You ride a bus, and the driver slams their vehicle into a car or object, causing you to suffer an injury. Or, you drive your car, and a bus driver crashes their vehicle into you, resulting in an injury and other harm. In these instances and many others, consult with an Ewing bus accident lawyer to review your legal options.
If you want legal help after a bus accident, Demand Rand. Let us put our 200 years of legal experience to work for you. Contact us today to discuss your case with our Ewing personal injury lawyer.
What to Do After a Bus Accident
A bus accident can be overwhelming for all involved. In the initial moments after your accident, pay attention since you may wind up doing things that could compromise your case against any liable parties. Here are things you can do to protect yourself and others following the incident:
- Call 911
- Get medical help
- Speak with the police about your accident
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene
- Do not take any responsibility for the accident
In the days after your accident, pursue legal help. Ask a lawyer to look at your case and examine it in detail. A bus accident attorney in Ewing can help you figure out who is at fault and if you can request damages from them.
Who Is Responsible for a Bus Accident
In many cases, a bus driver or their employer is liable for an accident. However, there are other parties that can be at fault. These include:
- Bus manufacturer
- Bus maintenance company
- Driver of a car that crashes into a bus
- Government entity
If you have no idea about who is responsible for your bus accident, Rand Spear The Accident Lawyer, can help. Our Ewing bus accident attorney can review your case and help you identify any liable parties. Get in touch with us to learn more about personal injury case basics and other legal topics.
Ewing Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me (215) 985-2424
When to File a Bus Accident Lawsuit
Generally, the statute of limitations for the claim in your case is two years. If you were hurt in a bus accident, you may have up to two years from the date of the incident to request compensation from any at-fault parties. After this period passes, you may be solely responsible for your accident-related losses.
If you are unsure about whether you are eligible to submit a claim, meet with a bus accident lawyer in Ewing. Next, the attorney will ask you questions and get information about your accident. They can help you weigh the pros and cons of filing a lawsuit.
You should not be held responsible for a bus accident that you did not cause. If you take the blame for the incident, you may have to pay your accident-related expenses out of your own pocket. On the other hand, you can ask an at-fault party for damages to cover your losses.
Damages You Can Get After a Bus Accident
A bus accident attorney in Ewing can tell you how much your case is worth and what damages you could receive. You may request economic and non-economic damages. Reasons why a judge or jury may offer damages to bus accident victims include:
- Car repairs or replacement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
Your Ewing bus accident lawyer can help you calculate your losses and request reasonable compensation. Regardless, the at-fault party in your case may do everything they can to contest your lawsuit. Fortunately, your attorney understands this, and they will advocate for you and put you in a great position to secure full damages.
Bus Accident Case Evidence
Saying you want compensation is not enough to compel a judge or jury to award damages after your bus accident. To show you should be awarded damages, you can provide evidence in your personal injury case. Proof to support your claim can include:
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Bus driver logbooks
- Medical records
- Pay stubs
- Police report
- Witness statements
Your attorney can preserve and organize your evidence, ensuring you can present it to a judge or jury. If you have an abundance of proof, the defendant in your case may be worried. This body of evidence could even compel the defendant to propose a settlement that meets your expectations.
Proving Negligence
Your evidence plays a key role in proving you are in no way at fault for a bus accident. It can also help you verify that the defendant in your case was negligent. You can use your proof to show that the elements of negligence were present at the time of your accident.
Your Ewing bus accident attorney can explain what is negligence in law and how it applies to your case. They can gather evidence and prepare an argument that makes it clear to a judge or jury that you deserve damages. Also, they can dispute the defendant’s claims against you.
How Comparative Negligence Can Impact Your Bus Accident Damages
New Jersey has a law governing comparative negligence, according to the state’s Department of Banking & Insurance (DOBI). You can share responsibility for your bus accident with another party. If you are more to blame for the accident than the other party, you may not be able to get damages from them.
As an example, a judge or jury may rule you are 10% liable for your bus accident. The defendant in your case is 90% liable. Therefore, they may be ordered to pay 90% of the damages you are requesting.
In a case where a judge or jury says you are 51% at fault for your bus accident, you are primarily responsible for the incident. As such, a judge or jury may not order the defendant in your case to pay damages. At this point, you are 100% responsible for your accident-related losses.
Ask for Legal Help with Your Bus Accident Lawsuit
Going through the legal process on your own can be a hassle. Rand Spear The Accident Lawyer takes the guesswork out of this process, and we back our legal services with a no-win, no-fee guarantee. Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form