What You Need to Know About Bus Accident Claims
If you talk to almost any bus accident lawyer Hyattsville MD has to offer, it quickly becomes clear that filing a bus accident claim or pursuing a lawsuit can be a very complicated process. Not only can it be frustrating, but time consuming as well. The bus accident attorneys of Cohen & Cohen have two decades of experience in handling personal injury cases resulting from vehicular accidents. We are dedicated to putting out experience to good use by helping you get the compensation you deserve.
Bus accidents are all too common in the United States. In an effort to reduce the annual number of injuries and fatalities in bus accidents, laws have been enacted to protect passengers. Unfortunately, not every bus driver follows those laws, and as a result, many people are injured or killed every year. While it should be a simple manner to pursue legal justice and financial compensation, the process is often confusing and frustrating for the non-legal professionals. A bus accident lawyer Hyattsville MD respects may be your best option to pursue compensation and justice from those responsible for your injuries.
Proving Your Case When Filing a Bus Accident Lawsuit
A bus, or common carrier, is defined as a company or entity that transports passengers or goods on a scheduled basis on a pre-determined route for a set fee. Common carriers are regulated by numerous laws which are overseen and enforced on a federal, state, local, or municipal level; often there is a combination of government agency oversight. The legal expectation is that bus companies owe passengers a higher level of care when it comes to safety. A bus accident lawyer Hyattsville MD provides for injured passengers will have to prove that the bus company failed in its responsibility to care for their riders.
In bus accident claims and lawsuits, several points must be established and proved in order to determine who was at fault or negligible and hold them accountable:
- The defendant owed a reasonable level of care to the victim.
- The defendant failed in provide that level of care and as a result the accident occurred.
- The accident injured the plaintiff.
Injuries that are Common in Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can result in injuries not just to the bus passengers, but also to pedestrians, drivers, and passengers in other vehicles. The average bus accident lawyer Hyattsville MD citizens hire may cite the following conditions as some of the most common bus accident injuries they have seen:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lower back injuries, including slipped or crushed discs
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Lacerations on the body, especially in unprotected areas such as the face
- Dental injuries, including broken jaws
- Broken noses
- Ankle and knee fractures as well as other broken bones
Proof of injury can take the form of medical assessments conducted by professionals such as doctors, physical therapists, emergency room medical personnel, and emergency medical technicians. If you are injured in a bus accident, documenting your injuries by taking notes and saving all relevant receipts related to medical care may help a top bus accident lawyer Hyattsville MD has to offer build your case.
Financial Recovery for Victims of Bus Accidents
A bus accident lawyer Hyattsville MD is proud to have in the community will try to recover any and all of your expenses related to the injury you suffered as a result of the accident. After discussing your case with a Cohen & Cohen attorney, you may have a clearer picture of what costs are eligible for recovery. Compensation may be contingent on the following factors:
- The type of injury and level of severity
- Hospitalization costs
- Ambulance transportation fees
- First responder procedures and medications
- Future rehabilitation care and treatments
- Future hospitalization costs
- Surgery costs
- Present and future wages lost due to your inability to work
- Mental anguish, otherwise known as pain and suffering
- Psychiatric and/or therapeutic care
Punitive Damages
When it can be proven that the at-fault party acted recklessly or with an intent to cause harm, or exhibited wanton disregard for the life and health of others, your attorney may decide to pursue punitive damages. This is usually in addition to financial restitution for your accident-related costs and expenses. Punitive damages are intended to punish the guilty party when it’s determined that the damages they caused were not accidental. Establishing a solid case for punitive damages is especially challenging and the reason why it’s unusual for a lawyer to pursue them. A bus accident lawyer in Hyattsville MD can give you their professional opinion as to whether or not seeking punitive damages in your case is worthwhile.
Statute of Limitations
Personal injury cases have a statute of limitations or deadline before which you must file a claim or lawsuit. If you delay in filing and miss the deadline, you are not entitled to pursue compensation. The statute of limitations varies according to location of the accident and who is involved. The laws and limitations can be different for federal common carriers as compared to municipal carriers or private carriers. Additional factors can also come into play. It may be important to consult a Hyattsville MD bus accident lawyer to see how the statute of limitations affects your particular case.
When you hire an attorney from Cohen & Cohen, your case is in the hands of tenacious counsel, dedicated to helping win your case. For a free consultation, contact us at (703) 548-4529 today and discuss your claim with a bus accident lawyer Hyattsville MD passengers turn to for the compensation they deserve.
