What to Do if You Are in a Bus Accident

According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a total of 144 fatalities resulted from bus crashes across the United States in 2022. In the same year, more than 8,000 people were injured in bus accidents. These crashes can be frightening and stressful to experience as a passenger, but by taking the right steps after a bus accident, you can secure the compensation you need for medical expenses and lost wages. Here’s what to do if you are in a bus accident aside from contacting a lawyer for the bus accident.

What to Do if You Are in a Bus Accident

Compared with a typical car crash, bus accidents are associated with a greater number of victims who sustain more serious injuries. Without seat belts or airbags to protect passengers, buses can be downright dangerous, and available bus accident statistics from the federal government prove that. Additionally, a bus accident claim is often more complex than the average auto accident claim because more responsible parties are involved. 

Here’s what to do if you are in a bus accident, both on the scene and in the weeks following the crash. 

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, you should:

• Call 911: Usually, the driver of the bus will call emergency services, but if they are incapacitated or unwilling to alert authorities, you must call 911. It’s imperative that both medical services and law enforcement are present on the scene to treat victims and file a police report for the crash. 
• Be Seen by Emergency Medical Personnel: Even if you don’t believe you have been injured in the accident, make sure you are checked out by a medical professional on the scene. Some wounds, especially head, neck, and back injuries, may not be immediately noticeable and can take a few days to show themselves. For the sake of your physical health and upcoming legal claim, do not wait to seek medical care.
• Document the Scene: If you are able, document everything you can about the bus accident. Take photos of vehicles and get contact information from fellow passengers, the bus driver, and any other drivers involved in the crash. 

In the days and weeks after the bus accident, it’s recommended that you:

• Follow Up With a Doctor: In auto accidents, it’s common for soft tissue injuries like whiplash and herniated discs to remain hidden for a few days after the crash. To ensure your future claims cover these medical bills and other expenses, you must be evaluated and tested for those wounds by a medical professional. 
• Seek Physical Therapy: With regard to bus crashes, physical therapy for accident victims is often a necessary part of the recovery process. Without seat belts or airbags, injuries can be more severe and take more medical support to heal. Do not wait to receive physical therapy so that your body can heal from the accident as effectively as possible. 
• File an Injury Claim: Because bus companies are typically owned by local municipalities or other forms of government, you’ll need to file an injury claim with the appropriate governmental body. To safeguard yourself against missing filing deadlines or any necessary paperwork for your claim, it’s highly recommended you work with a professional personal injury lawyer in the same city where the accident occurred. In Southern California, we recommend reaching out to a Los Angeles passenger bus accident lawyer or an Anaheim bus accident lawyer at Avrek Law.

Common Injuries Sustained in Bus Accidents 

Without the same safety features that come standard in today’s cars, passenger injuries caused by bus accidents tend to be more severe. Common physical symptoms associated with these accidents include: 

• Neck, Back, and Shoulder Pain: Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries are very normal in bus accidents. The sudden stopping motion during an accident can inflict hidden injuries to vertebrates and even cause serious spinal cord injuries. Pain may not be immediately present, which is why it’s so important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible before further damage is done to the spine. 
• Headaches: Brain injuries sustained in accidents can be very serious, though they may initially appear as simple headaches. But concussions, bleeding on the brain, and other traumatic brain injuries require immediate medical testing and treatment.
• Tingling and Numbness: A pins-and-needles sensation can suggest that nerve damage, herniated discs, or other hidden damages have occurred. 
• Pain to Extremities: Without seat belts to keep passengers from shifting out of their sitting position during a crash, injuries to arms and legs such as broken bones, sprains, bruising, and other painful wounds are common. 
• Abdominal Pain: Pain in the abdomen area can signify different types of injuries, including soft tissue damage and internal bleeding. Get medical help to pinpoint the cause of the pain and prevent worsening damage. 

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Your Area

Figuring out what to do after you are in a bus accident is no small task. To ensure you receive the compensation you deserve after a bus accident, contact Avrek Law to speak with qualified and compassionate school bus accident attorneys in your area. Because every state and city has different filing deadlines and procedures, you must file a “notice of claim” as soon as possible to seek compensation for medical bills and lost income. So, don’t wait and contact Avrek Law for an expert bus accident lawyer to get started on your claim in San Bernardino County.
With more than 50 years of combined experience representing cases that involve car accidents in several states, the MTA bus accident lawyers at Avrek Law are experts when it comes to ensuring you get the justice you deserve. The consultation is free and you’ll get advice from a law firm, including our school bus accident attorneys, with more than $1 billion recovered in more than 45,000 cases. View one of our locations or contact us for a free consultation.

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