New Jersey Bus Accident Attorney
Every day, New Jersey residents ride the bus to school, work, or just to get to and from where they need to be at any given moment. In fact, buses are the only transportation available to many residents in New Jersey. From school and public transit buses to charter and tour buses, many buses traverse New Jersey’s roadways daily, and, as a result, bus accidents will always be inevitable. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 500 individuals are killed annually in bus crashes across the country, with hundreds more injured every day.
Bus accidents are often quite severe and can be particularly tragic not only because of the potential for injury among bus passengers but for the injuries they can cause motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. If you or someone you love was injured in a New Jersey bus accident or a family member was killed in a bus crash, a personal injury lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Bus Accidents in New Jersey: Common Causes
At Beninato & Matrafajlo, our team of New Jersey personal injury lawyers has handled countless bus accident injury claims.
New Jersey bus accidents are commonly caused by the following:
- Improper maintenance
- Driver negligence or careless operation
- Inadequate driver training
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Alcohol or drug use
- Defective or faulty equipment, including faulty tires or brakes
- Hazardous road conditions
- Bad weather
- Inadequate or improper seat belt use
- Failure to wait for passengers to sit before driving
- Failure to yield to other vehicles or pedestrians
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, most New Jersey bus accidents are often caused by driver error.
Other causes of bus accidents in New Jersey include the following:
- Pedestrians or bicycles in the bus lane
- Improper lane changes or the bus being run off the road
- Other vehicles stopped in the bus lane
Common Injuries Associated with New Jersey Bus Accidents
Since passengers on a bus are typically not restrained by seatbelts, there’s a greater risk of severe injury in a New Jersey bus accident.
Some of the most common injuries associated with New Jersey bus accidents include:
- Bone fractures
- Tendon or ligament tears
- Bruising
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Head, neck, and back injuries
- Skull fractures
- Concussions
New Jersey Bus Accident Compensation
Injuries sustained as the result of a bus accident might cause immediate or long-lasting injuries. New Jersey bus accident victims often face medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. More serious, catastrophic injuries can be life-altering, impacting the victim’s earning potential and overall quality of life. In some cases, bus accidents can result in death.
When it comes to New Jersey bus accidents, most pedestrians and passengers are not at fault and are typically entitled to compensation related to their injuries.
A New Jersey personal injury claim related to a bus accident may include the following:
- Past and future medical and physical therapy costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Physical and emotional pain or suffering
- Quality of life deterioration
- Long-term care expenses, including the need for home or
- Vehicle modifications
- Property loss
- Loss of consortium
- Workers’ compensation
- Wrongful death compensation
When to Hire a New Jersey Bus Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love was injured in a New Jersey bus accident, either as a passenger, bus driver, pedestrian, bike rider, or driver of another vehicle, you might be entitled to compensation.
The team of New Jersey bus accident experts at Beninato & Matrafajlo has the experience and knowledge necessary to protect your legal rights. If your accident claim involves New Jersey Transit or some other public agency, there may be a small window to file your claim. Time is also of the essence in school bus accidents involving private bus companies and public school districts. So, don’t delay. Contact the New Jersey bus accident expert Dan T. Matrafajlo today at (908) 355-7100 to schedule your free consultation.
This post is also available in ES.
Liability can fall on the bus driver, the bus company, a government transit agency like NJ Transit, a school district, a maintenance contractor, or another motorist, depending on what caused the crash. Common fault factors include driver negligence, improper maintenance, defective equipment, and failure to follow safety procedures.
Seek medical attention first, even if injuries seem minor, then document the scene with photos, the bus number, route, driver information, and witness contacts. Save your ticket or fare receipt if you paid to board, since it helps prove you were a passenger. Avoid giving a recorded statement or signing anything from an insurance adjuster before speaking with a bus accident attorney.
For a private bus company, the standard personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, claims against a public entity like NJ Transit or a public school district usually require a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident, far shorter than the general deadline. Missing this early window can bar the claim entirely, so victims should consult an attorney right away.
The most common causes are driver negligence (speeding, fatigue, distraction), improper maintenance, defective brakes or tires, inadequate driver training, bad weather, and failure to yield or wait for passengers to be seated. Federal data shows driver error is the leading cause of bus crashes nationwide.
Bus accidents often involve multiple potentially liable parties (driver, bus company, maintenance contractor, government agency), stricter and shorter filing deadlines for public transit, higher-profile insurance adjusters looking to settle quickly, and federal motor carrier safety regulations that don't apply to ordinary car accidents. This is why early legal representation matters more than in a typical fender-bender.
No. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and anything you say can be used to minimize your claim, even a casual comment about how you're feeling. It's better to let your own attorney handle all communication with the bus company, its insurer, or its lawyers from the start.
You can generally still bring a claim in New Jersey if the trip originated here, the accident injured a New Jersey resident, or the charter company does business in the state, though which state's law applies can get complicated. An attorney experienced in multi-state bus litigation can determine the best jurisdiction and applicable law for your case.
Catastrophic injuries (spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, permanent disability) typically require a more detailed damages case, including expert medical testimony and life-care planning, to account for a lifetime of treatment and lost income. These cases often carry higher settlement values and may need to work around insurance policy limits or a government entity's damage caps.
