Bus Accident Lawyers in North Carolina

Fighting for Bus Accident Victims from Our Office in Winston-Salem

When buses or public shuttles are involved in accidents, the sheer size and weight of the vehicle involved — not to mention the number of people on board — often produce catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

If you or someone you love suffers serious injuries as a result of a bus accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The North Carolina bus accident lawyers at Comerford Chilson & Moser can help you understand your rights and determine who to make a claim against.

From our office in Winston-Salem, attorneys Comerford, Chilson, and Moser represent individuals throughout North Carolina who have been seriously damaged in personal injury accidents.

Our skilled bus accident lawyers in Winston‑Salem can investigate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call (336) 568-8779 or contact us.

Common Types of Bus Accidents We Handle in North Carolina

Bus crashes across North Carolina happen in many different settings, from crowded downtown streets in Winston-Salem to high-speed corridors like I-40 and US-52. The type of bus involved and the way the collision occurred often shape how a claim is investigated and which laws apply. Our team evaluates each case carefully to determine what went wrong and who may be legally responsible.

Some of the most common bus accident cases we handle include:

• City bus collisions: Crashes involving public transit buses making frequent stops in traffic-heavy areas, where sudden braking, distracted driving, or failure to yield may play a role.
• Charter and tour bus accidents: Wrecks on longer interstate routes where driver fatigue, poor maintenance, or improper training may be factors.
• Party bus incidents: Injuries caused by overcrowding, lack of seat belts, unsafe driving, or inadequate supervision while passengers are standing or moving around.
• School bus accidents: Claims involving injuries to children due to collisions, unsafe loading or unloading practices, or negligent operation.
• Rear-end and intersection crashes: Accidents where a bus strikes another vehicle—or is struck—often raising questions about following distance, signal compliance, and right-of-way violations.
• Rollover accidents: Serious wrecks that may involve speeding, sharp turns, shifting cargo, or loss of control on rural roads.
• Sudden stop and fall injuries: Situations where passengers are thrown from their seats or injured while boarding or exiting, even if there is minimal visible vehicle damage.
• Multi-vehicle highway collisions: Complex crashes involving buses, passenger vehicles, and commercial trucks, often requiring detailed accident reconstruction.

Each type of accident can present unique legal challenges, particularly when government entities, private bus companies, or multiple insurers are involved. With decades of personal injury litigation experience, we analyze how the specific facts of your bus accident fit within North Carolina law and build a strategy aimed at securing meaningful compensation for your injuries and losses.

We Stand Up To Bus Companies in Winston-Salem And Their Lawyers

Bus companies are extremely aggressive in protecting their reputation and their liability when accidents occur. It is important for people who are injured in a bus accident to have equally aggressive legal counsel in order to protect their rights.

Our North Carolina bus accident attorneys have more than 90 years of cumulative personal injury litigation experience. We work with accident reconstruction specialists and medical professionals who allow us to build strong cases on behalf of our clients. This often allows us to reach full and fair settlements without the need to go to trial, but we field a team of trial-tested attorneys who are prepared to go to court if a fair agreement cannot be reached. We have personal injury litigation experience in cases throughout North Carolina.

Because bus crashes can involve public transit systems, private charter companies, school districts, or party bus operators, there are often multiple insurance carriers and legal teams working to limit what injured passengers receive. We know how to collect and analyze maintenance records, driver qualification files, onboard video, and witness statements so that we can identify who is responsible and present your story clearly. When a collision happens on busy routes in and around Winston-Salem, such as I-40, US-52, or local city streets served by regional bus services, we understand how to account for traffic patterns and roadway design in building your claim.

In many cases, time is critical because buses may be put back into service quickly, and important evidence can be lost. When you reach out to us after a serious wreck, we can take steps to preserve the bus, obtain any available electronic data, and communicate with the bus company and its insurer so that you do not have to handle those stressful conversations on your own. Our goal is to give you space to focus on medical care while we handle the legal details and prepare your case as if it will be presented to a jury in Winston-Salem or elsewhere in North Carolina.

Why Party Bus Accidents in  North Carolina Are Different

Party buses are designed for celebration, not collisions. But when a crash happens, the combination of standing passengers, alcohol, lack of seat belts, and limited interior safety features can lead to severe injuries. Unlike traditional buses, riders are often moving around, dancing, or seated alongside benches without restraints, which increases the risk of head injuries, fractures, and spinal trauma. A party bus accident lawyer in North Carolina understands how these unique conditions can affect both liability and the severity of injuries.

Some factors that may affect a party bus accident include:

• Limited or no seat belts
• Passengers standing or moving during transit
• Alcohol consumption on board
• Overcrowding beyond safe capacity
• Inadequate supervision by the company
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Untrained or improperly licensed drivers

These cases often go beyond simple driver negligence. A party bus company may be liable for failing to enforce safety rules, allowing overcrowding, hiring an unqualified driver, or failing to properly maintain the vehicle.

Who May Be Liable After a Bus Accident in North Carolina?

One of the most confusing parts of a bus crash is figuring out who should be held responsible for your injuries and losses. Unlike a typical car accident, a bus case may involve a private bus company, a city or county transit authority, a school system, or a business that hired a charter or party bus for an event. Each of these entities may have different insurance policies, notice requirements, and procedures for handling claims, especially when the incident occurs in or around Winston-Salem.

Potentially responsible parties can include:

• The bus driver
• The company that owns or operates the bus
• Maintenance contractors who failed to keep the vehicle in a safe condition
• Other motorists who contributed to the crash
• The organization that planned a trip or celebration

When a public agency is involved, there may be additional steps that must be taken, such as providing notice of a claim within a certain amount of time or pursuing the case in a particular court. Our bus accident lawyers in North Carolina are familiar with how these issues arise in cases involving regional transportation providers and local school districts in the Triad. By investigating early and gathering the right evidence, we can help you understand which parties may be named in a claim and how that may affect the timeline and strategy for pursuing a financial recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do right after a bus accident?

Your first priority is to seek medical care, even if you think your injuries are minor. If you are able, document the scene by noting the bus route or company name, taking photos, and collecting contact information from witnesses. As soon as you can, write down your recollection of what happened and keep copies of any paperwork you receive from the bus operator, law enforcement, or insurance companies.

How long do I have to bring a bus accident claim in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, injury claims generally must be filed within a specific time frame set by law, and the deadline can be shorter when the claim involves a government entity such as a city transit system or school district. Because these time limits can be complex and missing them could affect your ability to seek compensation, it is wise to speak with a lawyer promptly after the incident. An attorney can review your situation and help you understand which deadlines apply to your potential claim.

Do I have a case if I was not physically on the bus?

You may still have a claim even if you were driving another vehicle, walking, or cycling when the bus accident occurred. Collisions at intersections, bus stops, or along busy roads in Winston-Salem can seriously injure people outside the bus as well as passengers inside. The important question is whether someone failed to use reasonable care and that failure caused your injuries, not whether you were a rider on the bus at the time of the crash.