Bus accidents often cause major if not catastrophic or fatal injuries for those who are involved. Numerous buses operating even today lack seatbelts and other types of restraints, and as a result passengers tend to suffer significant injuries, especially when they get thrown around inside the bus or because they get ejected from the bus and onto the roadway. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York bus accident, it is important that you understand your legal rights and options.
Here are four things you need to know about bus accidents and the actions that you need to take in the aftermath of such a traumatic event.
1. Determine precisely what caused your injuries can be tricky.
Liability in a bus accident case will typically depend on who or what caused the accident. While this can sometimes be challenging, an experienced New York bus accident lawyer will have a number of ways to determine these facts. For example, the police report or a report produced by an investigating agency such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) may hold the key to determining fault. Statements from the bus driver, witnesses, records such as driver logs, vehicle maintenance records, etc., may also provide evidence into who or what may have caused the accident.
2. Getting prompt medical attention is important.
This is of course applicable and necessary for any type of traffic accident. If you have been involved in an accident, it would be in your best interest to see a doctor right away, even if you believe that you may not have suffered serious injuries. A number of injuries may not surface soon after the bus accident. In fact, it may take days or weeks for symptoms to manifest. For example, if you have suffered a hairline bone crack as a result of the accident, the pain may not become worse until several days after the accident.
It is best to consult your doctor as soon as possible. Do not decline treatment at the scene. If you feel like you need to go to the emergency room, please do so. Once you see the doctor, make sure you follow his or her instructions in terms of treatment and care. This helps create documentation for the types of injuries you suffered and the treatment you received.
3. You may be able to receive compensation for your damages.
If you have been injured in the bus accident, you may be able to receive compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. If you have lost a loved one in a bus accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages as well.
4. A number of parties may be held liable for bus accidents.
Often, it is not just the bus driver who can be held accountable. For example, if the bus driver caused the crash because he or she was falling asleep at the wheel, his or her employer can also be held accountable. If poor vehicle maintenance caused the crash, the bus company and any other entity that was charged with maintaining the bus can also be held responsible. If a vehicle defect or a defective part led to the crash, the manufacturer of that component can be held accountable. An experienced New York bus accident lawyer will be able to analyze all facts of the case and determine fault and liability in such cases. If the bus driver was driving negligently (carelessly), his or her employer and the bus owner can be held liable.
Contact an Experienced Bus Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a reckless driver or due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com