School buses, charter buses, and public transit are important to our transportation infrastructure. However, the victims of bus accidents are at a higher risk of severe injuries or death. If you’ve been the victim of a bus accident serving Wytheville, you need a lawyer.
The team to call is Pendleton Law Team. We’ve helped victims of bus accidents and other personal injury situations for years in Virginia, and now it’s your turn. Here’s what you need to know after you’ve been in a bus accident in Wytheville and what to do next.
What to Do at the Scene?
Winning your case requires evidence, and you can help your lawyer make a stronger case by doing certain things at the scene of the crash. Not all victims can do these things after a bus crash, but anything you can provide will help your bus accident attorney.
Give a Report to the Police
If you were a driver involved in the crash, you’re required to give a report to the police. Bus passengers can also stay at the scene to give a report to the police. Police reports prove you were involved in an accident and a description of what happened.
Take Photos of the Scene
Most people have a smartphone now, so take photos and video of the scene, the vehicles, and your injuries if you can. Also, try to preserve the state of your clothing. Don’t wash or throw away any torn or bloody garments. They can be used as evidence.
Get Eyewitness Contact Information
If there were witnesses to the crash, get their names and contact information. Do not discuss what happened in the crash. Only verify that they saw something. If you talk with them about what happened, you could poison their testimony accidentally.
See a Doctor Even if You Feel Fine
As soon as you can, see a doctor to get a checkup even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can hide injuries and pain so you don’t feel them till days later. Tell the doctor you’ve been in an accident so they can give you a proper examination.
This protects your health and it protects your settlement by creating a medical record of your injuries. If you wait until later, the insurance companies have all kinds of tricks to persuade a jury that you’re not as injured as you say you are.
Consult with a Bus Accident Lawyer
After you’ve done what you can, it’s time to call a bus accident lawyer for a free consultation. Take what evidence you have with you to help them decide if you have a case and to get a fairer estimate.
If you are in the hospital and cannot leave, you can still get a consultation with our team. If you are the immediate family of a slain victim in a bus accident, you can also come to us to see if you have a valid wrongful death claim.
For a Free Legal Consultation
Call The Personal Injury Lawyer Hotline.
804-250-5050
Who Gets Sued in Bus Accidents?
One challenge of bus accidents is figuring out which parties are the most liable for an accident. It could be the bus driver, a third-party driver, the bus company, or another party. Each may have a role to play in the accident and you may get compensation from all them.
If you are a driver, one job of your lawyer will be to argue that you had no responsibility for the accident. This is crucial because Virginia doesn’t allow at-fault victims to get compensation through the court even if they share fault.
This is called contributory negligence. If you contributed even a little to the negligence that caused an accident, you could be denied compensation. Yet another reason you need to have our bus accident attorneys on your side before you speak with an insurance company.
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What Should You Do If An Insurance Company Reaches out to You?
If you get contacted by an insurance company, and you haven’t spoken with a lawyer yet, be careful what you say. Anything you tell them, even answering “I’m fine” to be polite, could be used against your claim. Speak only the facts about what happened.
Do not agree to sign anything or to give a statement before speaking with a lawyer. They may try to say that it is necessary to complete a claim, but do not believe them. They want to get you to agree to an ancient settlement or say something that can reduce the amount they have to pay you.
Once you agree to take a settlement, you cannot go back for more money later for the same bus accident. Let a professional bus accident attorney handle these negotiations for you. You have more important things to worry about, like healing from your accident.
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Injury Lawyers 804-250-5050
Consult with a Bus Accident Lawyer Serving Wytheville
You have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim for your bus accident injury, but the deadline could be much sooner than that if it was a city transit or school bus. Don’t wait and lose your opportunity for compensation. Consult with Pendleton Law Team’s Wytheville bus accident attorneys.
To get started, call the number on your screen or email us through our website. A representative will reach out to you to schedule your free consultation.
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