Although we may feel safe riding on a bus that is being driven by a professional, the reality is that bus accidents do happen and can be serious. And because buses don’t have seat belts or air bags, serious injuries are even more likely to occur than they would in cars.
In this blog post, you’ll learn exactly what steps you need to take if you’ve sustained injuries in a bus accident. Before you read on, it’s important to know that many of these steps must happen quickly and should be done before you leave the scene of the accident if possible.
1. Seek Medical Attention
Your top priority after a bus accident is to visit a medical professional to get the attention you need. Normally, the staff on the bus will make the first call for assistance, but this isn’t always possible. If the bus driver is badly injured, for example, you may need to call 911 on your own. Make sure to call right away rather than waiting for your injuries to materialize later. Some injuries may not be immediately evident or may only be noticed by a doctor.
When you visit a doctor, ask that you be tested for back, head and spinal injuries, since these types of injuries may not become evident until weeks later. The bus company will usually pay for your initial doctor visit, even if you do not sue them.
2. Report the Accident to Law Enforcement
Any time a bus accident that results in injuries occurs, law enforcement must be promptly notified. If you notify law enforcement, you’ll ensure that a police report is created. If you decide to file a lawsuit later, the police report will be an invaluable source of information about the details of the accident.
3. Document the Accident at the Scene
If you are well enough to do so, write down all names, phone numbers, addresses, and e-mail addresses of the other bus passengers and witnesses to the accident. Make getting the witness information your top priority, since the bus company may be able to provide you with contact information for the other passengers, but not for witnesses.
Finally, take photographs from a variety of angles, focusing on the most important parts of the scene. When law enforcement arrives, get the officer’s name and business card in case you need to contact them.
4. Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been involved in a bus accident, contact a personal injury lawyer who has experience in these specific types of accidents right away. Even if you don’t follow through with your case, these consultations are usually free and can help you better understand your rights. More than likely, however, you’ll need to work with a lawyer due to the complexities of bus accident cases. Because of the number of victims and responsible parties, filing a claim can be overwhelming and an expert can help ensure that you get the compensation you are entitled to.
A lawyer will also help you navigate any specific laws or requirements that are related to unique bus company insurance policies. Although these policies are typically comprehensive enough to cover all passengers, you’ll need a lawyer to ensure that you get maximum compensation.
Different provinces and insurance companies also have different types of coverage, with some covering individual passengers and others covering all passengers’ compensation with one pool of money. If all passengers’ injuries are serious, your compensation could unfortunately amount to less than the damages you would normally be eligible for. In this kind of circumstances, it may be possible to ascertain other sources of appropriate compensation, but you will probably need the expertise of a lawyer.
We hope this blog post helps to relieve some of the stress caused by a bus accident injury by educating you on the steps you should take to protect yourself.
If you’ve been injured in a bus accident and need legal advice, book a free consultation with an accident lawyer today and learn more about your rights.
