Lots of people use buses to get around. Whether you are commuting to work on public transportation or making a longer journey on a private bus line, accidents can happen. An attorney can assist you in getting monetary compensation for your injuries.
Damages in a bus accident case may be much more than you realize. You deserve compensation for your physical injuries, emotional distress, lost property, and various other expenses. It can be difficult to get a case started if you are dealing with painful injuries and a long recovery. Speak to our legal team soon, as plaintiffs usually have only 2 years to file an injury lawsuit. If you need more time, talk to a lawyer to see if this is possible. When we file the case, we need evidence to back you up. Footage from security cameras, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction experts might be useful to your case. How we collect evidence might depend on who we believe is responsible. The bus driver, bus company, and certain other parties might be involved.
Call (844) 876-4357 and speak to our bus accident attorneys at Howe Law for a confidential, free review of your case.
Claiming Damages in a Suwanee, GA Bus Accident Case
Damages in a bus accident case are often quite substantial. Plaintiffs might have serious and painful injuries that take a deep economic and psychological toll on them. An attorney can help you review all the details of the accident and your injuries to accurately determine your damages and what kind of compensation you deserve.
Physical injuries are often the most prominent factor in determining damages. First, you should claim the cost of medical treatment for your injuries. Remember, bus accidents are not usually small accidents. People might be very badly hurt and need extensive care from doctors. Surgery, medication, and long-term care might be extremely expensive.
Second, your physical injuries tend to take a psychological toll. Dealing with the pain from the injuries and treatment can leave a person emotionally and mentally changed. Depression, anxiety, or even post-traumatic stress disorder are common in serious bus accident cases.
We must also consider the amount of property lost or damaged. If you were in your own vehicle when you were struck by a bus, you should claim the value of your car. If you were a passenger on the bus during the accident, you might have lost personal items like phones, laptops, jewelry, and more.
There could be a whole host of other expenses related to the accident. If you had to travel very far for medical treatment, you can claim your travel expenses like gas, plane tickets, hotels, and food. If you find yourself unable to work, our bus accident attorneys can help you claim the income you lost while recovering from your injuries. You might have other expenses related to home health care if your injuries prevent you from doing normal daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, or bathing.
When to Begin a Bus Accident Case in Suwanee, GA
It might take time to recover from your injuries before you tackle a lawsuit. While you should take some time to rest and make an informed decision about whether to take legal action, it is best to speak to an attorney sooner rather than later. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, plaintiffs have only 2 years from the day of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Depending on how sooner or later you get started, this might be an incredibly tight deadline. If you are afraid of running out of time, talk to your lawyer about the possibility of having the statute of limitations tolled. Tolling is like pausing the clock counting down to the deadline, and it may only be done for specific reasons.
Generally, plaintiffs who were minors when they were injured may have the statute tolled until they turn 18. For example, if a plaintiff was injured in a bus accident at 18, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until they turn 18, giving them until age 20 to file their claims.
Additionally, plaintiffs who were under a legal disability at the time of the bus accident may have the statute tolled. A legal disability may be a mental or psychological condition or impairment that prevents you from understanding your legal rights or taking legal action. You may have the statute tolled until the disability ends in many cases.
How to Support Your Claims in a Bus Accident Case in Suwanee, GA
We need enough evidence to meet our burden of proof, which is a preponderance of the evidence. This means we have to prove that the defendant is more likely than not responsible for the accident. This is not always an easy bar to meet, and you need the strongest evidence available.
We should start by checking for cameras. If there are security cameras in the accident area, they might have footage of the crash. We should also talk to the bus company about whether cameras were on board the bus. This kind of footage might make or break a case. We should move fast, as footage might be deleted if nobody comes looking for it.
We should also talk to witnesses about what they saw or if they have other first-hand knowledge relevant to the case. In a bus accident, witnesses might be passengers on the bus, pedestrians walking by the crash, or other drivers who saw the accident. Sometimes, witnesses are also injured in the accident, and they might be filing their own legal action.
If the accident was particularly complicated or is heavily disputed by the defendant, we might need accident reconstruction experts to review the details of the accident. They are often able to scientifically recreate the accident and explain who likely caused the crash. This evidence is often difficult for defendants to dispute and may greatly strengthen your case.
Speak to Our Suwanee, GA Bus Accident Attorneys for Support Today
Call (844) 876-4357 and speak to our bus accident attorneys at Howe Law to get a confidential, free review of your case.
