Bus Accident Injuries

Answer:

Bus companies in New York present a unique set of rules for a personal injury case because most bus companies are run by government entities.

Government entities have strict deadlines and special rules that protect them and make it a little bit more difficult for you to file a personal injury claim, but it doesn’t make it impossible. You should talk to a lawyer right away if you’re seriously injured on a bus. At the time you’re injured, you should get names of witnesses who were on the bus who can give a statement of what happened. Take pictures of what injured you, whether it was a bus accident, a slip and fall at a bus station, a slip and fall on the actual bus or something of that sort, and build your case as much as you can on your own while you’re at the accident scene. Those first few moments after the accident scene are vital. You should also treat your injuries at the emergency room or primary care physician right away. If you’re injured, get to the doctor and don’t worry about the bill. Let us sort out what’s going on with the medical bills down the road.

You may also be contacted by an investigator from the bus company or their insurance company. You do not need to make a statement to that investigator. You may also receive a monetary offer from the bus company. You should never accept the first offer. If they’re putting money on the table, that’s a strong sign that they realize there’s some liability on the bus company’s part. You should talk to an attorney right away because they will be able to give you an approximate value of your case and let you know if you have a case against the bus company. Also, nine times out of ten, we’ll tell you how bad the offer from the bus company was.

I can’t emphasize enough the strict deadlines for suing municipalities, which typically own the buses in cities. For example, here in the city of Buffalo, all of our buses are operated by not one, but two municipalities simultaneously. That means that if you try to make your case on your own, and you only go after one of the entities, it’s possible your lawsuit will be dismissed. Any good personal injury lawyer will know how to file what’s called a Notice of Claim for you and when to file that notice of claim. Beyond those first vital moments after the accident, the next few days are also vital in that you should be treating your injuries and communicating with an attorney about what to do next.