A bus accident can alter your life in a matter of seconds. Whether you are a pedestrian, passenger, or another vehicle operator, being involved in an accident typically produces physical injury, mental trauma, and financial burden. In Los Angeles, there are private and public buses around the city that often share busy streets every day. When accidents happen between a bus and another vehicle or a person, there is a high likelihood that injury will occur. These types of accidents occur in smaller cities and larger urban areas quite often.
If you have been injured in a bus accident, here is the legal process—step by step as a guide—so you know what to expect and how a Los Angeles bus accident lawyer can assist you in returning to your life before the accident.
Step 1: Prioritize Your Health and Safety
First and foremost, medical care. Even if you feel just fine right after the accident, symptoms such as whiplash, a concussion, or some other internal injury can be delayed and take hours or days to show symptoms. Contact 911, have the paramedics come and check you out, then contact your doctor as soon as possible. Your medical records later can be vital evidence in proving your injuries. Don’t delay treatment.
Step 2: Report the Accident and Document Everything
If the police aren’t there already, make sure the accident is officially reported. Obtain a copy of the police report, which will have important documentation that will assist your claim.
You should also do your own investigation:
- Take clear pictures of the scene, including damage to all vehicles, your physical injuries, traffic control signals, and the weather conditions.
- Write down the bus number, license plate numbers, the driver’s name, and any witness contact information.
- Keep any receipts, prescriptions, and daily documentation of your pain, treatments, and information regarding how the injury has affected your usual daily activities.
Step 3: Understand Who’s Responsible
One of the biggest obstacles you will face in bus accident claims is figuring out who is legally liable. It could be:
- The bus driver (negligence, distraction, intoxication)
- The bus company (poor maintenance, failure to train drivers)
- A government entity (if the bus is owned and operated by the city, like LA Metro)
- The third-party driver that caused the crash
- A manufacturer (if some mechanical failure contributed to the accident)
Step 4: Speak to a Lawyer Before the Insurance Company
After an accident, insurance companies may start to call you with some sort of settlement offer. While it may be very tempting to take a settlement offer to settle the case and move on with your life, these initial offers are usually far below what your case is actually worth. Once you sign away even a portion of your claim, you may be giving up your right to more compensation in the future, even if new injuries arise.
Before you sign anything or give a statement to the insurance company, make sure you speak with a legal professional. At Capital Law Firm, their skilled lawyers will go through the facts of your case and also determine the full mechanical and psychological value of your claim (hospital bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering) and deal with all the communications of the insurance company so you don’t have to.
Step 5: File a Claim Within the Legal Deadline
In California, the time bar for most personal injury claims is two years from the accident date, but for government agencies like LA Metro, you only have six months to file an administrative claim. If you miss the deadline, you may forfeit your right to file altogether.
That’s why it’s essential to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. A Los Angeles bus accident lawyer can make sure that all claims, notices, and legal documents are complied with and filed properly and timely.
Step 6: Investigate and Build Your Case
Once you retain an attorney, they will begin to collect all of the evidence necessary to build your case:
- Surveillance video from traffic or other cameras
- Driver training materials and maintenance records
- Eyewitness accounts
- Expert testimony (medical, accident reconstruction)
- Documented medical bills and perhaps receipts of other damages
Step 7: Negotiate or Go to Court
Typically, most bus accident claims are resolved through negotiation and out-of-court settlement for the compensation that’s owed to you. Your lawyer will present the evidence and demand compensation for the following:
- Medical costs (past and future)
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Disability or permanent impairment
Final Thoughts
No one ever thinks they will be involved in a bus accident—but if it happens to you, you deserve every bit of compensation for your injuries and your suffering. While you may feel overwhelmed at times during the legal process, you do not have to go through this process alone.
An injury attorney who has experience with Los Angeles bus accidents can help you from that very first chaotic moment to your recovery and resolution.
