Bus routes through West Palm Beach connect neighborhoods and serve vital commuter corridors like I-95, Okeechobee Boulevard, and Military Trail. But when one of these large vehicles crashes, the consequences can be devastating for anyone involved.
Whether it's a Palm Tran transit vehicle, a tour bus heading to the coast, or a chartered school bus, a collision can leave passengers and bystanders severely injured. If you've been affected by a crash, a West Palm Beach bus accident lawyer from Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers can help you take the first step toward recovery on all fronts—physically, emotionally, and financially.
Our firm knows how challenging it is to deal with painful injuries, insurance companies, and unanswered questions. We’re here to help you hold the right people accountable. Call us today for a free consultation to find out how we can help.
Why Choose Frankl Kominsky for Your West Palm Beach Bus Accident Case?
At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our name is on everything we do. That’s why we approach every case with a commitment to legal excellence, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Our West Palm Beach clients benefit from:
- Trial-tested representation: Our attorneys are seasoned litigators who fight tenaciously in court when fair settlements aren't offered.
- Proven results: We've recovered hundreds of millions for injury victims, including those harmed in public and private bus accidents.
- Personalized service: Clients receive frequent updates, compassionate legal support, and guidance tailored to their unique needs.
- No upfront fees: We work on a contingency basis, so you don’t pay unless we win your case.
- Accessible communication: We speak English, Spanish, and Creole to serve a diverse South Florida community.
- Strong community trust: With high ratings on Google and Avvo, past clients consistently recommend us for serious injury claims.
Bus accidents often involve more than one liable party, layers of corporate policies, and government regulations. Our West Palm Beach bus accident attorneys have the resources and experience to untangle the details and pursue full and fair compensation on your behalf.
Why Bus Accidents Are So Dangerous
Collisions involving buses can result in traumatic, life-changing injuries. These vehicles carry dozens of passengers and often lack the same safety features required in smaller vehicles. Many buses do not come equipped with seatbelts or airbags. In some situations, these devices are even considered risky due to the configuration of passenger seating.
Types of bus accidents include:
- School bus accidents – Involve children and occur most often during morning and afternoon commutes; these crashes can be particularly traumatic due to the vulnerable passengers.
- Public transportation (Palm Tran) crashes – Accidents involving local buses operated by city or county transit systems; these often occur on busy streets with high pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
- Charter and tour bus collisions – These incidents may involve out-of-town travelers and occur during group outings, tourism, or long-distance events; liability can be complex depending on the company and location.
- Intercity and long-distance carrier accidents – Involve companies like Greyhound or Megabus and often occur on highways; crashes can be severe due to higher speeds and long-haul driving fatigue.
- Shuttle and hotel transport crashes – Common around airports, convention centers, and resorts, these accidents can happen when drivers are distracted, rushed, or unfamiliar with city streets.
Due to their size and structure, buses are prone to tipping, jackknifing, or colliding with pedestrians and cyclists in dense urban environments. When they do crash, the injuries can impact not only passengers but also other drivers and innocent bystanders.
High-risk areas for bus accidents in West Palm Beach:
- Okeechobee Boulevard and Military Trail intersection – A heavily trafficked junction where frequent congestion increases the risk of rear-end collisions and side-impact bus crashes.
- I-95 corridor during rush hour – One of the most accident-prone highways in the area, especially dangerous for buses merging or switching lanes in dense, high-speed traffic.
- Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard – Known for its commercial density and frequent stop-and-go traffic, creating heightened risk for pedestrian and vehicle collisions involving buses.
- Congress Avenue – A busy local thoroughfare that hosts several bus routes and has seen multiple incidents involving buses striking cyclists and parked vehicles.
- Bus stops near The Square and Downtown West Palm – These urban transit hotspots often see a mix of heavy pedestrian traffic and tight turning radii, increasing the potential for contact accidents and visibility-related collisions.
Many of these roads see heavy commuter and pedestrian traffic. When a bus is involved in a crash, the damage often spans multiple vehicles, injuries, and legal questions.
Bus Accidents in West Palm Beach
Bus accidents in West Palm Beach remain a serious public safety issue. In 2023, the city recorded 42 reported bus accidents involving both public and private transportation companies. Of these:
- 65% were collisions with other vehicles
- 20% involved pedestrians
- 15% were single-vehicle accidents tied to mechanical failure or weather
A particularly heartbreaking incident occurred recently when a Palm Tran bus fatally struck a passenger who had exited the bus. These stories underscore the urgent need for safer operational practices and driver awareness.
Previous incidents have had devastating results. A 2018 city bus crash resulted in multiple serious injuries and a $12 million wrongful death settlement for the victim’s family.
What Causes Bus Accidents?
Several factors contribute to bus crashes in South Florida. Our legal team thoroughly investigates the causes of each incident. Some of the most common include:
- Driver fatigue or distraction
- Inadequate driver training
- Speeding or aggressive driving
- Poor weather or road conditions
- Mechanical failure (brakes, tires, engine)
- Lack of regular maintenance
- Intoxicated driving
- Improper lane changes or wide turns
- Third-party driver negligence
- Faulty parts or defective bus components
Do I Have a Bus Accident Claim?
If someone else’s carelessness caused the accident that injured you, there’s a strong chance you have a valid claim. Bus accident lawsuits are based on negligence, which means showing that another person or company didn’t take reasonable care and that their actions directly led to your injuries.
If someone else’s carelessness led to your bus crash injuries, you may have a claim for compensation. To win a negligence case, we must show that the responsible party owed you a duty, failed to meet it, directly caused your injuries, and that you suffered damages as a result.
