When you ride a bus, you put your safety into the hands of a driver who, most of the time, is a total stranger. Not only that, but most buses lack standard safety features, such as seatbelts and airbags.
A bus’s size and sturdiness give it the appearance of being safe. However, bus accidents do happen, and they often involve serious injuries. The sheer number of people crammed onto many buses can make the injury situation worse. It can also make it difficult to sort out liability and pay damages to victims of the crash.
If you were a passenger in a bus accident, you can file a personal injury claim to recover compensation. The South Florida attorneys at the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine can help you understand your legal options.
We focus on personal injury law. We have helped many bus accident victims recover compensation for their injuries. We can put our knowledge and resources to work in your case and help you get the money you deserve. Call us today at 800-747-3733 for a free consultation.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim After a Bus Crash?
Yes, you can file a personal injury claim if you suffered injuries in a bus crash. In fact, there are very few situations in which you cannot seek damages through a claim.
With quality legal representation, you stand a higher chance of winning compensation after a bus crash. Under state law, bus operators must carry much more comprehensive insurance than drivers of standard automobiles. This insurance covers not only the driver and the bus itself, but all the passengers on the bus.
That means we can generally seek higher damages after a bus crash. That is good news for crash victims, who generally suffer worse injuries due to the vehicle’s size and lack of safety equipment.
That said, there are a lot of nuances to how bus insurance policies pay for damages in a crash. Some policies cover each individual passenger up to a certain limit. Others allocate a pool of money to all passengers involved, and each passenger must file a claim against this pool. This setup can make it more difficult for passengers with severe injuries, such as spinal cord injuries or head trauma, to get their fair share of compensation, as the pool might not have enough money to cover all their damages.
For these reasons, it is a good idea to contact our office as early as possible in the process. A Fort Lauderdale bus accident lawyer can examine the bus company’s insurance policy, determine what limits and conditions apply, and figure out a way to work the policy’s terms to your benefit. If you need to recover economic and non-economic damages and move on with your life after the incident, our attorneys can help you initiate and finish the legal process successfully, so you get the compensation you deserve.
For a free legal consultation 800-747-3733
What Should I Do After a Bus Accident?
The first thing you should do after any auto accident is to seek immediate medical attention. If you are reading this days or even weeks after your accident and you have not yet seen a doctor, schedule an appointment right away.
You should do this even if you feel fine and do not appear injured. You might have internal injuries that are not visible. Such injuries need treatment as quickly as possible. Also, the sooner after the crash your doctor diagnoses them, the easier it is to connect your injuries to the accident when we pursue compensation.
After a bus crash, it is also important to write down as much information as you remember from the event while it is fresh in your memory. If you spoke to any witnesses at the scene, document what they said and note any names or other contact information you collected. We can use this information to bolster your personal injury claim.
Lastly, it is crucial to keep up with any medical care your doctor recommends. Failure to do so gives the at-fault party leeway to claim your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Bus Crash?
Depending on the circumstances of the crash, you could be eligible for several types of damages.
Medical Bills
We can pursue the bus company and any other responsible party for your current and expected future medical costs. This includes hospital bills, doctor visits, medication, physical therapy, and more.
Lost Wages
If you have to miss work due to your injuries, the responsible party is liable for the money you are unable to earn during this time. The same is true if your injuries from the bus crash reduce your capacity to make a living in the future.
Pain and Suffering
You might be eligible to recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, after a bus crash. We can help you win the largest possible award.
How Can I Talk to a Lawyer About My Bus Crash Claim—For Free?
If you suffered injuries in a bus crash, the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine is here to help. Let us put our extensive resources to work for you. To schedule your free consultation, call 800-747-3733.
