A bus accident lawyer in Atlanta can help you pursue the compensation you deserve after an accident. Many residents of Atlanta use buses as transportation each day. Although buses have higher safety standards, they are more prone to accidents in some ways. Their vast sizes and weights can increase the risks of crashes. If you or a loved one suffered injuries, talk to a lawyer today.
Bus drivers and busing companies have a broad duty of care. They must ensure bus passengers stay safe during each trip. Drivers must also avoid harm to others on the road. If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers can help.
How an Atlanta Bus Accident Case Works
Bus accidents can have severe consequences, and there are many reasons to have a legal representative by your side. A lawyer can help you prove the other party’s liability. And if the other party claims you are liable, a lawyer can tell you what to do if you are blamed for an auto accident that’s not your fault.
You can file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. If you have a strong case, you can pursue financial recovery for your costs. Here are some steps that happen during the case process.
Investigating the Bus Accident
After you contact an Atlanta bus accident lawyer, they’ll begin building your case. They will gather information about the accident to show what happened. Examples of evidence from the scene include:
- Photographs
- Traffic camera footage
- Contact information and statements from eyewitnesses
- Contact and insurance information for the bus driver
- A copy of the police report (remember
- Notes about weather and traffic conditions on the accident date
Remember, while records of accidents are considered public information, they are not easy to get. Your lawyer can help you get a copy of your accident report. They’ll also investigate precisely how the crash occurred to determine who was at fault.
If someone else caused the accident, they are responsible for the costs. As the crash victim, you can seek compensation for your damages (Georgia Code Section 51-12-4). The information your lawyer gathers will help them show that you’re entitled to recovery.
Calculating Your Accident Damages
Next, your bus accident lawyer will start calculating your damages. Personal injury damages can include:
- Medical bills
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
You must understand all of your accident costs. Your injury claim should “make you whole” as fully as possible.
Building a Personal Injury Claim
After your lawyer has investigated, they’ll start building your injury claim. They’ll send the at-fault party’s insurance company a demand letter with the details.
Negotiating Your Settlement
After the insurance company receives your claim, they will respond in one of several ways:
- Accepting your claim and paying you compensation
- Sending a counteroffer
- Denying your claim
Most of the time, the insurance company will send you a lowball counteroffer. This amount is rarely enough to cover half of your damages. Your lawyer will work to negotiate with the insurance company. If they are successful, you’ll receive the recovery you deserve.
Determining Fault in an Atlanta Bus Accident
Bus accidents can occur for many reasons. Most of the time, the bus driver or their employer is at fault—but not always. Remember, a bus accident lawyer can help you determine the fault of a road accident in Georgia. Let’s look at the different parties that could be responsible for a bus accident.
Bus Drivers and Bus Companies
If a driver causes an accident, privately-owned busing companies can be at fault. The company is often responsible for a driver’s actions that cause an accident. Sometimes, an accident happens because the company did not provide adequate training.
The Government
If a government entity is responsible for the accident, you can sue for damages. However, bringing a case against the government is more complicated.
You must provide notice of your intent to sue. Plus, you typically only have six months to file your case. Contact an Atlanta bus accident lawyer as soon as possible for help.
Other Drivers
Sometimes, another driver is at fault for the accident. Maybe the first driver collided with a bus, which resulted in your accident. If another driver is responsible, you can file a claim with the driver’s auto insurance company.
Most bus accident claims are settled without needing to go to court. A lawyer can help you handle the insurance company. If the insurer tries to offer you a lowball settlement, your attorney will be ready to negotiate for fair compensation.
Call us today to learn about your options during a free consultation. Our lawyers do not charge a fee unless we win you compensation.
Manufacturers
Defective parts are another cause of bus accidents. A lawyer might discover that a bus malfunctioned because of poor manufacturing. In that case, the manufacturing company could be liable for your injuries.
All drivers in Atlanta have a duty of care to drive safely. However, buses are “common carriers” in Georgia. As a common carrier, the duty of care is even higher. Drivers of common carriers must exercise “extraordinary care” while on Atlanta roads.
