What Happens If You Are Injured on a Bus or Hit by a Bus?
Being hit by a bus or injured on one during your daily commute is a terrifying moment. You’ll need to follow a few steps immediately to make sure you’re safe and you receive treatment for any injuries. But you also need to follow a few best practices to protect your rights and hold the responsible party accountable for the accident. If you’re injured on a bus or hit by a bus, follow the steps below. Contact Emergency Services Your safety and other passengers’ safety are the immediate priorities following a bus accident. The driver should contact emergency services immediately, but if the driver doesn’t or can’t, call 911. Since buses are larger than many vehicles on the road and carry several passengers who are either standing during a collision or sitting without seat belts, a high likelihood of injuries can occur with these events. Document the Accident If you can, take notes about the events leading up to the accident. You should also take photos if safe to do so and collect the contact information of any witnesses. An attorney can help you gather other evidence, such as the police report, to help document the accident. Get Medical Attention Regardless of how you feel after a bus accident, seek medical attention. Even if you don’t feel hurt, you may have been injured, and the symptoms may not have presented themselves yet. When you visit a doctor, you’ll also get an official medical report. Documenting the extent of your injuries and demonstrating that you did seek medical attention are vital to securing compensation for injuries you experienced following a bus...
What to Do If You’re Hit by a Drunk Driver
Being hit by another driver is a terrifying moment, and if alcohol was involved, it can be even more difficult to know how you should proceed. You’ll need to file an insurance claim just like you would in any other accident, but you should also consider working with an attorney. A specialist who is familiar with the laws in your state can help you navigate your insurance policy, seek a settlement from the other party’s insurance, and, if needed, take your case to court. Follow these steps if you’re in an accident involving a drunk driver. Call the Police You’re required to call the police and report an accident in certain situations, such as if a personal injury occurs or there is significant property damage. Regardless of the requirements in your state, however, having police on the scene can help you get insurance information and communicate with the other driver and witnesses. If alcohol is involved, the police report and the officer’s testimony will be vital evidence when you file a claim. Take Notes and File an Insurance Claim Once you’ve confirmed that everyone is safe and you’ve called the police, gather information about the accident. This should include taking photos of the damage and collecting contact information from the other driver and any available witnesses. You should also note the road conditions, the stop lights and other road signs you followed, and the other driver’s condition. You can then report the accident to your insurance company. Your insurer will provide compensation for repairs to your vehicle, medical expenses, and other related costs. Your insurance company will charge the...
Spring Break Cruise – Steps if You’re Injured
Getting the care you need at home following an injury can be a difficult process. If you’re hurt while on a spring break cruise, you may have an even harder time understanding your health insurance coverage and getting the treatment that you need. If you’re planning on spending some time at sea this spring, make sure you follow these steps if you’re injured. Report the Accident From slips and falls to more serious events such as assaults, injuries do occur on cruise liners. No matter the severity or type of injury, your first step should be to report the accident to the cruise line as soon as possible. Before you leave the port on your trip, check the company’s policy for reporting and responding to an accident. Do your best to follow these requirements. Finally, take notes about what happened and keep all documents and information related to the injury, such as medical reports. Document the Accident As with any type of injury, you should document the event thoroughly as soon as it’s safe to do so. Take photos if possible, collect witness contact info, and record what led to and caused an accident. You should also note the company’s response and any treatment that you received. Your documentation may be used to help prove that the cruise line acted negligently and contributed to your injury. Seek Medical Attention No matter the severity of an injury, you should seek medical attention to help you document the accident and subsequent damages. Your initiative will also prevent the company from claiming that since you didn’t see a doctor, you must not...
How Do Helmet Laws Affect Motorcycle Injury Cases?
Despite evidence that motorcycle helmets save so many lives, only 28 states have helmet laws on the books. Of these 28 states, only 19 require both the passengers and driver to wear helmets, while the other nine states only mandate that the driver wear a helmet. If you live in a state that has motorcycle helmet laws, it’s important to know just how it affects you in case of a motorcycle accident causing injury or death. Knowing the Law in Your State Whether you ride a bike or drive a car, it’s paramount to know every aspect of helmet laws because accidents do happen and you want to be aware of your rights. These laws can affect the outcome of any claims or damages you’re involved in. In 2010, Florida lawmakers amended the Florida Statute so that a motorcyclist may ride a bike without a helmet only under certain criteria. They must be over the age of 21 and have an insurance policy that provides at least $10,000 in medical coverage. If you don’t meet these requirements, it is the law to wear a helmet while operating or riding on a motorcycle. Personal Injury & Comparative Negligence Even if it isn’t mandatory to wear a helmet, if you suffered an injury while not wearing a helmet it can still impact a personal injury lawsuit filed by an injured motorcyclist. This usually falls under comparative negligence, meaning that both you and the other person involved in the accident are responsible for the injuries, often regardless of who actually caused the accident. Florida is a pure comparative negligence state, meaning that...Have a question? Give us a call.
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