Have you been in a bus accident? Do you know which steps to take after the incident? Do you know which step to absolutely avoid even though you’ll be pressured to comply?
If not, you’ll find the answers below. When you’re ready to discover the five steps every bus crash victim must perform and how to avoid pitfalls, read on.
1. Get Help Immediately
First, assess the scene. Take notice of dangers such as broken power lines, glass, and gasoline. Also, check for injuries on yourself and others nearby.
Get to safety. If you were in a bus or car accident, the position of the wreck in traffic may cause an additional wreck. The general rule of thumb says to get out of the crashed vehicle and stand somewhere off the road. Don’t stand behind your car or in the median.
Get out your list of emergency numbers. Call 911 immediately and ask for police assistance and an ambulance if it’s necessary.
2. See a Physician After the Bus Accident
Did you know you might be injured in a car crash without even realizing it? Whiplash injuries are the number one injury suffered by car accident victims. Unfortunately, signs of whiplash may not show up until weeks after the accident.
Other dangerous injuries might also go unnoticed without medical attention. Bone fractures and soft tissue damage to organs could cause idiopathic symptoms and even death.
3. Document Everything
If the police show up at the accident, they’ll take pictures and interview everyone that was involved. If you’re in a bus accident, they’ll interview every passenger as well as the driver. But that might not be enough.
Things might get tricky when it comes to the insurance company responsible for covering the bus and its driver. If the driver or the bus is found at fault for the accident, their insurance is responsible for covering your medical costs. Unfortunately, that means you’ve got to stay on your toes.
The insurance company might be looking for a way to avoid your payout. If that’s the case, you must be cautious about what you say to the police and insurance adjuster. Remember to keep an account of everything that happened for yourself and your own lawyers.
4. Avoid Recorded Statements
With a car collision or bus collision, auto insurance companies want the facts as soon as they’re available. It helps them avoid the distortion suffered by memories over time. It also helps them paint a clear picture of the accident and the events leading up to it.
As such, they’ll ask you for a recorded statement. Unfortunately, this statement is admissible in a court of law. In other words, if you’re not careful about what you say, you might paint yourself into a corner.
Avoid these recorded statements from insurance companies until you have legal counsel.
5. Speak With Your Insurance and Attorney
If you have a car crash injury, speak with your own insurance company immediately. If you’ve been injured on a bus, you don’t need to speak to your auto insurance company. But in both cases, speak to your personal injury lawyer immediately.
You need to know the process: police investigation, insurance fault laws, medical injury payout, etc. A good lawyer will guide you through the steps and highlight the areas which need your immediate attention.
Other Helpful Steps
Now you know what to do should you get in a bus accident. Stay sharp and get out of danger. Then seek medical attention and legal counsel.
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2018 ·
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