New Haven Bus Accident Lawyer

Bus Accident Attorney in New Haven, CT

Bus accidents may be rare, but when they do happen they can cause severe injuries to multiple victims. It’s possible for these accidents to happen because of the negligence or intentional misconduct behind the wheel. If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident, it is important to contact an experienced New Haven bus accident lawyer to discuss your options for legal recourse and how you can recover compensation for your damages.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Bus Accident Claims in New Haven, CT

The attorneys at Bartlett & Grippe, LLC have years of proven experience helping victims of all types of vehicle accidents recover in New Haven and surrounding communities of Connecticut. We know the unique legal issues you might face in the aftermath of any type of bus accident, whether it was an accident involving a charter bus, a public transportation bus, or a school bus. We can help you pursue compensation on your own behalf or on behalf of an injured loved one.

You have a relatively short time in which to pursue your recovery, and you are likely to encounter various challenges that you may not be able to resolve on your own. You can trust your New Haven bus accident lawyer at Bartlett & Grippe to gather the evidence you need to prove fault for the accident, uncover the full extent of your claimable damages, and determine the optimal way to pursue compensation for your damages.

Most Common Bus Crash Causes in New Haven, CT

Collisions involving buses are far from uncommon. In September 2025, a 25-year-old New Haven man was struck by a Connecticut Transit bus at the intersection of Middletown Avenue and Clinton Avenue. He later died from his wounds after being taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, which is located at 20 York Street. For cases involving extreme speeds, a New Haven high speed accident lawyer can offer specialized assistance. These types of collisions contribute to the 31,338 emergency room visits due to head injuries.

Bus collisions occur for many of the same reasons that cause collisions involving other types of vehicles. Negligent driving is a common cause of car and bus crashes. When a driver takes their attention off the road or their hands off the wheel, they can cause devastating crashes that leave other drivers or passengers contending with serious and potentially life-altering injuries.

Speeding is another cause of bus collisions in New Haven. Bus drivers are required to maintain a safe speed while traversing the city’s roads and highways. When bus operators fail to drive at a safe speed, they may not be able to react to changing road conditions or brake in time to prevent a collision. These and other causes of bus crashes can leave operators and the companies or municipalities they work for liable for any harm caused by the collision.

Understanding Liability in Bus Accident Crashes in New Haven

Under General Statutes § 52-572h, the injured party can recover damages as long as they are not more at fault than the defendant. For example, someone found 20% at fault for an injury could receive 80% of a settlement or court verdict. Anyone who is more than 50% at fault for an accident would be barred from seeking compensation.

Insurance companies are well aware of this comparative fault framework and often take steps to minimize their liability by casting blame on the injured victim. With strong legal representation, you can fight false accusations and take decisive steps to maximize what you are owed under the law.

Establishing fault requires evidence, such as medical records, photos, the police report, witness testimony, and your account of events. It is essential to know how to get a car accident police report in Connecticut to strengthen your claim. Once the appropriate evidence is gathered, your lawyer can take decisive action to hold the at-fault party accountable for the harm you endured.

How Long You Have to Take Action in Court

Like other states, Connecticut sets deadlines for filing injury claims in court. These are known as personal injury statutes. General Statutes § 52-584, anyone who suffered a personal injury has two years to file their claim. You should review the Connecticut personal injury statute of limitations to ensure your case is filed on time. There is a three-year limit for cases in which the injured party did not discover their injury until after the incident.

Failing to meet this deadline would likely result in your case being dismissed. Statutes of limitations ensure that plaintiffs act promptly and that important evidence is preserved. Witness statements can become less reliable over time, which is why anyone seeking compensation should hire an attorney to begin the injury claim process as soon as possible.

Proving Liability for Your Bus Accident in New Haven

Like any other vehicle accident case, a bus accident case will require proof of fault before you can obtain any compensation for your losses. You need to identify the party responsible for causing the accident and prove exactly how they caused it. You will also need to show the full extent of your damages and prove the defendant is solely responsible for causing them.

Liability for a bus accident could fall to the bus driver, their employer, the driver of another vehicle, or a combination of these parties. Your New Haven bus accident lawyer at Bartlett & Grippe will be an invaluable resource when it comes to proving fault for the accident, and you will also be able to rely on them for filing an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury claim when it comes time to seek compensation for your damages.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim for a Bus Accident

It’s possible for auto insurance to apply to your case depending on the type of bus involved and who is responsible for causing the accident. For example, if you were injured on a charter bus, the bus company, as a common carrier, is likely required to have commercial auto insurance. Common carriers have a higher duty of care to prevent accidents than individual drivers, as they provide transportation to the public as a paid service.

Your New Haven bus accident lawyer can help you determine which insurance policy applies to your case and guide you through the process of filing your claim. They can ensure that you are treated fairly and that the insurance company delivers a reasonable settlement offer. In the event insurance cannot fully compensate your losses, you will need an attorney’s help to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party or parties.

