[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/filing-a-claim-after-a-bus-accident-in-oregon\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/filing-a-claim-after-a-bus-accident-in-oregon\/","headline":"Filing a Claim After a Bus Accident in Oregon","name":"Filing a Claim After a Bus Accident in Oregon","description":"Oregon is a beautiful place to live, work, and play. We have scenic mountains and lakes, modern cities, and a strong economy. Oregon citizens are thriving, but there\u2019s a downside. As more people discover what\u2019s good about living in our state, our roads become increasingly congested, leading to more traffic accidents and injuries. Transportation data...","datePublished":"2017-10-16","dateModified":"2025-05-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/author\/rizklaw\/#Person","name":"Rizk Law","url":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/author\/rizklaw\/","identifier":9,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/10e23ce5e6c4dadb4589cd8edf2c3f59ac356a6e876c3656917777913d9c3bc1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/10e23ce5e6c4dadb4589cd8edf2c3f59ac356a6e876c3656917777913d9c3bc1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Rizk Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rizk-law-logo-footer.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rizk-law-logo-footer.jpg","width":278,"height":65}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Richard-Rizk-headshot.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Richard-Rizk-headshot.jpg","width":383,"height":427},"url":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/filing-a-claim-after-a-bus-accident-in-oregon\/","about":["Auto Accident"],"wordCount":1330,"articleBody":"Oregon is a beautiful place to live, work, and play. We have scenic mountains and lakes, modern cities, and a strong economy. Oregon citizens are thriving, but there\u2019s a downside. As more people discover what\u2019s good about living in our state, our roads become increasingly congested, leading to more traffic accidents and injuries.Transportation data giant INRIX lists Portland as a traffic hotspot. It\u2019s thirteenth on their list of America\u2019s most congested cities. Oregon Department of Transportation statistics connect the rise in traffic to a parallel increase in crashes. Public transportation makes a difference, but tragic bus accidents continue to contribute to the city\u2019s accident injury statistics.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration\u2019s Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts publication demonstrates that all types of buses are involved in fatal accidents. The fatal crashes documented in the 2016 data year involved 86 school buses, 16 cross country buses, 93 transit buses, and 30 vans and unknown bus types. Ten years of data published in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u2019s Traffic Safety Facts 2018 reveals additional startling facts:More school-age pedestrians die in accidents from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.\u2014when walking to and from school\u2014than any other hours in the day.35 percent of children killed in school transportation accidents were ages eight to 13.Of the child fatalities caused by bus crashes, 58 occupied school-transportation vehicles, while 116 were in other vehicles.Recent Oregon statistics show 162 school bus crashes and 10 fatal non-school bus accidents. At the Richard Rizk Law Office, we believe that even a single bus crash is unacceptable. We are passionate about helping injured people. That\u2019s why we fight so hard to protect bus accident victims\u2019 rights. If you or your child was injured in a bus accident, contact us today at (503) 245-5677 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultationOur Law Firm\u2019s ResultsAt the Richard Rizk Law Office, we believe in helping everyday people, every day. We\u2019re aggressive with commercial entities and insurance companies and we negotiate fair settlements for our clients. If we can\u2019t reach an agreement, we have no problem presenting a case in a trial before a judge and jury. We can\u2019t promise a specific outcome, but we\u2019ve won millions of dollars for our clients because we\u2019ve devoted our time and resources to get the best results possible.Bus Accidents Can Cause Many InjuriesBus accidents happen infrequently, but when they do, they often injure Oregon\u2019s most vulnerable citizens. In collisions with buses, private passenger vehicle occupants, bicycle riders, and pedestrians have minimal chances of walking away unscathed. The 10-year NHTSA data shows that 70 percent of fatal bus crash victims were in another vehicle, 20 percent were pedestrians, and 9 percent were riding bicycles. A bus\u2019s size sometimes protects its occupants from catastrophic injuries and death, but because they often wear no seatbelts or other passenger restraint systems, serious bus passenger injuries and fatalities still occur.Size is a critical factor when a large bus strikes a much smaller vehicle. Bus weight varies by type\u2014they can reach 10,000 pounds and more. In an accident, the impact is comparable to a tractor-trailer crash.Serious and catastrophic injuries from bus crashes vary, but often include:Traumatic brain injuriesSpinal cord injuries and paralysisBack