Thousands of people rely on buses for transportation to and from work, traveling over long distances, or to save on gas costs. When bus accidents happen, they can be incredibly destructive and dangerous. Buses are larger and heavier than ordinary motor vehicles, so anyone who is a passenger in a regular car is likely to be seriously injured if hit by a bus. Additionally, buses are full of passengers, so there is a real chance that a large number of people can be injured in a single bus accident. Victims of bus accidents often rack up enormous medical expenses because of their injuries from the accident.
Our lawyers can help if you are in a bus accident near Smyrna. We are experienced attorneys who are ready to fight for you through every step of the legal process. We will be with you from the start of your case through evidence collection all the way through trial and beyond if necessary.
Call our bus accident lawyers from Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case review.
What to Do After a Bus Accident in Smyrna, GA
Bus accidents are hectic and scary experiences. It can be hard to figure out the right things to do after either getting hit by a bus or when a bus you are in hits something else. It is a good idea to have a plan of what to do after a bus accident so that you are able to act on the fly. Moreover, doing some or all of these things after a bus accident can help our bus accident lawyers build a stronger case for you should you wish to file a bus accident lawsuit.
Get Medical Attention
The most important thing to do after a bus accident – before even considering a lawsuit – is to make sure you are safe and physically ok. When first responders arrive at the scene of the accident, let them attend to you and examine any injuries you might have. If you are cleared to stay near the accident and gather information, you should do so. However, if the medical professionals believe that you need further medical care right away, you should follow all of their instructions, even if that means leaving the site of the accident behind.
Collect Information
Your next step after being cleared by medical professionals is to get as much information as you can about the accident. Take numerous pictures and videos of your surroundings, including the condition of the roadways, the damage to both the bus and any other vehicles involved, and an image of the license plates of any vehicles involved in the accident. You should also obtain and get a photo of the logo of the company that owns the bus. Usually, this will be emblazoned on the front, rear, or side of the vehicle.
It is also important to obtain the name, driver’s license, and insurance information of any drivers – including the bus driver – involved in the accident. Our lawyers will likely have to interact with both your insurance company and the insurance of the adverse party, so this information is critical to your case.
Finally, you should seriously consider interviewing any witnesses or other people involved in the accident. It might be a good idea to speak to passengers on the bus and make a record of what they say. They could serve as potential witnesses in your case, either for or against you.
Call Our Lawyers
It is very important to get in touch with an attorney quickly after a bus accident if you are planning on filing a lawsuit. That is because there is a law known as the statute of limitations that sets a time limit on how long you have to file a lawsuit. In Georgia, plaintiffs have two years to file personal injury lawsuits per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. After that time, your window to file a lawsuit has closed, and a court will not hear your case.
Parties to Sue in a Smyrna, GA Bus Accident Lawsuit
There are multiple parties you might want to sue in a bus accident lawsuit. Suing the right parties is critical to your success in court since you can only recover damages from defendants who actually caused your injuries.
The Bus Driver
The most obvious party to include in a bus accident lawsuit is the bus driver. Many bus accidents are caused by driver negligence. Negligence in this context means that the driver did something careless that a reasonable driver would not do, and their carelessness caused your injuries. Examples of bus driver negligence include driving while drowsy or intoxicated, failing to stop and red lights, or speeding.
The Bus Driver’s Employer
You also will likely be able to sue the bus driver’s employer. The law allows employers to be held responsible for their employee’s negligent actions as long as the employee was doing a work activity. Since the bus driver was ferrying passengers, this is very likely to be the case in a bus accident lawsuit.
The idea behind this is that employers are generally considered better positioned to compensate plaintiffs than their employees. Moreover, the employer is the entity that decided to hire the driver, so there is an understanding that the employer should hire competent drivers.
Other Drivers
If a driver besides the bus driver contributed to your injuries in a bus accident, you should include them in your bus accident lawsuit. Even though buses are larger than most vehicles, other cars hitting a bus can still seriously injure passengers. Additionally, aggressive drivers might force the bus driver to take evasive maneuvers to try and stay safe, which might inadvertently lead to an accident.
Talk with Our Smyrna, GA Bus Accident Lawyers Today
Howe Law’s bus accident lawyers are ready to help with your case when you call (844) 876-4357.
