When a crash involves a public bus, school bus, or privately owned bus, passengers or occupants of other vehicles can suffer life-altering injuries. Knowing what to do after a bus accident can ensure you get the medical attention and care you need, protect your legal rights, and safeguard your ability to seek compensation.
Working with a Boca Raton bus accident lawyer will help you navigate the claims process, but you need to know what to do in the first hours, days, and weeks after the crash to ensure you get justice.
Prioritize Your Safety and Getting Medical Care
Your first priority should be your safety and health. Call 911 immediately if you can or ask someone else to do so. If you have any pain or obvious injuries, you want an assessment from a trained medical professional as soon as possible.
Bus accidents often result in soft tissue injuries, concussions, internal bleeding, and other injuries that could have delayed symptoms. Emergency responders will assess your condition at the accident scene and transport you to the hospital if necessary. If not, you should still follow up with a doctor.
In some states, you may have a limited time to see a doctor and still receive money from your insurance carrier. For example, Florida law gives you only 14 days to receive medical treatment if you want to use your personal injury protection (PIP) policy to pay your medical expenses.
Report the Accident and Cooperate With Investigators
If you are a bus passenger, the bus driver will most likely contact the authorities to report the crash. If you were in another vehicle, you should call 911 to report the crash yourself. In either event, you want to ensure your name is included in the police report as a victim of the crash.
When an officer interviews you about the crash, provide only clear, factual statements. You should try to remain unemotional and not speculate on what happened.
You do not have to speak to insurance providers about the crash, and you should tell them you want to speak to an attorney before giving a recorded statement.
Gather Evidence and Document Your Damages
If your injuries allow, collect as much evidence as possible at the scene. This could include:
- Taking photographs of the scene, the bus, and damage to other vehicles
- Documenting your injuries in photos or video
- Collecting contact information for witnesses and other passengers
- Writing down the bus company name, route number, and license plate
- Recording your account of what happened as soon as possible
You should also save any medical records, related bills, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses. This documentation will serve as evidence for your recoverable damages.
Identify the Parties Involved and Who Might Be Liable
Bus accident claims are complex. Multiple parties could be legally responsible, and if a municipality was involved, there could be additional notice requirements and other special rules that apply. Depending on the facts of the case, the liable parties could include:
- The bus driver, if they were negligent
- The bus company
- The owner of a privately owned bus
- A municipality or government agency, if it owns the bus
- A third-party driver, if another vehicle caused or contributed to the crash
- Maintenance contractors
In many cases, the liable parties in bus accident cases are public transit systems or school districts. When a public entity is liable for a crash, there are special notice requirements and tight deadlines. It is imperative to act quickly in these cases.
Notify Your Insurance Company About the Accident
If your vehicle was involved in the crash, you must notify your insurance company as soon as possible. If you are in a no-fault state, you should call even if you were a passenger on the bus or hit by a bus as a pedestrian or cyclist. Your own auto insurance provider might cover the costs even if you weren’t driving. Your personal injury protection (PIP) policy could pay for your medical care and lost wages.
Talk to a Bus Accident Attorney About Your Options
As soon as possible after your bus accident injuries, talk to a personal injury attorney who handles bus accident cases near you. These cases are complex because they often involve government agencies, multiple liable parties, and serious injuries.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, the firm can:
- estigate who is liable
- Gather and preserve evidence
- Handle communications with insurers
- Deal with the related transportation authorities
- File the necessary claims or notices within the applicable deadlines
- Identify your damages, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering
- Build a case to pursue damages
- Negotiate a settlement and/or file a lawsuit
Each state sets its own deadline for filing a lawsuit. Even in cases when early notice requirements apply, there are statutes of limitations that determine when you can sue. For example, Massachusetts has a three-year deadline under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260 § 2A and Florida has a two-year deadline per Florida Statutes § 95.11.
If your loved one died in a bus accident, a wrongful death lawyer can help you manage the claim and seek compensation based on your state’s laws.
Avoid Common Mistakes Victims Make in Bus Accident Claims
You should be careful to safeguard your rights throughout this process. Some common mistakes you should avoid include:
- Do not delay medical care if you have injuries
- Do not talk to insurance adjusters about your case without an attorney.
- Do not accept a quick settlement, even if it seems like a large payout
- Do not post about your accident on social media
- Do not wait too long to speak to an attorney about your case because deadlines are often short in these cases
Speak to Our Team About Your Bus Accident Injuries
GED Lawyers serves clients in Massachusetts and Florida. If you were hurt in a bus accident, we can help. We provide free consultations. We have recovered more than $100 million for our clients.
Contact us today to learn how our bus accident lawyers can help you.
