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What are the Best Things to do After a Bus Accident?
Making sure that those who need immediate medical attention receive it should be a priority after bus accidents. Passengers involved in such an incident should record information such as the bus’s license plate number, the name of the owner of the bus, and the driver’s name. If possible, photographs should be taken of the scene, and passengers should exchange contact information. After having a thorough medical examination, individuals involved in the accident should promptly contact a personal injury attorney.
The first thing that a person should do after a bus accident is to assess her injuries and those of the individuals around her. Individuals with the most dire injuries should be permitted to receive medical attention first. Everyone, however, who was involved in the incident needs to have a prompt and thorough medical evaluation. This is especially essential for infants and pregnant women.
Those who are able should gather identifying information about the bus. This includes the bus number and the license plate number. If it is possible, passengers should also take pictures of the bus accident scene. They should be sure to get the best photographs that they can of the area where they were seated or standing.
Injuries that resulted from the bus accident are likely to be handled through a personal injury lawsuit. It is important, therefore, to get the name and contact details of the company or individual who is responsible for the bus. Furthermore, the driver may be held personally responsible, so his name and contact information should also be collected.
As soon as possible, a person should take the time to write down everything that she remembers about the bus accident. This includes events that occurred before and after. It is also a good idea to get the names and contact details of other people who were on the bus. Their statements may be useful when filing suit against the responsible parties.
Individuals who were involved in the bus accident should maintain records of related expenses. This includes not only medical visits but also lost wages and property damage. They should also keep a record of their pain and suffering, because this is generally factored into personal injury settlements.
Another very important task is finding an experienced attorney. Individuals should not procrastinate because the sooner that a legal professional is consulted the easier it may be to gather vital information. Working with an attorney also helps to prevent individuals from taking actions or making statements that could jeopardize or diminish their claims.
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![Obtain a medical exam as soon as possible after the accident, even if emergency attention is not necessary.]()
By: pkchaiObtain a medical exam as soon as possible after the accident, even if emergency attention is not necessary.
Discussion Comments
We witnessed a tour bus accident on an Interstate highway a few years ago, and we were in a position where we could stop and help. My wife called 911 to report the accident, and I ran over to the site of the wreck. The bus was on its side, but the emergency door was not damaged. I helped some people get off the bus, but the official rescue personnel arrived and convinced us to leave the area because of a fire hazard.
I read more about the bus accident in the paper a few days later. A truck driver had most likely fallen asleep at the wheel and crossed over into the path of the bus. The bus driver was killed instantly, but the truck driver survived. The bus company was already making arrangements to compensate the passengers for their injuries and losses, but I have a feeling the passengers would also be pursuing legal action against the trucking company.
I was in a school bus accident when I was in the sixth grade, and I remember three of us helped the bus driver get the younger kids out of the back emergency exit. There was a three or four foot drop from the floorboard to the street, so we had to pick up each student and lower them down to the ground by hand. Some of them were pretty shook up about it, but they weren't badly injured. One of the best things to do immediately after a bus injury is find a place for riders to congregate. We stood in the grassy highway median, but a parking lot would be good, too.
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