Savannah Bus Accident Lawyer

What Should I Do If A Bus Accident Occurs?

Bus accidents can result in various medical issues, as we have mentioned, ranging from minor bumps, bruises, and scrapes to more severe injuries such as shattered bones, internal damage, and even death. After all, buses are large vehicles and when large, heavy buses crash with smaller, lighter passenger cars, the consequences for the smaller vehicle’s occupants can be disastrous.  So, occupants of buses and the vehicles with which buses collide are at risk of injury.

All persons injured in bus collisions or bus rollovers should seek medical assistance right away to ensure that their injuries are addressed.  After receiving medical attention, write down everything you can recall about the accident. If you can photograph the scene or the vehicles involved, do so. Make a list of all pertinent information, such as witness names and phone numbers, if you are able.  This is particularly true when many people are witnesses, or potential witnesses, like people on a crowded bus.

If you are on a bus involved in a collision, it is important that the investigating officer know that you were on that bus.  Obviously, if your injuries are such that you are taken from the scene by ambulance, or if your injuries are obvious, the investigating officers should identify you as having been injured on the police report.  If your injuries are not obvious at the scene, for example, if you are experiencing back or neck aches or pain, but not so much as to be transported by ambulance for medical attention, then make sure that you provide the investigating officer with your contact information.  Many buses are equipped with internal cameras, which will depict what happens to bus occupants during a crash and that video can document that you were on the bus at the time.  But, if the bus does not have internal video and if you do not identify yourself to the police at the time of the crash, the bus company may question whether you were even there at the time of the crash.  It is always appropriate to inform the police that you are injured, but it is always better to wait until you have engaged legal counsel to make a statement to anyone regarding the accident and your specific injuries.  Some injuries do not fully manifest themselves for hours or days  after a collision.  It’s always better to have guidance from counsel, to have time to reflect upon the accident, and to see how you have been affected by your injuries, than it is to make off-the-cuff comments to anyone.  Even a polite comment, like “I’m alright”, can do damage to your claim.

Finally, get legal advice on your accident. Remember that the bus company’s lawyers and insurance adjusters will do everything they can to disclaim responsibility and to diminish, if not wholly dismiss, your claims. If you are without proper legal counsel, even if they know they are at fault, they will try to settle for far less than  what you may be entitled to in the long run. Therefore, speak with an experienced bus accident attorney as soon as possible to get appropriate compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.