Skilled Bus Accident Lawyer in Atlanta
Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A. are highly-regarded Atlanta bus accident attorneys that has over 30 years of experience representing injured victims in Atlanta and other areas of Georgia. Our experienced attorneys are tough negotiators who fight to recover compensation for victims and families who suffer injury or loss resulting from bus accidents.
Buses provide a convenient and environmentally-friendly mode of transportation. An efficient bus system is the hallmark of a developed city. Atlanta and other cities in Georgia are lucky to have a dependable public transportation system that takes people to work and children to school. In the United States, more than 500,000 school buses transport over 24 million kids between school and home each year. Although rare, bus accidents do happen and can be very upsetting to the passengers, even if they are not hurt. The majority of bus accidents include frontal and side impacts as well as some rollover crashes. The occupants most seriously injured are those that sit directly in line with the crash forces. Studies by the National Transportation Safety Board reveal that seat belts do not necessarily improve the safety of buses or reduce the number of deaths in bus crashes. However, due to improvements in the design and construction of today’s buses, bus accidents are rare.
Under Georgia law, school boards must carry insurance on buses that transport children to school. Specifically, §20-2-1090 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) requires that school boards maintain a policy that insures children “against bodily injury or death resulting from an accident or collision involving a bus.” Georgia courts have interpreted different parts of an insurance policy to provide “no-fault” accident insurance to school children, allowing them to recover damages without proof of liability or negligence. Indeed, insurance policies usually have a provision limiting coverage to “reasonable expenses incurred for necessary medical and funeral services.” The injured party can recover up to the policy limit without proving legal liability for damages. However, “no-fault” provisions must be distinguished from other liability provisions that provide “complete coverage” for bodily injury or death only upon proof of liability on the part of the insured school board. Whether no-fault principles apply to separate liability provisions is a matter of law to be determined by the court. As such, it is important to have a skilled lawyer assisting you in your case.
The experienced Atlanta bus accident attorneys at Stokes & Kopitsky are skilled negotiators who fight for the best possible recovery in your case. Bus accidents often involve multiple layers of ownership and liability. Different provisions of various insurance policies seem confusing and contradictory. One accident can be caused by multiple drivers who have varying degrees of fault. Determining liability thus requires gathering all parties even peripherally involved in the accident, including drivers, passengers, insurance companies, the school board, and other transportation authorities. It takes a great deal of manpower to interview witnesses, hire experts, and elicit testimony to determine all possible causes of action. At Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A., we have recovered settlements for bus accident victims and their families.
If you or your child was involved in a bus accident, call a caring Atlanta bus accident attorney to evaluate your case and determine all the possible claims you might have against negligent parties. Contact Stokes & Kopitsky, P.A. by dialing 404-892-0011 or filling out our online Contact Us form.
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