Why You Should Hire a Bus Accident Lawyer

Anyone who was harmed due to a bus driver’s negligence should hire a bus accident lawyer. With strong legal representation, your New Haven bus accident attorney can document the cause of the collision and establish which party is liable for the harm you endured. Working with an  experienced New Haven catastrophic injury lawyer may be necessary if the accident resulted in permanent harm. Throughout the process, your lawyer can keep you updated on important matters.

Whether you are going up against the city or a private company, legal representation is critical. An attorney brings years of experience leveraging bus accident laws to ensure that your bus accident claim leads to a fair settlement that accounts for the physical and emotional harm you endured. During a difficult time in your life, your attorney can provide the advice and encouragement that you need to see your case through.

Recovering With a Personal Injury Claim in New Haven

The goal of a personal injury case in New Haven is to hold the defendant accountable for the damages they caused. The injured plaintiff will need to identify the party or parties responsible for causing their damages and then prove that those damages only happened because of their actions.

Your attorney can gather the evidence needed to prove liability, and their help will be invaluable when it comes to accurately calculating the full extent of the damages you suffered. Our firm can help you determine the average personal injury settlement amount relevant to your specific injuries. An injured plaintiff has the right to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages.

• Economic damages are any financial losses a plaintiff suffered because of the defendant’s actions. For example, an injured plaintiff can seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, and lost future earning capacity if they won’t be able to work in the future.
• Non-economic damages are intangible, such as physical pain and emotional distress. Your attorney can help you determine a suitable amount that will reflect the severity of your injuries and the scope of any long-term effects they are likely to cause.

Building a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Bus Accident

Unfortunately, some bus accidents in New Haven cause fatal injuries. If you have lost a family member in a fatal bus accident, Bartlett & Grippe can help you file a wrongful death case against the defendant responsible for causing the accident. This type of personal injury case focuses on securing compensation for the victim’s surviving family’s losses.

Bartlett & Grippe have extensive professional experience handling wrongful death cases for clients in New Haven, Connecticut and we are ready to put this experience to work for you after losing a family member to a fatal bus accident. You can trust us to prove liability for the accident and do everything we can to hold the defendant fully accountable for the entire scope of damages you and your family are eligible to claim.

FAQs

Who Is Liable for a Bus Collision?

The party that caused the collision through negligence or misconduct is liable for a bus collision and any injuries that the crash causes. In many cases, the liable party is the bus driver. When bus operators fail to maintain a safe distance from other cars, pedestrians, or bicyclists, they can cause serious collisions. In some cases, multiple parties may share liabilities. As long as the injured individual is less than 50% at fault, they can pursue compensation.

Can I Be Compensated for a Bus Crash Injury?

Yes, you can be compensated for a bus crash injury, especially when you have representation from an attorney. An injury lawyer can gather evidence to build a strong claim before seeking compensation from the bus driver, an insurance carrier, or the company or city that operates the bus fleet. Legal representation plays a critical role in shaping the outcome of an injury claim.

What Can My Bus Collision Settlement Cover?

Your bus collision settlement can cover the medical expenses you incurred following the collision. This can include upcoming treatment costs as well. A bus collision can leave injured workers facing long and uncertain recoveries. When you file an injury claim, you can be compensated for lost wages or reduced earning capacity if you become disabled. An attorney can review your claim to ensure that you are fully compensated for the harm you suffered.

How Long Does a Bus Crash Settlement Take?

The time it takes for an injury claim to settle varies considerably. Straightforward cases involving only negotiations with an insurer can be resolved quickly. More complex cases that involve disputed liability and the court system can take much longer to settle. An attorney can play a key role in streamlining the process, so you receive the compensation that you are owed.

Should I Hire an Attorney?

If you are seeking fair compensation for the harm you endured, you should hire an attorney. Trying to secure compensation without legal representation could be a costly mistake that could lead to a denied claim or a settlement that does not fully compensate you for the harm you endured and the financial losses you incurred following a bus collision in New Haven. Lawyers are skilled negotiators and litigators who care about the outcome of your claim.

Schedule Your Free Consultation with a New Haven Bus Accident Attorney

Bus accidents may be rarer than passenger vehicle accidents, but they can still result in life-changing injuries to those involved and raise very difficult legal questions that the average person cannot answer on their own. The attorneys at Bartlett & Grippe have successfully helped many clients navigate these cases and recovered substantial case awards.

You can trust the New Haven bus accident lawyers at Bartlett & Grippe to gather the evidence needed to prove fault for your accident, accurately determine the entire scope of damages you are eligible to claim, and provide compassionate legal counsel for every stage of your case. We offer contingency fee billing, so there is no fee until we recover compensation for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help with your case.