Have you been hurt in a bus accident?
Injuries resulting from bus accidents are severe and catastrophic due to the size of the vehicle, its weight, and lack of safety restraints. Because commercial vehicles follow different codes, the process of receiving compensation is often different from a standard car accident.
Who is liable in a bus accident?
In addition to the negligent operator, several other parties may be liable for your accident:
- The employer of the bus driver
- The Department of Education
- The maintenance technician who services the bus
- The Department of Transportation
- A school district, if the bus involved belonged to a school
What should I do right now?
Seek medical attention
Bus accidents often result in serious injury or death. If you are in need of medical treatment, seek it as soon as it is practical. We recommend that you receive an evaluation from an EMS at the very least.
It’s not uncommon for symptoms, sometimes serious ones, to develop hours or even days after a collision. You should always prioritize your health and seek appropriate care from an emergency room, urgent care, or primary care doctor.
If you need to see a chiropractor or receive physical therapy as a result of your accident, Williams & Williams can refer you to a trusted care provider in your area.
Document the accident
While we trust law enforcement to make a preliminary investigation into collisions, there is often more to the story. We can use videos, photos, accident reconstruction, and other evidence to best determine how a collision occurred.
You or a trusted friend or family member should take photos of the vehicles and scene if possible, especially any visible damage. Make sure the investigating officer on the scene gives you a report about the collision, alerts you of any court dates, and gets witness contact information.
Anything that you can record might be useful during the course of your claim, but especially be on the look-out for:
- Damage to the vehicles
- Driving and maintenance logs
- Inspection reports
- Employee records
- Substance abuse test results
Call Williams & Williams Attorneys at Law
It’s never too soon to seek legal representation. Before you contact your insurance company, reach out to the the skilled attorneys at Williams & Williams. We can help you craft a statement about the collision.
Contact your insurance company
Alert your insurer of the accident. Even if you receive a ticket—or the police officer cites you for contributing to the cause of the accident—you are still able to pursue a claim.
When should you call an attorney?
Right away. It can be difficult to prove fault after a bus accident, so it’s important to speak with an attorney at the outset of the accident to preserve the evidence of negligence and establish the damages caused by the bus.
How can Williams & Williams help?
Insurance companies will always try to minimize what they have to pay to protect their financial bottom lines. That’s why you need aggressive representation to ensure you’re paid everything you’re owed.
Our skilled trial lawyers will listen, learn the details of your accident and how it’s affected you, and build a persuasive case on your behalf to help bolster your claim.
Since 1936, we’ve recovered millions in damages for clients in Orangeburg County and across South Carolina. We will relentlessly advocate for your full and fair compensation.
What will it cost for Williams & Williams to handle my case?
We operate on a contingency fee, which means we don’t charge anything unless you recover damages.
Call or schedule a free consultation today.
Contact a lawyer at Williams & Williams Attorneys at Law in Orangeburg, South Carolina by calling (803) 534-5218 to schedule a free consultation.
Your consultation will always be handled by one of our experienced attorneys.
