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If you or someone you care about has been in an accident while riding a Metra Transit System bus, a charter bus or a school bus in Columbus, you may wonder who should be held accountable. It’s frustrating to be injured as an innocent passenger and then get different answers and a lot of red tape when you try to get help paying for your medical bills and the time you have missed from work. But you are entitled to 100 percent of your costs, and a Columbus bus accident lawyer can help you get paid.
John Foy & Associates is one of the biggest and best-known injury law firms in the state. Helping injured people recover money is the only thing we do, and over the years we’ve proven that we follow through and get results. We’d like to give you a free consultation, with no obligation, to talk about your bus accident and answer whatever questions you may have. Let us give you a free consultation. Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.
What kinds of accidents do buses get into?
Buses make travel more efficient by ferrying dozens of people to destinations throughout the City of Columbus, or to events or destinations elsewhere in Georgia and around the country. Buses are far larger than passenger cars, and this means two things in an accident. First, buses are capable of causing major damage to other vehicles. Second, because they carry so many people, bus accidents often cause far more injuries than ordinary car accidents.
Buses have accidents for many reasons, but some of common ones include:
- Tipping over. The height of a bus makes it prone to tipping over due to a maneuvering error, taking a curve too fast, high winds, or other factors.
- Distracted driving. The large number of passengers create additional distractions for bus drivers.
- Unqualified drivers. Bus companies are supposed to screen their drivers before hiring them, and to make sure they have the training they need to do their jobs well. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen, and the consequences can be disastrous.
- Pedestrian accidents. School and transit buses frequently encounter pedestrians as they board and leave the bus or cross the street. An inattentive driver or a pedestrian who darts in front of a bus can easily cause an accident.
- Maintenance issues. Buses should be inspected and undergo regular maintenance. When this doesn’t happen, buses can have accidents caused by such things as malfunctioning tires or brakes or a missing mirror.
- Drivers who violate traffic laws. Both the bus driver and other motorists on the road are expected to follow traffic laws, including staying within the speed limit and maintaining a safe following distance.
What can I recover money for after a bus accident?
Bus accidents often cause more serious injuries than a similar accident involving a car. This is because cars are equipped with many of the latest advances in safety equipment, while buses are not. Buses don’t have air bags and many don’t have seat belts. Even if a bus has seat belts, passengers frequently don’t wear them. Passengers’ belongings are usually kept on laps or in overhead or freestanding racks, meaning they can get flung around and strike passengers in a collision.
No matter how serious your injuries from a bus accident are, you can recover 100 percent of your costs from whoever was at fault – the driver, the bus company, the driver of another vehicle, or someone other person or entity. This means that in the aftermath of a bus accident, injured people can usually receive:
- The cost of their medical treatment, including emergency medical care, follow up treatment, tests, surgery and ongoing physical therapy.
- The cost of prescriptions.
- The cost of car repairs, if you were driving a car that was involved in a bus accident
- A paycheck to replace the money you lost if the accident caused you to miss work.
If your injuries are more serious, there may be additional financial help available. You may be eligible for “pain and suffering” damages that can far exceed the total of your financial losses. For many victims of bus accidents, the money they received has given them hope and allowed them to see a way forward after a devastating loss.
Do I need a lawyer for a bus accident claim?
A lawyer is never required for an accident claim, but we think you should always at least talk to a lawyer before you decide what to do. If you have been in a bus accident, this may be the first time you have had to make an insurance claim. Or you may be overwhelmed by your injuries and the shock of the event and feel that you don’t have the time and energy to fight with an insurance company.
Both of these put you at a serious disadvantage, because insurance companies are eager to settle your claim on the cheap. They will make you a low offer, and they can be very persuasive. If you don’t know how to spot their tricks, or if you are feeling low on stamina, you may end up taking their offer and giving up your right to money that should legally be yours. We’ve talked to many people who thought they were getting a great deal until they found out how much their treatment was really going to cost. By then, it was too late.
A lawyer takes the annoyance of dealing with the insurance company off your plate. We can sort out the complex question of who is liable. We know how to drive a hard bargain at the negotiating table or pursue your case in the local courts. A lawyer lets you relax, confident that you’ve got someone on your side who knows how to get you the best financial recovery possible.
Talk to a Columbus Bus Accident Lawyer
At John Foy & Associates, we have 20-plus years of experience recovering money for people who have been injured in accidents. We’d like to put our “Strong Arm” to work for you, and we’ll only charge you for our services if we win money for you. Let us give you a free consultation. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
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