Bus Accidents: What to Do Next

Bus Accident Lawyer

It is hard to imagine getting on the bus, headed for work like any normal day when, out of the blue, you are hurt. Maybe your bus driver fell asleep momentarily and the bus was in an accident. Maybe another driver ran a red light and plowed into the side of your bus. Maybe the bus you were riding was poorly maintained and you tripped on a dangerous piece of flooring and fell. Maybe you were hurt falling from a broken seat. Regardless of how it happened, it was unexpected, painful, and the last thing you needed to happen to you. So, what’s next?

  • Seek appropriate medical care. If you are injured, make sure to seek all necessary medical care as soon as you can. It is important for your health and for your long-term recovery to address any medical issues right away.
  • Preserve your evidence. Although it can be hard to focus on a potential legal claim when you are in the middle of seeking medical treatment and recovering from your injury, it is important to do what you can to preserve all of the information about your accident. This includes getting the names of witnesses to the accident such as the bus driver, the responding police officers, fellow passengers, or EMT personnel. You should also take care to preserve all medical records, including pharmacy records, you have related to your injury. Consider taking pictures of your injury and the scene.
  • Talk with insurance companies carefully. If you are contacted by an insurance company for the bus driver, the driver of another vehicle, or for the company or municipality that owns the bus, remember — they are not on your side. The insurance company will do anything they can to make your claims seem illegitimate. Do not agree to any settlement, and do not sign any documents without consulting with your attorney.
  • Call an attorney. Perhaps the most important step, after seeking appropriate medical care, is to call a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney who will be able to analyze your case and help you determine whether you should file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your injury. If you decide to pursue a lawsuit, the right personal injury attorney will look at the facts of your case and guide you through the necessary steps to file and pursue your claim.
  • Take the time you need to heal. After you hire a personal injury attorney to represent you in your case, and to shoulder the burden of pursuing your claim, make sure that you take the time you need to heal from your injury, take care of your family, and do what you need to get your life back on track.

Remember, whether to file a personal injury claim after being injured in a bus accident is a question that only you can answer in consultation with your attorney. Personal injury lawsuits are time consuming and can be emotionally draining. Stay positive, try to take care of yourself, and let your bus accident lawyer handle the rest.

Source: bus accident lawyer Hillcrest Heights, MD, Cohen Lawyers.