Has your child been injured in a school bus accident in Georgia? Are you struggling to get your child the medical care they need, cover the costs of their healthcare, or keep the lights on while you miss work to care for them at home? If so, do not lose hope. You could be entitled to substantial compensation from a school bus accident injury claim.
At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, our Georgia school bus accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in fair compensation for injury victims and families just like yours. Read on or contact us for a free consultation to learn more about what you can do and how we can help after a school bus accident in Georgia.
Steps to Take If Your Child Gets Hurt in a School Bus Accident
No parent ever puts their child on a school bus thinking they may not make it home safely later that day. After all, school bus accidents are not a common occurrence. Per the National Safety Council, riding the bus is a safer way for children to get to school every day than both walking and riding in a private vehicle.
However, school bus accidents still happen. And when they do, parents are often left feeling shaken and uncertain about what to do next. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take as a parent to look out for your child’s interests and establish a strong foundation for a school bus accident injury claim:
- Seek medical attention for your child – If your child has not yet been to the hospital or any other healthcare facility, seek medical attention promptly on their behalf. Even if your child is not visibly injured or says they feel fine, remember that the initial shock of a traumatic experience like a school bus accident can mask the symptoms of many injuries. To be on the safe side, take your child to the doctor to have their condition professionally diagnosed. If it turns out your child was injured, your pediatrician can take the appropriate steps to treat their injuries and document everything in their official medical records.
- Follow your pediatrician’s care plan – If your pediatrician prescribes rest, medication, or any particular treatment plan for your child’s crash injuries, be sure to follow their instructions as closely as you can. Doing so will give your child the resources and support they need to heal to the fullest extent possible. Following your doctor’s orders will also demonstrate to interested parties, such as insurance adjusters, that you are taking your child’s recovery seriously. If you fail to keep up with your child’s care plan, it could give the insurer an excuse to deny coverage on the grounds that your child doesn’t seem to need it anyway.
- Gather as much evidence as possible – Collect as much evidence from the crash as you can find. If you are present at the scene of the crash at any point before the wreckage is cleared away, take photos of the area. This includes photos of vehicle damage, the relative positioning of the vehicles involved, and skid marks on the road. If any reliable adults saw the crash occur, politely ask if they are willing to provide witness statements and contact details. Ask your child what they remember about how the crash occurred and write down the details while the events are still fresh in their memory. Finally, hang on to any physical evidence from the crash, such as torn or bloodied clothing that your child was wearing or personal property that was damaged in the crash.
- Keep track of important documentation – Hang on to any documentation you obtain that serves as evidence of the personal and financial consequences you and your family have suffered as a result of the school bus accident. This includes your child’s medical records as documentation of their crash injuries, hospital and doctor’s office bills as documentation of your family’s medical expenses, and even pay stubs or bank records showing lost income from any time you missed at work during your child’s recovery.
- Watch what you say to the insurance company – Many adjusters and other insurance company representatives come across as friendly associates just looking to help. But you should always remember to watch what you say to insurance reps, even those working for your own provider. Anything you tell them will effectively become part of your case, and even minor errors or incongruities could hurt your settlement. Any time you speak with an insurance rep, keep your statements brief and to the point. Do not volunteer any information the adjuster does not request specifically, do not guess if you do not know the answer to a question, and never imply that your child is uninjured or “fine.”
- Watch what you share, post, or say online – In the aftermath of a tragic life event like a school bus accident, many people feel the urge to share their experience with others or simply vent some frustration. However, you should be careful about what you say on social media and other online platforms. You would be surprised by how easy it is to access seemingly “private” content online, and insurance companies will not hesitate to dig up “dirt,” take it wildly out of context, and use it to discredit your injury claim. If your child is old enough to have their own online presence, make sure they know to avoid public social media activity while the injury claim is pending.
- Contact a knowledgeable injury lawyer – Perhaps the most important way you can support your child and your family in the aftermath of a Georgia school bus accident is to get in touch with a knowledgeable attorney. Unexpected injuries have a way of testing our limits, both personally and financially. If your child was injured in a school bus accident, your family should not be forced to shoulder all the consequences alone. An experienced school bus accident lawyer can help you take control of your situation by identifying all possible sources of compensation and explaining your options every step of the way.
Contact a Georgia School Bus Accident Lawyer Today
The trusted Duluth school bus accident attorneys of Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC are prepared to discuss the details of your case with you now in a free initial consultation session. Contact us any time, 24/7/365, when you are ready for answers.
