive driving
  • Stopping in unsafe locations
  • Dangerous lane changes
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Drunk driving
  • Negligent hiring practices
  • Negligent bus maintenance

Bus drivers aren’t the only people who can cause bus accidents. The actions of others may have contributed to your accident.

Every party whose negligence contributed to your crash should be held accountable. 

How Long Do I Have to File an Injury Claim After a Bus Accident in Oregon?

The deadline for taking legal action will depend on the defendant’s identity. Buses can be operated by private bus companies or public transit authorities. 

If the defendant in your case is a private party, Oregon law gives you two years to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations runs from the date of the accident.

When the defendant is a public entity, like the city of Portland, you must file a notice of claim within 180 days of the accident. The notice preserves your right to take legal action after the city has conducted its investigation.

Call an Experienced Portland Bus Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you were injured in a bus accident, call Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers today. An experienced Portland bus accident lawyer can help you get the money you deserve after a crash.

Our personal injury law firm in Portland, OR also provides:

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Portland, OR

Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers
101 SW Main St. #1905 Portland, OR.
(503) 272-8986
Hours: Open 24/7

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