Dawsonville Bus Accident Lawyer

The aftermath of a Dawsonville bus accident can be chaotic. You may have suffered debilitating injuries and considerable damages as a result of someone else’s negligence. 

Get help holding the culpable party accountable. Reach out to an experienced Dawsonville bus accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates for a free consultation and learn more about what you can expect from the bus accident claims process.

What to Do After a Bus Accident

Immediately after a bus accident, the majority of victims are unsure of what their next step should be. Unfortunately, these initial steps could make all the difference in the outcome of your case. With that in mind, here are some of the most important steps you want to take following a bus accident in Dawsonville:

Contact Emergency Responders

The most important thing to do immediately after your bus accident is contact 911. When you call 911, they will send police and an ambulance to the accident scene. 

Even if you initially believe your injuries may be considered minor, having emergency responders arrive at the accident scene can only benefit your case and ensure you have not suffered invisible injuries. For example, police officers will file a crash report that will document how the accident occurred and who is responsible for the accident. This will be essential as you attempt to recover compensation from the at-fault party.

Document the Bus Accident Scene

While you are waiting for emergency responders to arrive at the scene of the accident, if you are physically able, you should begin to document the bus accident scene. 

This does not only include taking photos of the crash, but you might also want to take photos of any property damages, damage to all involved vehicles, your injuries, and the injuries of other involved parties. Other types of evidence that you may be able to obtain while you wait for emergency responders to arrive include:

• The contact information of any witnesses
• The contact and insurance information of the parties involved in the bus accident
• The addresses of homes or businesses that may have caught your bus accident on video
• CCTV or dash cam footage of the accident

Obtain a Medical Evaluation for Your Bus Accident Injuries

Once emergency responders arrive at the scene of the bus accident, your next step is to secure a medical evaluation. It is more common than you might think for injury victims to believe their injuries are less severe than they are. However, if your injuries are left untreated, you could suffer far more debilitating injuries or even death, based on the individual details of your case.

Furthermore, if you do not obtain a medical evaluation immediately after the accident, you can expect the defense to attempt to capitalize on this in their attempt to reduce their financial liability. The defense will likely argue that your injuries were not caused by the bus accident, but were instead caused in another way.

Obtaining a medical evaluation and getting the health records you need to support your case will prove to be valuable evidence in your insurance and civil claims against the liable party.

Contact a Bus Accident Attorney in Dawsonville for Help

After your healthcare providers have declared you stable, your next step should be to call a Dawsonville personal injury lawyer for help. The sooner you get an attorney on your case, the more likely it is we can gather the powerful evidence we need to establish fault and prove culpability in your case. 

If you are not sure whether you have grounds for a claim, consider whether someone else could be responsible for your damages. If another party’s negligence caused your injuries, that individual or entity could be compelled to compensate you for your suffering.

Proving Fault for a Bus Accident in Dawsonville

Proving fault is essential in any personal injury claim. In a bus accident lawsuit, there are many types of evidence that could be used to support your case. This is critical because the burden of proof in civil lawsuits is based on a preponderance of the evidence. 

This means your personal injury attorney must present evidence that leaves little doubt in the mind of the judge and jury that the defendant is the cause of your injuries. With that in mind, a Dawsonville bus accident attorney will also be responsible for proving that the elements of negligence have been met. They are as follows:

• The bus accident defendant must have owed the injury victim a duty of care.
• The defendant must have made a decision or failed to make a decision that breached the duty of care they owed to the injury victim.
• The defendant’s actions or inactions must have been the cause of the injury victim’s bus accident damages.
• The injury victim must have suffered damages financially, emotionally, psychologically, or physically.

Georgia Bus Accident Laws You Need to Know

There are multiple bus accident laws in Georgia that could have an impact on your ability to get the most out of your claim. Here are three of the most important:

Shared Fault

Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence system. Here, you can still share fault for causing your accident and recover compensation for your damages. However, your portion of liability cannot exceed 49%. 

Expect your injury settlement to reflect a shared fault deduction. This will ensure you are held accountable for your portion of liability. For instance, if you were found 5% liable for your bus accident injuries, your injury settlement would be reduced by 5%.

Statute of Limitations 

The statute of limitations for bus accident and personal injury claims in the state of Georgia is only two years under Georgia Code §9-3-33. Failure to file your bus accident claim before this deadline will result in the dismissal of your case.

Reach Out to a Bus Accident Lawyer in Dawsonville for Help Today

Bus accident insurance and civil claims can be complex since there are so many parties who could share liability for your injuries. Get help recovering maximum compensation for your damages. Contact a dedicated Dawsonville bus accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates today. 

Our firm proudly offers no-cost, risk-free consultations to bus accident victims across Dawsonville and nearby cities. Take advantage of this opportunity when you complete our quick contact form or our office.