If someone caused your bus accident injuries, you have rights. Talk to an experienced bus accident lawyer today about pursuing compensation. You should not have to bear the burden of someone else’s negligence.
Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer FAQ
These are some of the most common questions we get from bus accident victims in Atlanta. Remember, only your personal injury lawyer can answer specific questions about your case.
How Is a Bus Accident Different from Other Types of Accidents?
Buses often lack the safety features found in passenger cars. Airbags do not protect passengers, and many buses don’t have seat belts. Even when seat belts are available, passengers are less likely to buckle up than when they are riding in a car.
This means that in an accident, bus passengers may be thrown from their seats or may strike their heads, arms, or legs on the inside of the bus. Backpacks, purses, laptops, and other personal possessions can become dangerous projectiles, causing additional injuries.
Who Is “At Fault” in a Bus Accident in Atlanta?
You may wonder what the no-fault law in Georgia is. Georgia is known as a “fault state,” which means that whoever is at fault is responsible for all of the injuries and damages caused by the accident. The concept of fault usually hinges on the concept of negligence. Drivers are negligent when they are not being as careful as they should have been.
If they had been using safe driving behaviors and obeying traffic laws, the accident would not have happened. A negligent driver is legally at fault.
What Injuries Are Covered By Bus Accident Claims?
Tragically, bus accidents often cause serious injuries or even fatalities, particularly when the buses are traveling on highways and interstates. Common bus accident injuries include:
- Fractured bones
- Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Muscle and tendon injuries
- Whiplash injury
- Psychological injuries
What Costs Can I Recover in an Atlanta Bus Accident?
State and local governments that operate public transit and school buses are protected from lawsuits by the rules of “sovereign immunity.” Still, they have large insurance policies to cover bus accidents. Many charter bus companies also have hefty insurance policies. Many bus accident victims recover these types of costs:
- Medical expenses
- Prescription medication costs
- The cost of physical therapy and other rehabilitation
- The cost of mental health treatment for issues arising from the accident
- Lost wages if you missed work time because of the accident
Some accident victims are entitled to far more. If you have severe injuries such as ongoing pain or a disability, you may be eligible for additional large damage awards. Wrongful death damages may be available for people who lost a close family member in a bus accident. Talk to an Atlanta wrongful death lawyer to pursue legal action.
What if the Bus Was Uninsured/Underinsured?
State and local governments and major bus companies carry comprehensive insurance policies to pay for the losses in a bus accident. However, some smaller bus companies don’t have enough insurance to cover a devastating bus accident. That raises the question: Is Suing an Uninsured Driver Worth It? When there is no insurance or not enough insurance, we have several ways of recovering money. These might include:
- Making a claim under the uninsured motorist coverage of your own insurance policy
- Finding other insurance policies that might apply to your injuries, including policies held by the bus driver and other drivers involved in the accident
- Getting a court order requiring the other driver to pay you directly
- Making a claim with the manufacturer of the bus or its equipment if there is a defect or malfunction
- Placing a lien on another driver’s personal or business assets until you are paid.
The Insurance Company Already Offered Me Money. How Can a Lawyer Help Me?
Insurance companies are motivated by profit, and it is in their interest to offer you as little money as possible to resolve your claim. The “friendly” insurance company representative is hoping you’ll take the first offer they make and sign away your right to recover any more money later. We talk to many people who regret taking that first offer because they later learned that their injuries were much more severe—and expensive—than they originally thought.
A lawyer is experienced at evaluating insurance company offers and will send you to doctors who can offer a realistic estimate of the amount your injuries will cost and what it will take for you to recover as fully as possible. A lawyer knows how to use this information to convince the insurance company to offer you a fair amount—typically much more than that initial offer.
Talk to an Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer for Free Today
Bus accidents are less common than other collisions, but they can be severe. If you suffered injuries in an Atlanta bus accident, it’s vital to know your rights. Our bus accident lawyers can help you pursue the recovery you deserve.
Our entire law practice is devoted to helping accident victims get the money they need to pay for treatment and put their lives back together. We won’t charge you unless we win money for you. Atlanta car accident lawyers can give you a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and help you decide what to do. Contact us today.
