Busses are considerably larger than normal cars, and that means that bus accidents are considerably larger than car accidents. Even when non-fatal, a collision from a bus can cause considerable damage to your vehicle, not to mention immeasurable pain and suffering.
If you have been in a bus accident and you’re not at fault, the bus company and its insurance provider should be held responsible for your damages and injuries. And as with any accident case, the insurance company will very likely attempt to undercompensate you.
To cut through the endless red tape of the insurance industry and get the compensation you deserve, you’ll need an aggressive and experienced bus accident lawyer. In Los Angeles, there’s no shortage—but whomever you choose to represent you and your case, you’ll still be able to help your attorney help you.
- Research the time limit for beginning a bus accident lawsuit or filing personal injury claims in your state. Statutes of limitations define the period you have to file a case and they vary in each state. In California, the deadline for personal injury claims from normal auto accidents is two-years after the date of the accident; after that, your claim cannot be brought to court.Please note, too, that the statute of limitations with governmental entities is only six months in California—a considerably shorter time window. Governmental entities may include police departments, municipal garbage trucks, and, yes, public busses. If you’ve been in a bus accident, you’ll need to know whether the bus was a private charter or a government bus.
- Request copies of your medical records from each doctor and hospital that treated your injuries. Don’t forget to write to their accounts payable to request for copies of your medical bills. The more detailed records you can produce, the swifter your case will get resolved.
- Request copies of records of the scene from law enforcement agents that came to the accident scene. Ask for copies of the accident report as well as statements the law enforcement agent took at the scene.
- Gather copies of your pay stubs to show that you missed time from work as a result of injuries from the accident.
- Make copies of documents that prove damage to your vehicle, including insurance estimates, repair bills, and photographs if you have them.
- Make copies of receipts for additional expenses incurred because of the accident. For example, if you had to hire a babysitter to watch over your child while you went for medical appointments, gather documented proof of such expenses. Include all expenses incurred during the medical appointments, including parking fees, bus fare, and mileage.
Your bus accident lawyer will take all the necessary steps to get your suit filed, and will fight to ensure that the insurance company repay all the expenses you incurred because of the accident. But don’t rely squarely on your attorney—do your own due diligence and make sure your case gets settled with the maximum compensation you deserve!
About Author:
Power Legal Group is a Los Angeles personal injury law firm offering aggressive representation combined with personalized service. LA Personal Injury Lawyer Bobby Yaghoubian and his team are dedicated to serving all of the people of Southern California from all walks of life and pursuing maximum compensation in every case they take.