Bus accidents are caused by most often exhausted or impaired driving. Public buses such as local transport and school buses are managed by the county or city authorities. When starting a legal claim for the cases, the victim must know who the responsible party is.
An attorney can help review what parties are accountable for the buses and if the driver is solely accountable for the wreck. By reviewing what to do after a bus accident, claimants find out where to start in their attempt to collect compensation.
Contacting Law Enforcement and Emergency Services
Immediately following a bus accident, someone needs to contact law enforcement and emergency services. Law enforcement officers manage the wreck and create a report that offers each detail about the accident including who is at fault.
The accident report is a must for a legal claim and shows that the accident was reported and an at-fault driver was identified. A legal claim is a must after a bus accident, and the victims can get a chance to collect compensation.
Get Medical Help Quickly
All victims involved in a bus accident should get medical assistance immediately. The trauma from the accident could increase cortisol and adrenaline levels, and these increased levels may prevent a victim from experiencing pain.
Typically, people involved in an accident won’t get medical attention if there aren’t obvious signs of injuries. By getting medical attention, the person can find out if they’re injured and get medical records for the claim.
Refrain from Talking to Anyone But An Attorney
After any motor vehicle accident, the injured party shouldn’t talk to anyone other than an attorney. Too often, defendants try this tactic to get the victim to agree to a settlement prematurely and decrease the total amount of compensation. If the person doesn’t speak to other parties, this strategy won’t come to fruition.
Get Invoices of All Financial Losses
Medical expenses, auto repair costs, and lost wages are among economic losses that accident victims sustain because of bus accidents. If the person’s injuries are severe or affect their life permanently, the court may provide non-economic damages. The non-economic damages are based on losses such as a loss of limb, mental anguish, or a disability that prevents the party from supporting themselves financially.
Calculating Any Future Medical Costs
If the injured party needs ongoing medical treatment, the court will have to calculate projected medical costs. If the plaintiff wins the case, the court determines how much of a monetary award the person receives. The award includes all economic losses, including future medical costs.
If the injured party discovers a new injury later such as a traumatic brain injury, there is a possibility of extending the statute of limitations. However, the doctor would have to prove that the injuries happened during the bus accident.
If the victim was a minor, the deadline for reporting injuries and seeking compensation ends on the victim’s 18th birthday. An attorney can provide advice about filing a legal claim to collect compensation for severe injuries.
Bus accidents can lead to multiple injured parties and possible fatalities. The wrecks can involve individuals using public transport or students riding on a school bus. After the accidents, the victims have the right to start a legal claim to collect compensation. By learning more about bus accidents, injured parties discover what to do to start a claim and if the case is viable.
