North Druid
Bus Accident Lawyer

Upon being injured in a bus accident, victims are often stressed and overwhelmed by the emotional, financial, and physical consequences of the accidents. Contacting a North Druid bus accident lawyer would help many of these people limit their stress and find solutions. If you have recently found yourself in this situation, a lawyer from John Foy & Associates can help you file a claim to recover compensation that will bring some peace of mind in your time of need. 

How to Respond to a Bus Accident

As with any serious accident, bus accident victims should always prioritize their health and physical condition. Before taking any other action, verify that you are not suffering any critical injuries. Then:

• Check on other victims who may have been seriously injured in the crash. 
• If someone is critically injured or in a perilous position, provide any assistance that seems reasonable, then call 911 to request support from paramedics and police. 
  • After accidents with no devastating injuries, you should still call 911 to have the police come and make a report. 
• Once the reporting process is done, take pictures of the scene and gather contact information from anyone who witnessed the accident. 

When these steps are done, go seek medical attention immediately. Waiting may give the defendants reason to believe that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. This could reduce the settlement you are offered, so avoid waiting unless doing so is truly necessary. 

The Bus Company May Offer You Money

It is not uncommon for bus companies to offer a small settlement to victims injured by their drivers in accidents. Because the driver that caused the accident is their employee, they can technically be held liable for the damages. Knowing this, they attempt to minimize losses by offering small upfront settlements. 

Even if you could really use the money, it is not a good idea to accept this settlement. Doing so will likely eliminate other opportunities to claim compensation for your damages. To understand the full value of your claim, you should consult with a North Druid bus accident attorney before accepting any insurance offer.

Consider the fact that insurance companies are designed to generate profit for their shareholders. With this in mind, it should seem obvious that they are only offering you a settlement upfront because they know that you could potentially seek greater compensation if you filed an actual claim through the civil justice system. Do not let them take advantage of you; instead, hire a John Foy & Associates bus accident lawyer in North Druid today. 

Bus Crashes vs Car Crashes

Car accidents are complicated, but bus crashes can be even more complex. There are sometimes multiple liable parties in these situations, so the person representing you in the case must be capable of identifying who shares what portion of the fault. Failing to do this properly could result in your claim being denied or only partially accepted. 

Another factor that makes both types of crashes different is the average severity of the accidents. Buses are usually incredibly large and heavy, so they stand to cause much greater damage than passenger vehicles. This means multiple plaintiffs could fight for compensation from the same parties as you. 

Although you are entitled to full compensation if the bus accident was not your fault, multiple claimants participating in the same case may make the defendant less willing to pay the full value of all claims. They may be harder to negotiate with because there are so many people coming after them.  Regardless of the circumstances, a bus accident attorney in North Druid can help you fight for full compensation. 

Evidence Used in Bus Accident Claims

To identify who is at fault in the bus accident that injured you, an experienced attorney will leverage as much evidence as is available. The types of evidence that are available vary from case to case, but they may have access to:

• Security camera footage from inside the bus
• Pictures taken at the accident scene
• Driving records for involved drivers
• Victims’ medical records
• Statements and testimonies from witnesses
• Expert testimonies

expert testimony relies on highly trained witnesses to provide professional context for an accident claim. They provide unique information using their expert perspectives. This can be the lynchpin in a claim. Your John Foy North Druid bus accident lawyer has the connections needed to integrate this evidence into your case. 

You Can Be Compensated for Your Losses

The civil justice system allows claimants to recover compensation for losses they incurred due to the negligence of another party. The losses in question are primarily bodily injury, though property damage costs can also be compensated. The legal system typically awards two primary sets of damages:

Economic Damages

Your economic damages are calculated as the sum of your total financial losses associated with an accident. You can claim compensation for future financial losses as well. 

Your lawyer may attempt to claim compensation for:

• Vehicle repair costs
• Property replacement costs
• Medical expenses, including prescription drugs, rehabilitative therapy, emergency room care, general medical care, and specialist care
• Wages lost
• Reduced ability to earn

Non-Economic Damages

Some losses are not easy to quantify using tangible means. These are called non-economic damages. They are normally calculated by assessing the level of injury a person suffered and the perceived impacts of those injuries. 

Examples include:

• Loss of life enjoyment
• Mental trauma
• Emotional anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium

Talk to a North Druid Bus Accident Lawyer Today

You can file a bus accident claim on your own, but before doing so, consult with a North Druid bus accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates. They will help you understand why having an attorney on your side is the best move in these cases. 

To get in touch with a lawyer you can trust, contact John Foy & Associates using our online contact form.