Aggressive legal representation for bus accident victims in Chattanooga and surrounding areas. We fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. A bus accident client shares her experience with Howe Law. After a serious injury, you deserve more than a quick settlement. You need trial lawyers who fight for everything you are owed. Most personal injury firms never see the inside of a courtroom. Our trial lawyers go to court and win. Insurance companies know we fight and they pay maximum compensation because of it. Over 40 years and hundreds of millions of dollars recovered for injury victims in Chattanooga and across the Southeast. Our track record speaks for itself. We get results that matter. Accidents do not happen on a schedule. Our team answers calls around the clock, starts your case immediately, and keeps you informed every step of the way. You are never alone in this process. You pay absolutely nothing unless we recover compensation for you. No upfront costs. No hidden fees. No financial risk. We only get paid when you get paid. That is our promise. Recovered For Our ClientsBus Accident Lawyers in Chattanooga
Hear From a Real Bus Accident Client
Why Hire Our Chattanooga Personal Injury Lawyers?
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Hundreds of Millions
Buses of every kind move through Chattanooga, from the tour and charter buses carrying visitors to Lookout Mountain and the aquarium, to school buses across Hamilton County, to public transit. A bus carries many passengers and has no seatbelts for most of them, so a single crash can injure a large number of people at once. At Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we represent passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists hurt in bus crashes across the Chattanooga area.
The type of bus decides the rules of your claim
Who operated the bus changes everything about the case. A public transit bus or a school bus is run by a governmental entity, so the claim falls under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, with a one-year deadline and statutory caps on damages. A private charter or tour bus company is a common carrier that owes its passengers a high duty of care and usually carries large insurance policies. We identify the operator immediately, because it determines the deadline, the procedure, and where the recovery comes from.
Tennessee's one-year deadline
Tennessee gives you just one year from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, and a claim against a governmental bus operator carries the same one-year limit under the Governmental Tort Liability Act. Bus cases involve multiple victims and multiple potential defendants, so the investigation has to start early. We move quickly to preserve the onboard video and the maintenance and driver records.
Tennessee's fifty percent rule
Under the rule from McIntyre v. Balentine, you recover nothing if you are found fifty percent or more at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share below that line. In a bus crash the fault may lie with the bus driver, the company that employed and trained the driver, another motorist, or a maintenance failure. We build the case on the physical evidence and the operator's records so fault is assigned accurately. The most seriously injured are treated at Erlanger Baroness Hospital, the region's only Level I trauma center.
Serving injured bus passengers across Southeast Tennessee
Our team handles bus crash claims throughout the Chattanooga area, across Hamilton, Bradley, Marion, Sequatchie, Rhea, and Bledsoe counties. We serve people hurt in Chattanooga, Cleveland, East Ridge, Red Bank, Soddy-Daisy, Signal Mountain, Collegedale, Ooltewah, and Hixson.
Reports, evidence, and filing your case
A bus crash inside the city is investigated by the Chattanooga Police Department, one in the unincorporated county by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, and one on I-24 or I-75 by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. We preserve the onboard camera footage and the company's records, obtain your records from Erlanger, and when a fair settlement cannot be reached, we file your lawsuit in Hamilton County Circuit Court.
Speak with a Chattanooga bus accident attorney
Bus crashes involve big operators, big insurers, and sometimes a public agency with special rules, and the one-year deadline leaves no time to waste. Call (844) 876-4357 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Common questions
The crash involved a public transit bus. Are the rules different?
Yes. A public transit or school bus is operated by a governmental entity, so the claim falls under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, with a firm one-year deadline and statutory limits on damages. We handle those requirements and also pursue any private party, such as another driver, whose fault contributed.
I was a passenger on a tour bus that crashed. Who is responsible?
A charter or tour bus company is a common carrier that owes passengers a high duty of care, and it can be liable for its driver's negligence, poor maintenance, or inadequate training. These companies usually carry large insurance policies, and we pursue the full coverage available to you.
There were many injured passengers. Does that reduce what I can recover?
It can matter when a governmental entity is involved, because the per-occurrence cap is shared among victims. That is exactly why we identify every responsible party, including private parties not subject to those caps, so your recovery is not limited unnecessarily.
Cases We Handle
We represent injury victims across Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi in a wide range of accident and injury cases.
Need a Bus Accident Lawyer in Chattanooga?
Do not face the insurance companies alone. Contact our Chattanooga office today for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.
Reviews from our Accident and Injury Clients
I googled Collection Attorney and found Howe and Associates. Their receptionist picked up, I introduced myself and explained to her my situation and in no time she got Mr. Richard Howe on the phone with me. I explained my situation and he was very attentive, helpful, nice to me and after carefully listening to me he gave me some encouraging advice and how to go about the right help. He also gave me an open invitation to call him anytime if I ever have any questions. I was very happy God lead me to his firm.
I really just appreciate the professionalism and knowledge given from speaking with your firm during consultation. It definitely makes it feel comfortable if the need to move forward with the service of your firm
Richard was extremely helpful, and even though my case wasn't the best fit for his firm, he took extra time to give me direction and clarity to help me with the next steps... Far beyond what he needed to. I'm extremely grateful I contacted his firm.
I had a question about a collection we are going through and Richard himself answered the call and provided a lot of insight to what our next steps would be at no charge. I highly recommend this firm. They are here to help.
I was in a vulnerable state after my accident and appreciated Nathalie for listening, being compassionate and offering guidance. I am truly grateful I called. Thank you so much!
I was really stressed about everything and didn't know where to start but the team took the time to walk me through each step and made sure I understood what was happening. They explained the whole process in a way that actually made sense and I never felt confused or left in the dark, they were super helpful and responsive whenever I had questions. I'm so grateful for how well they treated me and how easy they made everything feel
Top-Rated Personal Injury Lawyers Recognized Nationwide
Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers is proud to be recognized by multiple nationally respected legal rating organizations. These distinctions reflect our dedication to delivering exceptional personal injury representation and achieving strong results for our clients. Our firm has earned top honors including AV Preeminent ratings, 10.0 Superb ratings, and membership in exclusive legal organizations such as the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. These recognitions are awarded based on peer reviews, client satisfaction, and proven case results.
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