Bus accidents can be frightening and traumatic regardless of how bad your injuries may or may not be. If you have been in a bus accident, it is important that you understand what to do after the accident as well as how to handle negotiations with the bus company. A bus accident attorney can help you seek compensation from the negligent party for your injuries and damages if they were caused by the negligence of another person or a company or product.
Unfortunately, bus accidents are not as easy to handle as your typical car accident or motorcycle accident. In a bus accident, you will have to deal with the company that owned and operated the bus as well as any other corporations associated with the bus line. There may even be issues if the driver of the bus is employed by a different company than its owner. You should actively seek out advice from an experienced personal injury attorney who understands what to do after a bus accident if you do not know where to start looking for help.
Some common injuries suffered in a bus crash include whiplash, cervical strain, contusions, internal bleeding, broken bones and lacerations caused by sharp glass or metal shards. If your injuries were caused by the bus company’s negligence, you can file a personal injury claim in order to seek compensation for the damages. A number of factors will come into play when determining how much your personal injury settlement will be. They include:
- How long it takes you to recover
- The severity of your injuries
- Your medical bills thus far and any future expenses related to them
- Loss of income during treatment
- Damage done to your property if any (i.e., clothing or other personal items that cannot be replaced).
If someone else was at fault for causing the accident, then they are responsible for compensating you for all of your damages, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. This is called a personal injury claim, and the company or person you are taking to court is known as the defendant. In addition to filing a personal injury claim, it is important that you know what the defendant may offer you in terms of settlement options after a bus accident before going through with legal proceedings.
If your injuries are severe and caused by another party’s negligence, they may opt for something known as an official settlement offer (or some variation thereof). This type of offer is usually made in writing through certified mail so that both parties can keep track of everything that was agreed upon as well as each concession made throughout negotiations. In order to make sure that both parties agree on all the terms before it is final, this settlement offer should be reviewed by your bus accident injury lawyer to ensure that it covers all of your damages.
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a bus accident, there is no worse feeling than not receiving the compensation that your injuries demand. In Austin, Texas alone we have seen claimants receive tens of thousands less than they deserve after being denied by their own insurance company! You need legal representation from an Austin bus accident injury lawyer to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, get a FREE CASE EVALUATION now!
As an aside, you might only have a limited amount of time after the accident in which to file a personal injury claim or to accept an official settlement offer, so you should discuss the matter with your bus accident attorney as soon as possible. Keep in mind that if you file too late or fail to respond within the allotted time period for whatever reason, then you could lose some of your legal rights.
Don’t wait until it’s too late—you deserve to be taken care of when a serious injury from a bus accident interrupts your life. Contact the experienced bus accident injury lawyers at Roark, Hull & Wortham today for a free case review.
