Bus collisions can be devastating and often involve multiple victims and serious injuries. The resulting damages to passengers may be catastrophic because of the size and weight of a bus.
If you or a family member were hurt in a bus accident, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for your damages. At Phillips Law Group, we have been recovering compensation for motor vehicle accident victims for more than 27 years throughout the state of Arizona. We have obtained more than $1 billion in damages for our clients, including a $4,000,000 settlement for a client who was paralyzed after suffering a spinal cord injury in an accident.
Phillips Law Group founder Jeffrey Phillips is a member of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association ”“ Top 25 and has obtained verdicts in several Arizona counties.
We invite you to contact us today and take advantage of our free legal consultation. It is an opportunity to find out what your legal options may be and get answers to your questions. There is zero financial risk to you. Your consultation is completely free, and we do not charge anything to handle your case unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
Our team of legal professionals are standing by 24/7 at Ph: 602-222-222
Do I Have a Bus Accident Case?
Our qualified attorneys will need to first understand the specific details of your accident to answer this question. As with any potential personal injury case, your attorney will need to establish the elements of negligence:
- The at-fault driver/party had a legal obligation, or duty, to safely transport his or her passengers
- The at-fault driver/party violated his or her duty
- Because of this violation, you were injured and suffered damages
- You can link your damages to the defendant’s negligence
Bus accidents quickly become complicated because there are typically multiple victims and insurance companies involved. Our licensed attorneys are prepared to handle bus accident cases involving:
- School buses
- Touring buses
- Charter bus accidents
- City buses
- 15-passenger vehicles
Complete ouronline case evaluation formand find out if you may have a claim.
What Compensation Can I Expect?
While we cannot assign a monetary value to a case without first examining all the unique details, passengers who were injured in a bus accident are generally able to recover various types of damages, which could include:
Economic Damages ”“ These are tangible costs related to your injuries and the accident, such as:
- Emergency care
- Present and future medical treatments and surgical interventions
- The cost of travelling to related doctor or physical therapy appointments
- In-patient hospital stays
- Wages lost if you were unable to work because of your injuries
- Loss of future earnings if you became disabled and cannot return to work
- Property damage sustained in the accident
Non-Economic Damages ”“ These damages do not have an easily-determined money value and require a knowledgeable attorney to help ensure fair valuation:
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish or emotional distress
To learn more about your potential legal options for a bus accident claim, contact our experienced attorneys at Phillips Law. We charge our clients nothing unless we first achieve compensation on their behalf.
Contact us today. Learn how we may be able to assist you. 602-222-222
Who May Be Held Liable For a Bus Accident?
Bus accidents quickly become complicated legal cases because they involve multiple victims and insurance companies. There may also be many parties who share a portion of liability for the accident, including:
Bus Operators
If there is evidence that the bus driver operated in a careless manner, and that negligence led to the crash, then he or she could be assigned some or all liability for the accident.
Bus Owners
Bus owners, whether it is a company or individual, are responsible for making sure drivers have the knowledge and training to safely operate the vehicle and comply with state and federal regulations. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says passenger-carrying drivers can driver 10 hours in a day after resting for eight consecutive off-duty hours.
Manufacturers
Parts or vehicle manufacturing companies may be liable if the crash is caused by malfunctioning machinery on the bus.
School Districts
The school that employed the driver may share liability for the accident if the driver did not have proper training or licensing or had a dangerous driving background.
Servicing Companies
The shop or company that serviced the bus for routine maintenance or repairs may be liable if the serviced parts were faulty and contributed to the accident. Bus accidents are often a result of tire blowouts, brake problems or other issues that should have been addressed by the repair company.
Arizona’s Filing Deadline
Arizona personal injury claims have a strict statute of limitations, which states that you must file your claim within two years of the accident. If you miss that deadline, your case could be dismissed, and you would be unable to pursue compensation for your injuries.
There are some exceptions to that rule that can mean your deadline is significantly sooner. For example, if your claim is against a government entity, you have just 180 days to file your claim.
You can ask our Lake Havasu City bus accident attorneys for more information about the statute of limitations that may apply to your claim.
What Should You Do After a Bus Accident?
The first moments after a bus accident may be terrifying and confusing. Injured victims may feel initially stunned and not sure about what they should do. After any accident, it is important to try to remain calm and do the following to get first responders on the scene as soon as possible:
Call 9-1-1
It is important to call the police. When the responding officer arrives, he or she will begin to investigate the scene of the accident, including injured victims.
He or she will also create a report on the accident, which can be an important piece of evidence for any potential claim you may file later.
Get Medical Treatment
Getting a medical examination after an accident is always a good idea, even if you do not see or feel any visible evidence that you may be hurt. Shock can mask pain initially, and there are also certain types of injuries that are not evident until hours or days after the accident.
Additionally, if you try to file a claim but never sought medical care, insurance companies will try to say you were hurt because of something besides the accident, like a preexisting condition. They may try to use this as a reason to deny your claim.
Collect Evidence
Accident journal – As soon after the accident as possible, create a journal to record information that relates both to the incident and your damages. Creating these entries early on, while the memory is vivid, may be helpful to your claim. Include important information about what happened immediately before the accident, the weather, and details about your injuries and any pain you feel.
Take Photos ”“ Remember these pictures are for evidence only. Posting them on social media could damage any potential claim. Capture images of the scene from your vantage point and without putting yourself or anyone else in danger, such as:
- Damage to your immediate surroundings
- Pictures of what you can see outside the bus
- Any debris or tire marks you can see from your vantage point
- Photos that depict the weather and road conditions at the time of the accident
Contact Information
Get the full name of the driver, along with his or her contact details. Additionally, try to get statements and contact information from other passengers and/or eyewitnesses at the scene.
Deal with Insurance Companies Cautiously
Insurance adjusters often reach out to accident victims by phone soon after an accident. Do not get caught off-guard. While the adjuster may sound nice, it is important to remember that the insurance company’s goal is to reduce the amount of any payout.
Other important tips for when an insurer calls you include:
- You are not required to discuss the accident or give a recorded statement
- You may refer the adjuster to your attorney and politely, but firmly refuse to speak further
- Do not apologize or admit any guilt as this can be used to imply some liability on your part
- Do not discuss your injuries; let your attorney help you plan any necessary statements
If we determine you have a valid case, our bus accident lawyers at Phillips Law are prepared to represent you. We welcome the opportunity to investigate the accident, obtain strong evidence that supports your claim, handle communications with insurance companies and other parties, keep you informed about the status of your case and fight aggressively to obtain maximum compensation for your damages.
Contact a Lake Havasu City Bus Accident Lawyer
Many injury victims who hire legal representation recover more financial compensation compared to those who try to manage their own claim.
At Phillips Law Group, we have spent nearly 30 years representing more than 155,000 personal injury clients. We have a track record of recovering compensation and are prepared to handle the complex legal process, so you can focus on recovering.
There are no upfront fees at Phillips Law, because we accept personal injury cases on contingency. This means there is nothing for you to pay unless we first win money for you.
Our phone lines are always open, and we are ready to discuss the legal options that may be available to you.
Call today: 602-222-222
Available 24/7