Bus accidents can happen with school buses, public transportation buses, or charter and tour buses. Accidents are less frequent than other vehicle accidents. However, around 24,000 Americans are injured due to bus accidents every year, and you may be one of them.
If you or a loved one have endured a bus accident in Riverside, CA, what do you need to do next? Here are the answers to common questions from those who have been injured in bus accidents.
If you or a loved one have endured a bus accident in Riverside, CA, our experienced team of attorneys is ready to help you. It’s essential to contact us as soon as possible after an accident so we can protect your rights. But what do you need to do after a bus accident? Here are the answers to common questions from our clients.
What are the first steps to take after a bus accident?
The sooner you can call 911 after a bus accident, the better. The police will arrive and record details about the accident that will be crucial for building a case against the responsible party. Whether you are riding the bus, or are a driver involved in the accident, call the authorities for help.
If you are not seriously injured, you can help your case by recording your observations. Take photos and make notes on your smartphone. List the weather conditions, sights, sounds, evidence of damage, and evidence of injury. These notes can prove vital in protecting your rights in a personal injury case.
What rights do I have as a rider of the bus?
Buses are referred to as common carriers. Whether you ride a school bus or a public transportation bus, you have a right to a safe ride. Bus drivers have been trained to provide the safest possible rides. If you have been injured as a rider in a bus accident, your rights may have been violated. It’s important to consult with an experienced attorney about your bus accident injuries, so your rights can be restored.
In a negligence case, you must be able to prove four things:
- The bus driver owed me a duty to provide a safe experience as a rider or fellow driver.
- The bus driver failed to adhere the standards of that duty.
- The failure directly resulted in injury to me.
- The injuries I sustained led to medical expenses, time off work, and/or property damage.
When you can prove all four of these elements to be true in your case, you can seek compensation from the responsible party.
If my vehicle was in a wreck with a bus, what do I do?
As a driver involved in an accident with a bus, you will take the same steps as you do in any other accident with multiple vehicles. Get to a safe place immediately if you smell gasoline or smoke. Then call 911 for help. Don’t admit any fault when the police question you. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident.
Is a trip to the emergency room necessary?
Even if you don’t feel pain after a bus accident, it’s important to visit the emergency room or see a doctor immediately afterward. Many injuries don’t show up until days or even weeks after an accident. Conditions like whiplash or concussions may not manifest right away but could require months of expensive medical treatment.
Your medical report after a bus accident is a key piece of evidence in your personal injury case. You should not be forced to foot the bill for your medical expenses if someone else is at fault. Your attorney will help secure compensation for your medical bills and the time you lost at work, in addition to any pain and suffering you may have experienced.
If the bus driver hit my vehicle and claims full responsibility, do I still need an attorney?
Yes, you still need to speak with an attorney even if a bus driver claims responsibility for the accident. It’s very common for drivers to say one thing at the scene of the accident, then completely change their story in court. You can’t trust the bus driver to follow through on their initial claims.
However, you can trust a qualified attorney to fight on your behalf. Our firm has experience in securing compensation from other bus accident victims like you. We will work hard to get the coverage you deserve for your injuries.
Which parties are responsible in a bus accident?
You may be surprised to learn that more than one party can be responsible for a bus accident. The driver, driver training school, bus manufacturer, parts manufacturer, and/or bus maintenance company may be at fault, depending on the circumstances. Your case could become complicated if more than one party is deemed responsible.
How can I get compensation for my injuries?
You can get help from an attorney after a bus accident. An attorney will examine the police report and your medical records to understand who is at fault for the accident. Then your attorney will determine which expenses of yours deserve compensation, such as medical bills, lost income, and ongoing losses. All these factors add up in your personal injury case.
To avoid paying for your own expenses that are due to someone else’s negligence, you will need legal assistance. An attorney can help you sort out the details of a complicated case, hold responsible parties accountable, and secure the compensation you deserve.
How can an attorney help me get compensation?
As soon as possible after a bus accident, you should consult with a skilled attorney to understand your rights. We will listen to your side of the story and begin gathering evidence to build your case. The sooner you contact us, the greater amount of evidence we will be able to acquire.
We will examine the police report and your medical records to understand who is at fault for the accident. Then we will determine which expenses of yours deserve compensation, such as medical bills, lost income, and ongoing losses. All these factors add up in your personal injury case.
Your first consultation with our team of legal experts is free. Don’t hesitate to contact us so we can begin building a strong case for you. With an experienced personal injury attorney, you can receive the compensation you deserve after a bus accident.