Bus accident injuries are far more common than you might think. Unfortunately, victims can suffer catastrophic and life-threatening injuries when involved in bus accidents. If you suffered serious injuries in a bus accident in Decatur, you may be wondering what your next steps should be.
With help from a reputable Decatur personal injury lawyer at John Foy & Associates, you can focus on recovering from your injuries while we take on the legal details of your case. Do not forget to contact our office to schedule your free consultation today.
Steps to Take After a Bus Accident in Decatur
After you have been involved in a Decatur bus accident, you may be unsure of what to do next. However, the initial steps you take after your bus accident could have a significant impact on your ability to recover maximum compensation. Here are some of the first things you should do following your bus accident in Decatur:
- Remain in your vehicle or on the bus unless it is safe to exit
- Try to remain calm
- Call 911 and request emergency responders at the scene of the accident
- Document the accident scene by taking photos and videos, obtaining contact information of involved parties and witnesses, and otherwise gathering evidence
- Obtain a medical evaluation from healthcare providers immediately after the accident
- Contact a bus accident lawyer for help
In the aftermath of the accident, you will likely be approached by insurance companies and need to file insurance claims if you hope to recover compensation for your damages. However, you should never give a statement to the insurance company without first discussing it with your lawyer.
Insurance companies are advantageous and will do everything in their power to reduce their profit loss. If they can get you to admit fault for causing the accident, they may be able to get away with reducing your injury settlement or denying your claim altogether.
Who Is Liable for Causing Your Decatur Bus Accident?
Your bus accident lawyer in Decatur will have many responsibilities following your collision. However, none is more important than establishing liability. This is because establishing fault is essential to proving negligence which will help you win your case. For the majority of us accident claims, there are several parties to who your bus accident attorney in Decatur will look for liability, which can include:
- Municipalities
- The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
- Negligent bus operators
- Bus safety inspectors
- Bus maintenance technicians
- The bus company
- The owner of the bus
- Bus dealerships
- Auto parts designers and producers
- Other third parties
Do not be surprised if multiple parties are found liable for your bus accident injuries. For example, under vicarious liability laws, the bus company may be held accountable for the actions of its employees. This means if the bus driver or another employee working for the bus company is found liable for causing the accident, their employer can also be held accountable as well.
The same applies to government agencies including the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and private companies like Greyhound. These companies have an obligation to properly train their drivers and ensure that the buses are in safe operation and maintenance. When their staff fails to maintain the safety of the bus or operates the bus in an unsafe or negligent manner, these companies can be held accountable for victims’ injuries as well.
Evidence to Support Culpability for Bus Accidents in Decatur
Since proven culpability is so important to the outcome of your Decatur bus accident claim, gathering supporting evidence will be critical. With that in mind, there are some types of evidence that can be used to support bus accident civil and insurance claims more frequently than others, these include:
- Reports by accident reconstructionists
- Analyzation of “black box” data
- Witness statements and expert testimony
- Photos and videos of your injuries and the accident scene
- Medical documentation
- Forensic evidence including blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results
- Cell phone records
- Safety inspection reports
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What Is Your Decatur Bus Accident Claim Worth?
The value of bus accident insurance and civil claims can vary widely depending on many different types of factors including:
- The type of bus accident
- The type of injury you sustained
- The severity of the injury
- Your expected prognosis
However, if someone else is at fault for your injuries, you should be compensated for every single one. Some of the more common types of damages you could recover in your Decatur bus accident claim include:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished earning capacity
- Skin scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of household services
Common Bus Accident Injuries to Sue for in Decatur
Bus riders, passengers, and others involved in bus accidents have suffered devastating injuries. When traveling on the Decatur streets in or near a bus or MARTA, the likelihood of suffering an injury may be increased. Some of the more common types of injuries seen in bus accidents across Decatur include:
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Disfigurement
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Broken and fractured bones
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Although the type of injury you sustain will not necessarily determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to, the severity of your injuries and the ways they have impacted your life will. Your lawyer will need to go over your injuries in detail and how your life has been affected by the bus accident and your injuries to accurately calculate the value of your Decatur bus accident claim.
Meet with a Decatur Bus Accident Attorney Today
The process for recovering maximum compensation after a bus accident may be overwhelming, but when you have a team of legal advocates on your side, you can rest easier knowing we are fighting for your rights.
Find out how much your claim could be worth when you contact an experienced Decatur bus accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates. Fill out our online contact form or call our office to schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation today.
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