An overview
Getting into an accident can be noxious, but keeping yourself calm helps overcome such situations easily and assists you in getting into the senses. Call 911 for immediate help and medical assistance, as this is the fastest and quickest way to get assistance on time.
For minor injuries, you can visit a nearby medical clinic for first aid. If you are injured severely, you must seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 and have ambulatory services. After such crashes, it is difficult to get back on track with assurance concerning compensation and well-being.
Here, we will assess what information you need after a bus accident.
Parties at fault- The liability of the party depends on diverse factors. A bus accident can involve multiple parties based on the incidents.
Bus driver—If a bus driver violates the traffic rules and laws due to negligent behavior, he or she will be held liable. As per the “Principle of vicarious liability,” the driver’s employer is also liable for the employee’s on-the-job negligence.
Bus company- if a bus driver is forced to work or to make irrelevant decisions and fails to handle the bus properly, the bus company is contemplated to be sued.
Maintenance company- Failure of any vehicle or its tools due to improper services makes the maintenance company liable.
Bus manufacturer– Defective parts in the vehicle cause malfunctioning, leading to crashes.
What needs to be done after a bus accident?
Understanding what needs to be done after bus accidents is essential, as it will help you claim your compensation effectively. You might know whom to report your claim to, as you might be messed up with expenses related to your physical and mental trauma.
Ensure your safety first- the first and foremost thing that needs to be done is to ensure your safety and others who are injured. They should be moved to a safe location without any traffic and hazards. Moreover, a passenger must listen to the bus driver’s instructions and help others while remaining calm and cooperating.
Cooperate with authorities—When police or emergency responders arrive, you should provide accurate information that could help assess the accident. Cooperation is an initial step that helps maintain the safety of people injured in accidents. It assists in thoroughly investigating the matter and providing the required medication to people forced into tragedy.
Seek medical attention– Prioritizing yourself and your health is crucial, so you should seek medication attention. Sometimes, injuries are not visible, or minor injuries have appeared; you should visit a doctor and get help on an urgent basis. This is pivotal as not all the injuries and their symptoms must be visible, but their consequences can be severe. Thus, seeking medication attention immediately after the accident helps diagnose and treat rightfully. It is also required as a record of legal documentation submitted to the jury for compensation.
Gather information- Gathering and collecting information and evidence is especially important in cases of suspected negligence. For the accountability of another party, evidence acts as proof of filing a case in a lawsuit. If you are in a subtle situation, try to take photos and videos of the incident to be used for legal evidence. Moreover, take the information from the driver and try to talk to people who witnessed the accidents. After gathering evidence, preservation of such evidence is important, and for this, it should be submitted to the police so that it can be kept as a record.
Preserve evidence—Preserving documents and records is essential for lawsuits. Evidence, such as medical records, repair bills, police reports, and communication details with the insurance company, should be reserved to help prove the claim legally. A tech-savvy person needs to be hired to secure the evidence in both physical and digital forms.
Call for an attorney– Having the hand of a qualified attorney gives you desirable compensation for the loss you suffered. Seeking advice from an experienced professional protects your legal rights, verifies evidence, and represents you in front of the judiciary. An experienced lawyer knows how to find a solution to almost every case, so it is better to have the assistance of an attorney with expertise in bus accident cases.
Time limits for filing a case
Every claim or filing of a case has time limits in California. You should be peculiar about your case and file it within statute limitations to recover your damages within the correct time frame.
If you are claiming against the government in California, you must file it within six months in case of personal injury, wrongful death, or damage to personal property. An exception for late claims is permitted within statute limitation if he is a minor, the death of a claimant, or a person with a mental or physical disability.
The government has the time of 45 days to respond to your filed cases. It can accept, reject, or offer for compromise or negotiation in the settlement.
Moreover, if your claim requires proper information or relevant evidence, you have enough time to amend the requested changes.
If the government agency does not respond to your claim requests, your claim has been rejected.
If your claim was rejected, you have six months to petition the court to file a lawsuit. If the rejection is because the government agency failed to respond, you may file a petition within 2 years. If the court accepts your petition, you have 30 days to file a lawsuit.
A bus accident attorney in California
An experienced attorney can tackle all the possibilities and impossibilities of your case. In case of dilemmatic situation or suffering from loss, hire an experienced attorney and let him manage all your paperwork. Different parties’ involvement has their insurance companies handle cases, so have a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer at Sunset West Legal Group and solve your issue.
Our experienced personal injury lawyer will help you get your compensation and provide you justice. Have a free consultation with us and have your desired compensation.