Bus Accidents are common in the United States, In fact, according to a recent study, there are over 63,000 buses that are involved in accidents every single year.
Bus accidents can be especially scary because as a passenger you expect a bus to be safe and professionally driven. Whether it was a charter bus, school bus, or Greyhound bus you expect to be safe. However, accidents do happen and if you were riding on the bus and it was in an accident, here is what you should do after the accident:
1. Call 911
The first thing you should do after a bus accident is call 911. Reporting an accident right away is essential to help anyone who may have been injured in the accident. This is important even if you don’t see anyone injured right away as there are many reasons the accident could have been caused and there might be people outside of the bus.
2. Seek Medical Attention
Some bus accidents are more severe than others. If you were involved in a rollover accident you may have serious injuries. If it’s a severe injury, emergency medical responders might take you directly to the hospital. If you’re able to walk away that doesn’t mean everything is OK. Sometimes these injuries don’t appear right away or you may feel like you’re fine. Some injury symptoms can be delayed for days but your health should be your number priority.
If you sustained injuries after a bus accident you have to remember that this was probably not your fault. Bus companies carry insurance for tragic incidents for this reason.
3. Document What You Can
After any accident, whether it be a car or bus crash you should try to document the scene. If you’re able to take pictures or write down what you remember after the accident you should do so. This may be important if you have to take the bus company to trial later down the road. This includes getting things like:
1. Pictures
2. Names & Phone Numbers of Witnesses
3. Email Addresses of Passengers or Witnesses
4. Any additional information about the accident
Preserving any evidence about the accident or the scene of the accident can help with any potential future serious injury case.
4. Don’t Make Statements Regarding Your Injury
Sometimes after an accident, you might feel fine. But injury symptoms can occur days or even weeks later. Making statements about previous accidents or saying that “you’re fine” can hurt future insurance payments.
Make sure to consult with an attorney before giving any statements.
5. Talk To An Attorney
Major bus companies carry good insurance to protect against a variety of issues that may arise. Insurance companies tend to want to pay the least amount of money they can get away with after an accident. Discussing your case with an attorney is essential to the long-term success of your claim.
GJEL Accident Attorneys has handled many bus accident cases over the past 40 years. We have recovered over 10 million in damages for our clients who have been injured in bus accidents. If you’ve been injured in an accident call us today for a free case evaluation.