Bus Accident Attorney Decatur Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been in an accident involving an at-fault bus, you need to call Decatur Bus Accident Attorney and Personal Injury Attorney Andrew Lynch immediately to make sure you get the best representation and the most compensation.
Every day, thousands of people in the Atlanta area choose public bus transportation as their way of getting to work or elsewhere. When they board these buses, they put an immense amount of trust and faith into the training and skill of the driver, as well as the maintenance and integrity of the bus. When that trust is breached, and the bus driver’s negligence causes an accident with you onboard, the injuries or damages can be monstrous.
A bus can weigh nearly 50,000 pounds, and can lay waste to almost any other car on the road in a collision, especially at high speeds. If you are onboard during that collision then you may experience whiplash, broken bones, spinal injuries, concussions, or in the worst situations even death. If any of this has happened to you or a loved one due to negligence by the bus driver then the law states that the agency responsible must pay for the damage inflicted on you. You need a Bus Accident Attorney and Personal Injury Attorney now.
If you have been involved in a bus-related accident, please don’t panic. An experienced Decatur, GA bus accident attorney will be able to assist you with navigating the aftermath. Depending on how long ago the crash occurred (minutes, hours or days), please consider taking any of the following steps that are relevant to you and then direct any questions you may have to your lawyer.
- Remain in your vehicle unless it is unsafe to do so. Remain calm.
- Turn on the hazard lights in your vehicle to alert other drivers of the issue.
- Call 911 and request law enforcement and emergency medical technicians.
- Keep the vehicles in the street where they came to a stop after the crash until law enforcement arrives.
- Even if you think you only have minor injuries, have the emergency medical technicians transport you to the emergency room to have medical professionals diagnose any injuries you may have. It is not uncommon for symptoms of crash injuries to not appear for hours or days after the crash. In many injuries, this can be dangerous, such as internal bleeding, internal injuries, or head injuries.
- Make sure to obtain the contact information, including badge numbers, for any law enforcement who arrives on scene.
- Make sure to obtain the name and contact information of the bus driver, and the company he or she works for.
- Try to get the names and contact information of all parties involved in the crash, as well as any eyewitness information.
- Have someone take photographs of the damage done to all vehicles involved in the crash, making sure to take photos from different angles.
- Victims should also take photographs of their injuries immediately following the crash.
- No matter what you think the circumstances of the crash was, do not admit fault for the accident. Even if you do not think you are hurt, anyone who experiences a traumatic event like a bus crash may not be fully aware of all the factors that led up and caused the accident to happen. Admitting fault without full awareness of the context surrounding the accident could significantly limit your legal options.
- Do not provide any written or oral statement to anyone, other than a police officer of your attorney. Any questions the insurance company need answered can be addressed by your Decatur, Georgia bus accident attorney.
Contact a Bus Accident Attorney Today
Unlike a standard car accident, bus accidents often quickly become very complicated when it comes to filing a claim, especially if the bus is a public transportation vehicle, such as a city bus or school bus. Each state has its own laws when it comes to suing a government entity and failure to follow these rules can mean the victim loses all rights to pursuing their claim.
This is partially why you should consider contacting the Law Offices of Andrew Lynch as soon as possible after being involved in a bus accident. Our legal team generally and a Decatur, Georgia bus accident attorney specifically will be able to evaluate your case and advise you of all legal options available to you.
According to a legal principle called “vicarious liability,” an agency or business is responsible for the actions of those who work for them. This means that if the driver of a bus is negligent in his or her duty to drive the bus safely and causes an accident due to reckless or dangerous behavior, the employer is also responsible for that behavior. Because of this principal, the agency that owns the bus can be sued by Bus Accident Attorney and Personal Injury Attorney for damages in addition to the driver of the bus.
Whether this be a government agency such as MARTA (the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) or a private company such as Greyhound, they are responsible for training their drivers and making sure these large and dangerous vehicles are being operated by competent drivers. When there is an accident, it is as much the fault of the agency responsible for putting that incompetent driver behind the wheel as it is the fault of the driver. If the accident occurs due to a mechanical failure of the bus itself, the agency that owns the bus is responsible as well as the company that maintained the bus. Both can be held liable by Bus Accident Attorney for any resulting personal injury claim.
Compensation you may seek in a personal injury claim from a bus accident includes medical bills, lost income, reduced earning potential, pain, and suffering, and funeral bills if you have lost a loved one. The actual amount of compensation you can receive is dependent on the severity of the accident and injuries, but a skilled Bus Accident Attorney and Personal Injury Attorney such as Andrew Lynch knows how to ensure you receive every dime you deserve.
It is important that you contact Decatur bus accident and personal injury Attorney Andrew Lynch very soon after your accident. Negotiations with liable parties can often be complicated and time-consuming, especially if there is a government agency involved. The goal of insurance companies and government agencies in a bus accident is to waive you by with the lowest available settlement, or to clog the process with endless bureaucracy. You should not have to stand for that, and Andrew Lynch will not.
Learn More About Compensation After Bus Accidents
Experiencing an injury in a bus accident can be physically, emotionally, and financially challenging, as your Decatur, GA bus accident attorney understands. To help victims recover and rebuild their lives, various types of compensation are available to address the damages incurred. These compensatory measures aim to provide a sense of justice and support for victims as they navigate the aftermath of such traumatic events. When you need help with your claim, contact the trusted team at The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch.
- Medical Expenses: Injuries from bus accidents often result in significant medical bills. Compensation can cover costs for ambulance services, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, doctor visits, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and any necessary ongoing medical care.
- Pain and Suffering: Victims of bus accidents endure physical pain, emotional distress, and psychological trauma. Compensation for pain and suffering aims to address the intangible and often long-lasting effects of the accident on the victim’s quality of life.
- Lost Wages and Income: Many bus accident victims face missed work and a loss of income due to their injuries. Compensation can include reimbursement for wages lost during recovery as well as any diminished future earning capacity caused by the injuries.
- Property Damage: If personal belongings were damaged in the accident, compensation can cover repair or replacement costs. This might include items like electronics, clothing, and personal items.
- Emotional Distress and Mental Health Treatment: The emotional impact of a bus accident can lead to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health issues. Compensation can cover the costs of therapy, counseling, and other necessary mental health treatments. Your Decatur bus accident attorney can help you with gathering evidence for this compensation.
- Permanent Disability or Disfigurement: If the bus accident results in permanent disability or disfigurement, compensation can account for the physical and emotional impact of these lasting changes.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Severe injuries from a bus accident can diminish a victim’s ability to enjoy life’s activities and experiences. Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life acknowledges this impact on the victim’s quality of life.
- Loss of Consortium: This type of compensation is available to a victim’s family members who have suffered the loss of companionship, affection, and emotional support due to the victim’s injuries.
- Wrongful Death Damages: In cases where the bus accident leads to a victim’s death, surviving family members may be eligible for compensation to cover funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and the emotional toll of losing a loved one.
- Punitive Damages: In some situations, particularly egregious cases involving extreme negligence or intentional harm, courts may award punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish the at-fault party and serve as a deterrent to prevent similar actions in the future.
Contact The Law Offices Of Andrew Lynch For Help Today!
Navigating the legal process to obtain compensation after a bus accident can be complex. Collecting evidence, proving liability, and negotiating with insurance companies can be challenging, especially while dealing with injuries. To see how our Decatur bus accident attorney can help you with your bus accident claim, give our office a call now.
