WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU ARE INJURED IN A BUS ACCIDENT?
IMMEDIATELY OBTAIN MEDICAL ATTENTION
If you have suffered an injury stemming from a bus accident or collision, you should seek medical care immediately. For severe injuries, you should call an ambulance or go to an emergency room as quickly as possible.
CONTACT THE POLICE
The responding local police department will investigate the scene, determine who they believe is at fault for the accident, and file an accident report.
OBTAIN CONTACT INFORMATION
As soon as it is feasible, you should get the name and address of the driver or other negligent parties, as well as any witnesses or passengers.
TAKE NOTES
Write down anything you believe may be important (bus number, any accident details), or take photographs of the accident scene if possible.
CONTACT A REPUTABLE CHARLESTON BUS ACCIDENT LAWYER
Given the sheer size and weight of buses, a bus accident can cause severe injuries to those involved. Additionally, many buses are not equipped with seatbelts or safety restraints, which can result in lengthy treatments and large medical bills. The chances of positively resolving your bus accident injury case with the monetary damage award that you deserve will increase substantially with a thorough and effective investigation and legal representation from a skilled bus accident attorney.
DO NOT GIVE AN INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMATION WITHOUT TALKING TO YOUR LAWYER FIRST
The first interest of every insurance company is to protect themselves from claims. Insurance companies and insurance adjusters typically seek to obtain adverse statements and evidence from the injured parties interests or they will look to settle the case quickly to avoid paying large settlements. Oftentimes bus accident cases can result in concussions that are accompanied by delayed symptoms. The economic value of these injuries and medical procedures can only be calculated by a skilled bus accident injury attorney, which is oftentimes accompanied by expert medical and economic witnesses.
South Carolina Attorney Matthew Marin will fight to get you justice. If you or someone you love has been injured in a bus accident in Charleston, you have the right to hold the negligent operator personally responsible. You have the legal right to demand compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We understand that being involved in a bus accident can be a traumatic experience and stand ready to help fight for your recovery.
WHAT ARE COMMON BUS ACCIDENT INJURIES?
The size and weight of buses and the lack of restraint devices, unlike auto accidents, on buses make injuries a foregone outcome as a result of being in a bus crash. These injuries may be permanent or require years of rehabilitation and medical care potentially resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical costs and financial damage. These injuries may often include:
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)
The force generated by a bus crash can cause brain injuries extended beyond a mere concussion. Sometimes these injuries will not be symptomatic immediately, but the effects can be devastating.
NECK – BACK – SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Impact or whiplash to the neck and back can cause spinal cord injuries, potentially resulting in full or partial paralysis and respiratory problems.
BROKEN BONES
With such a high degree of force broken bones and internal injuries and bleeding are commonplace in bus accident victims.
SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
Bus accidents can often lead to soft-tissue damage of muscles, ligaments, and tendons and the result can be pain, swelling, bruising, and damage.
BURNS
Burn injuries in bus accidents can also be caused by contact with hot metal, hot water or steam escaping from a damaged radiator, or contact with other heated elements of the bus.
AMPUTATION
Bus accident amputation injuries are often divided into two, main categories – traumatic amputation and surgical amputation. Traumatic amputation injuries occur during the accident itself. Surgical amputation injuries involve amputating an arm, leg or another body part due to injuries sustained in the accident.
DEATH
Unfortunately, a significant percentage of those injured in bus accidents do not survive the crash. If your loved one was killed in a bus accident you may have the option to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Contact Charleston South Carolina bus accident lawyer Matthew Marin if you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a bus accident in Charleston. We can help you take legal action to recover the compensation you are entitled to and we are available 24/7 at (843) 642-2449.
HOW MUCH IS MY BUS ACCIDENT CASE WORTH? WHAT DAMAGES AM I ENTITLED TO?
Injuries from bus accidents can be catastrophic at worst and at a minimum the injuries can be painful. Additionally, seeking treatment afterwards can be overwhelming and can require extensive medical treatment and lead the injured to miss time at work. Fortunately, South Carolina law provides a way for you to hold the negligent person or company financially responsible for your injuries and damages.
Damages for injuries to bus accident victims in South Carolina can include payment for:
ECONOMIC DAMAGE – such as tangible out of pocket costs which are often established with bills and invoices
- Medical expenses, including past, present, and future bills
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Transportation costs
- Costs of medical devices and modifications and accommodations to your home or vehicle
- Costs of assistive devices
- Expenses for in-home healthcare and household services
- Lost wages, both from missed work and missed future earning potential
- Household bills
NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES – which include general intangible damages. These damages affect quality of life, but are oftentimes more significant, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Anxiety and post-traumatic stress (emotional distress)
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Lifestyle Impairment
PUNITIVE DAMAGES – In some instances the responsible party’s conduct is so egregious, that punitive damages are appropriate as a means of punishment and a deterrent to future bad conduct.
In the event that loved one has died in a bus accident you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim for those left behind. Of course no amount of money can bring your loved on back or provide adequate compensation, but you nevertheless may be able to recover for funeral and burial costs, loss of income, and loss of companionship.
At Marin and Barrett, Inc., Attorney Matthew Marin will fight for every dollar you deserve. On these types of cases it is often helpful to work closely with expert witnesses to ensure that your injuries and damages are valued fully. This extra effort makes sure that you recover all you deserve for your bus accident injuries.