These four elements are the backbone of any personal injury claim. But proving them requires a lot of supporting evidence. Our attorneys will gather traffic reports, witness statements, video footage, and expert testimony to build the strongest case possible.
Don’t Fight With the Insurance Companies
After a bus crash, you might get a call from a transportation company’s insurance carrier offering you a quick settlement. That offer may sound good, especially when you’re out of work and the medical bills are piling up, but it’s rarely enough to cover the long-term impact of your injuries.
Insurance companies are in the business of maximizing profits by minimizing payouts. They may downplay your injuries, try to shift blame, or pressure you into settling fast. Once you accept an offer, however, you lose your right to seek additional compensation, even if your condition worsens.
That’s where we come in. Our attorneys will handle all communication with insurers on your behalf. You focus on healing. We’ll make sure your claim is valued fairly and fought for aggressively.
Who May Be Held Liable in a Bus Accident Case?
Bus accidents often involve more than just the driver. Multiple parties may be legally responsible depending on how the crash occurred and what factors contributed to it.
Potentially liable parties include:
- The bus driver – If the driver was distracted, speeding, or impaired
- The bus company or employer – For negligent hiring, poor training, or failing to maintain the bus
- A government agency – If the accident involved a public bus or unsafe roadway conditions
- Third-party drivers – Who caused or contributed to the collision
- Maintenance contractors – If a mechanical issue caused the crash and faulty inspections or repairs were to blame
- Bus manufacturers or parts suppliers – If a defective tire, brake system, or engine component led to the accident
In many cases, more than one party shares responsibility. At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we work to uncover all sources of liability so you have the best chance at full compensation.
Common Bus Accident Injuries
Bus accidents can leave passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists with severe injuries, many of which result in long recovery periods, permanent impairments, or even loss of life. These injuries are not only physically painful but also emotionally and financially draining. They include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – Caused by head impacts or whiplash; can lead to long-term cognitive issues
- Spinal cord injuries – May result in partial or full paralysis, depending on the location and severity
- Broken bones and fractures – Often occur when passengers are thrown from their seats during impact
- Internal injuries – Damage to organs can be life-threatening and difficult to detect immediately
- Burns – Sometimes result from engine fires or road friction if a victim is ejected
- Soft tissue injuries – Including torn ligaments, sprains, and strains
- Facial injuries and disfigurement – From broken glass or impact with hard surfaces
- Psychological trauma – Including PTSD, anxiety, and depression following a violent crash
Our team of experienced West Palm personal injury lawyers works with medical experts to understand the full scope of how your injuries have affected your life, now and in the future.
What Compensation Is Available to Bus Accident Victims?
If you've been hurt in a bus crash, you may be entitled to damages meant to help you recover financially, physically, and emotionally. These include both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages may include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Property damage (e.g., a wrecked vehicle)
Non-economic damages can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship or support
If you’re suffering the devastating loss of a loved one from a bus accident, you may have grounds for a wrongful death claim, which can include compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional suffering.
Our West Palm bus accident lawyers take the time to calculate the true value of your claim so that you’re not left paying out of pocket later for someone else’s mistake.
How Can a Lawyer Help With My West Palm Beach Bus Accident Case?
From the moment you call us, our focus is on protecting your rights and easing your burden. Bus accident cases can involve municipal transit agencies, private companies, national carriers, and multiple layers of insurance coverage. You shouldn’t have to figure this out on your own.
Here’s how our team at Frankl Kominsky can help you:
- Investigate the crash thoroughly and collect all evidence
- Identify all liable parties
- Handle all communication with insurers and opposing counsel
- Work with medical professionals to document your injuries
- Build a strong legal claim that supports the maximum available compensation
- Represent you at trial if a fair settlement can’t be reached
We’re with you every step of the way—because you deserve to be heard, respected, and compensated for what you’ve endured.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bus Accidents in West Palm Beach
Is there a deadline for filing a bus accident lawsuit in Florida?
Yes. Florida law sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those involving bus accidents. That means you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of the crash. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation, no matter how strong your case is.
Some claims against government entities may have even shorter deadlines or special notice requirements. Contact an attorney right away to preserve your rights.
What if I am partially to blame for the bus accident?
It’s not unusual for victims to blame themselves after a serious crash. Maybe you were glancing at your phone or didn’t see the bus coming. That doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim.
Florida follows a modified comparative fault system to determine damages in cases with shared fault for an accident. This approach means that as long as you’re not more than 50% at fault, you can still recover compensation. Your total award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by 20%.
Who pays for my medical bills after a bus accident?
Initially, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage under your auto insurance may help cover some of your medical costs. But bus accidents often result in injuries that exceed PIP limits. That’s when pursuing a liability claim against the bus company or other at-fault parties becomes essential.
What if the bus driver was working for the city?
Crashes involving city buses like Palm Tran may involve additional legal steps, such as filing a notice of claim. These cases can be more complex because they involve government immunity rules and strict filing deadlines. You’ll want a law firm familiar with public entity claims in Florida.
What does it cost to hire a bus accident lawyer?
At Frankl Kominsky, we work on a contingency fee basis. You won’t pay us anything up front or out of pocket. We only get paid if we win your case or reach a settlement in your favor.
Contact the West Palm Beach Bus Accident Lawyers at Frankl Kominsky Today
You don’t need to figure out what comes next alone. At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we’re proud to help injured people of West Palm Beach pursue justice and move forward. When you hire us, you’re not just getting top-tier legal representation—you’re gaining a team that cares deeply about your recovery and your future.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a bus crash anywhere in Palm Beach County, call us today at (561) 800-8000 or reach out online for a free consultation. Let us put our experience and reputation to work for you.
We never settle for less—and neither should you.