injuriesSevere soft tissue tears and strainsShattered or fractured bonesNeck injuriesInternal damageLoss of bodily functionsSevere burnsWho Can Contribute to a Bus Accident?When a bus accident occurs, the person behind the wheel is just one of the parties who may bear responsibility. A long list of people and entities is involved in getting a bus on the road.Driver: A bus driver may face liability because of negligent actions on the road. Driver negligence often includes distracted driving, driving under the influence, and reckless operation. A driver is also responsible for safely loading and unloading the vehicle, driving unimpaired by drugs or alcohol, avoiding driving while sick or injured, and maintaining and documenting a safe driving schedule.Employer: A school system or an independent transportation company may employ a bus driver. Employers bear responsibility for a driver\u2019s actions in the course of the driver\u2019s employment.Bus inspectors: Bus inspectors may share responsibility for a bus accident when they miss a dangerous condition during an inspection. State School bus inspectors must ensure school buses meet Oregon 581-053-0240, Minimum Standards for School Buses. Oregon DOT inspectors must make sure commercial buses comply with federal Title 49 Transportation:396.3, inspection, repair, and maintenance standards.Bus owner: If a school or transportation company leases a bus, the owner may share liability for accidents caused by maintenance issues or defects.Maintenance contractor: A maintenance contractor who cares for a bus or a fleet may face responsibility for accidents and injuries resulting from maintenance errors and omissions.Bus manufacturer: A manufacturer may face liability when a bus or defect causes an accident.Other contractors: A person or entity who agrees to accept liability via a contractual hold harmless or indemnification agreement may face responsibility for an accident or injuries.What Damages Can Bus Accident Victims Recover?Injured people recover damages based on two broad categories: economic damages and general damages. An Oregon judge or jury may also award punitive damages if clear and convincing evidence proves malice, outrageous indifference, or conscious indifference.Economic damages include items calculable based on their dollar values. These include current and projected future losses.Lost incomeMedical expensesMedicationsProsthetics and mobility devicesPhysical therapyTransportation costs to medical careNecessary household and personal servicesGeneral damages are more complicated because they require evaluating an injured client\u2019s feelings and emotions concerning injuries and disabilities. Our law firm typically includes these and other elements when evaluating a client\u2019s general damages.Pain and sufferingEmotional issuesChanges to a spousal relationshipChild care issuesLoss of bodily functionsScarring and disfigurementPermanent disabilitiesResponsible Parties Will Fight LiabilityDefendants and their insurance carriers try to negotiate low settlements and minimize their liability when they can. Early in the process, they may attempt to offer a lowball settlement in exchange for waivers of liability.When we take an accident case to trial, the defendants and their insurance company\u2019s defense attorneys often cite a variety of so-called \u201caffirmative defenses\u201d:No negligence: The driver and other responsible parties refuse to acknowledge fault.Comparative negligence: The Oregon comparative negligence statute bars an injured person from recovering damages if their actions show 51 percent or greater negligence. If an injured person is 50 percent at fault or less, a judge or jury applies their negligence percentage to their settlement.No defect: When a tire, brake, or other manufacturing defect contributes to an accident, the manufacturer often defends its interests by denying a malfunction or defect.Sovereign immunity: Governmental entities, school districts, or state inspectors may seek immunity or damage limitations under the Oregon Tort Claims Act.Damage dispute: Responsible parties who can\u2019t dispute liability often deny that they caused some or all of an injured person\u2019s damages.At the Richard Rizk Law Office, we\u2019ve heard these allegations and defenses many times\u2014and we\u2019re prepared to fight against them when they arise.Call Our Portland Bus Accident Lawyers for a Free ConsultationOur firm offers a free consultation to discuss your case and determine if we can help you. In appropriate cases, our law firm agrees to handle our clients\u2019 bus accident cases on a contingency basis in which we receive no fees unless we recover compensation on the clients\u2019 behalf.If you or your family were seriously injured in a bus accident, the injuries and disabilities may leave lifelong effects on everything you do. The Richard Rizk Law Office has helped many injured victims recover the compensation they needed to recover and move on with their lives. Call us at\u00a0503.245.5677 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free consultation."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Filing a Claim After a Bus Accident in Oregon","item":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/filing-a-claim-after-a-bus-accident-in-oregon\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]