Bus Accident Lawyers in Augusta
If you were hurt in an accident with a bus or were a passenger in a bus accident, you should hire the Chris Hudson Law Group to help you with your claim. Our lawyers specialize in large vehicle accidents, including trucks and buses.
Insurance claims and lawsuits are complicated processes that require a thorough knowledge of state laws. If you’re unfamiliar with handling this type of case, you could end up with much less compensation than you deserve.
Many people rely on public transportation daily. They take the bus to go to work, use a hotel shuttle to explore a new city, and take a private bus line to travel to a different state. It’s convenient if you don’t have a car or want to avoid driving long distances. However, buses are also dangerous. If the driver makes an error at the wheel, it puts their passengers and others on the road at risk of harm.
Accidents happen all the time. Riders rely on bus drivers to get them to their destinations safely. Unfortunately, colliding with a car or truck can lead to severe injuries and fatalities to the passengers and the occupants of the bus and other vehicles. If you suffer injuries in a crash, you could hold the bus driver or the busing company liable for their negligent or careless actions.
To discuss your case with a Chris Hudson Law Group lawyer during a free consultation, call us today at (706) 863-6600 or fill in our contact request form. One of our bus accident lawyers will review the circumstances of the collision and determine whether you have legal options for recovering compensation.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Augusta
Buses crash for similar reasons that cars, trucks, and motorcycles do. Human error is a common cause of accidents involving buses. The driver must follow all signs and signals and pay attention to the other vehicles around them. If they don’t know how to respond to an emergency or navigate poor conditions correctly in their large vehicle, they could lose control of the bus and crash.
The most common causes of bus accidents are:
- Taking a turn too fast
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Driver distractions
- Fatigued driving
- Maneuvering through a small space
- Adverse weather conditions
- Road defects
- Sudden or improper braking
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Failing to check blind spots before changing lanes
If you were injured in an accident while riding a bus or were in another vehicle a bus ran into, the bus driver or bus company could become responsible for the expenses you incurred. It’s their responsibility to avoid causing injuries to others. If their actions contributed to the collision in any way, you could seek compensation for your medical treatment, property damage, and other costs.
Common Injuries Caused in Bus Accidents
Buses are typically much larger than passenger vehicles. The occupants of a small car are likely to suffer more debilitating injuries during a collision than those inside the bus. Bus drivers should have extensive experience operating their vehicles. Since they’re bigger and longer than most cars, navigating through the streets of a city can be more challenging. If a driver doesn’t have the skills to handle dangerous conditions, they could end up in an accident.
Whether you were on the bus at the time of the accident or in another vehicle, the most common injuries that occur are:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
- Loss of limb
- Crush injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Concussion or whiplash
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Disability
- Psychological injuries
Even if you only suffered minor injuries, you should still file a claim for compensation. The medical bills you receive because of the crash should not be your financial responsibility. The bus driver or another negligent party should pay for the suffering you were forced to endure.
Chris Hudson Law Group Can Investigate The Bus Accident
Immediately after a bus accident, you probably feel shocked by what just happened. You might be disoriented and confused. If you don’t know what to do next, you could ruin your chances of securing compensation from the at-fault bus driver. It’s crucial that you contact a bus accident attorney from Chris Hudson Law Group in Augusta so we can handle the next steps in your claim.
When you hire us, we will begin working on your case right away. We focus our time and attention on the circumstances associated with the accident to determine who was at fault. We know how insurance companies think during a claim and will work hard to get them to pay the money you’re owed. Typically, they want to save money and avoid large settlements. We use our knowledge of their tactics to advocate for our clients and seek the highest possible compensation available.
We’ll need to gather relevant evidence that shows who was responsible for the collision and the injuries you suffered as a result. The evidence we obtain will depend on the unique details of your case but might include:
- Statements from witnesses
- Traffic camera footage
- Police reports
- Pictures from the accident scene
- Bus company’s maintenance and repair logs
- Copies of your hospital records, physician notes, billing statements, and other medical documents
- Photos of your visible injuries
- Damage reports for your vehicle and the bus
- Bus driver’s employment history, criminal record, and prior accident reports
Most accident victims don’t know what they’re supposed to do following a bus crash. It’s not a requirement to hire a lawyer, but you’re more likely to recover the compensation you deserve with the help of an experienced legal team. If you try to handle the legal process alone, the insurance company could try to take advantage of you and offer a lowball settlement or deny your claim unfairly. With Chris Hudson Law Group on your side, you can feel at ease knowing that you’re in excellent hands.
Seeking Compensation from Insurance After a Bus Accident
Georgia is a fault insurance state. That means the at-fault driver becomes financially liable for the victim’s injuries and losses. If the bus driver caused the crash, you could file a claim with their insurance company.
Transportation service companies must purchase liability insurance for their buses with minimum limits to compensate for an accident victim’s expenses if their driver is at fault. When you file a liability claim, you could pursue compensation for these losses:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement or physical impairment
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
If the bus driver’s insurance company won’t settle for a fair amount or denies your claim altogether, you might be able to file a lawsuit against them and the bus driver or bus company. You should let Chris Hudson Law Group assist you with this because there are strict deadlines and state laws you must follow if you want to sue someone to compensate for your losses.
Georgia Statute of Limitations on Bus Accident Claims
The timeframe you must comply with to file a lawsuit in Georgia is called a statute of limitations. You have to follow a two-year statute of limitations if you want to sue the bus driver for the accident. That means you have two years from the crash date to file suit.
That might seem like adequate time to prepare a case, but anything could happen in those two years that might delay the process. For example, many people will file an insurance claim first to attempt to settle the case without going to court. However, if they end up working on the claim for over two years, and then the insurance company denies it, they won’t have a chance to file a lawsuit because the statutory deadline has already passed.
How Modified Comparative Negligence Impacts a Lawsuit
If you’re working on a lawsuit, the jury could use modified comparative negligence to reduce your financial award if they find out your actions contributed to the accident. That means they’re able to assign you a percentage of fault and diminish your monetary losses by that same percentage.
For example, if you were in a bus accident and suffered $50,000 in losses, but the jury determines you share 20% blame for your injuries, you could only pursue up to $40,000 in compensation. If you’re 50% or more responsible for the crash, you wouldn’t be allowed to seek any amount of money from the at-fault party.
What Are My Options If I Was On The Bus At The Time of the Accident?
You would have the same two options if you were riding the bus as if you were in another vehicle when the accident happened. You can either file an insurance claim with the bus company’s insurance company or pursue a lawsuit.
Speak to a Dedicated Bus Accident Lawyer
At Chris Hudson Law Group, we have built and maintained a stellar reputation throughout Augusta and Georgia. We were given a 10.0 Avvo rating, and Martindale-Hubbell provided us an AV Preeminent® rating, the highest ratings possible. We have received various awards and accolades from prestigious organizations, including The National Trial Lawyers and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. When you hire us, you’ll have a compassionate and skilled team in your corner.
Our bus accident attorneys know what it takes to hold negligent bus drivers accountable for what they’ve done and recover the maximum available compensation for you. You can depend on our legal team to go to battle and work toward reaching your goals. Call Chris Hudson Law Group at (706) 863-6600 if you suffered injuries in an accident involving a bus. We can meet you for a free consultation to discuss your case.