Have you or a loved one been injured as the result of a bus driver’s negligence behind the wheel? Each year in the United States there are more than 63,000 bus accidents.
The sheer size and speed of a bus can make these accidents range from minor fender benders to catastrophic loss and even death. In a flash, you or your loved one’s life can be changed forever because of a bus driver’s negligent behavior.
After a bus crash, you may be in pain and scared. You also may wonder what you should be doing to help your family in the best way during those times. You and your loved ones will want to avoid extra physical and financial consequences caused by the accident.
Read on to learn five immediate steps to take if you get into a bus accident!
1. Seek Immediate Medical Care
Whether the bus accident is a minor collision or a high-speed crash, you should seek immediate medical care. While you think you feel fine right after an accident, it doesn’t always mean you are safe and healthy. Other times, injuries won’t show themselves until days after the accident.
Seek medical care to ensure that a professional monitors your condition. They can also take important x-rays or MRI’s to document your injuries. Treating with a doctor will also help you avoid exacerbating existing injuries. This can help decrease your pain level and improve your chances of making a more full recovery later.
2. Report the Accident and Speak to Witnesses
It’s important to document the accident and speak to witnesses right after the fact.
The strength of any personal injury lawsuit later can be the ability of your witnesses to recollect what took place at the time. Report the accident by calling the police or local law enforcement authorities to ensure that there is a record made of the incident.
A police report should include the names and contact information of all witnesses, along with facts about how the accident took place. Remember that the facts in a police report won’t tell the whole story. There will be oral and written witness statements that help shed light on what took place.
3. Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
You should hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent your interests against the negligent bus driver and their insurance company. Sometimes after a bus accident, you will have short- and long-term injuries.
You may also have a permanent change in your ability to work and quality of life. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be ready to negotiate a settlement with the negligent driver’s insurance company on your behalf.
In the event a settlement can’t be reached by the parties, your attorney must have the tools to represent you in court and present your position during a jury trial. During a lawsuit, your attorney will conduct discovery to learn more about the accident, and what a witness will say, and how they will present to a judge or jury.
Hiring the best attorney to represent your interests will help you remain confident during litigation.
4. Keep Track of All Medical Expenses and Damages
After a bus accident, it can be hard to focus on daily tasks and challenging to keep your life on track. Despite the obstacles you will face after a bus crash, you must ensure you keep a running tally of all your medical expenses and other damages.
For example, keep a copy of each medical bill that you receive in the mail or via email. You should also tally the number of days of work you missed. This includes days immediately after the accident, as well as other times you can’t be at work because of physical therapy and doctor’s appointments.
The total amount of your medical expenses and other damages is important because you will need to document these in a demand letter to the negligent driver’s insurance company, or later in litigation.
5. Make Your Initial Demand
When you speak to your attorney about the bus crash, they will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and develop a strategy for how to represent you.
After you’ve begun treating with medical professionals but before the statute of limitations runs on your time to file a lawsuit, your attorney will begin preparing a demand letter to the negligent bus driver’s insurance company.
Sometimes, this also means sending copies to the bus driver, their employer, and any other entity with an ownership interest in the bus being driven at the time. Your lawyer will perform research to learn what insurance policies may exist so that he can make a timely claim on your behalf.
Oftentimes, these demands are for the policy limits of an insurance policy – the maximum amount a negligent driver has coverage for under their particular insurance contract. Your attorney will also be ready to respond on your behalf when or if the insurance company makes a poor settlement offer.
In the State of Hawaii, you have two years from the date of an accident to file your lawsuit.
Wrapping Up: Filing a Bus Accident Lawsuit
A bus accident can alter the course of your life in the blink of an eye. Taking these steps immediately afterward can help you navigate uncertain waters. You may feel stress and anxiety as you begin to adjust to the new normal in your life after such a traumatic event.
At Cummings Law, Brian Cummings is an attorney with over 20 years’ experience in litigation. He handles a wide range of cases including medical malpractice, personal injury, and bus accident crashes. He takes a client-first approach to represent victims in car and bus crash matters.
Contact our law firm today to learn more about his legal services and how he can help you!
