To recover monetary compensation for the injuries that you suffered in a bus accident, you have the burden of proof. Specifically, the accident victim must demonstrate that the at-fault bus driver or some other individual or entity acted unreasonably under the circumstances. Moreover, the accident victim must show that the at-fault person’s negligent actions or inactions resulted in the accident.
Finally, the accident victim must demonstrate that he or she suffered one or more personal injuries or damages and that these injuries and damages were a direct result of the bus accident. The bus accident does not need to be the one sole cause of the injuries and damages that the accident victim sustained. However, the bus accident must be at least one cause of the injuries and damages that the accident victim suffered.
If you were injured in a bus accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, your first step is to file a claim against all potentially responsible parties and/or their insurance companies. Once a claim is filed, the insurance company will review all of the pertinent documentation, including the police report, medical records, and medical bills.
The insurance company may then place a settlement offer on the case, which the accident victim may choose to accept or not accept. In the event the insurance company is unwilling to offer you a reasonable amount of monetary compensation to settle your case, you then have the option of filing a lawsuit against the negligent bus driver, bus company, or any other individual who may have caused or contributed to the bus accident in which you sustained injuries.
Depending upon the jurisdiction where your bus accident happened, there is a period of time, called a statute of limitations, by which you must file your Atlanta bus accident lawsuit. If you fail to file your lawsuit within that time period, you are essentially waiving your eligibility for the monetary compensation to which you may be entitled. Therefore, you should make sure that you know the deadline for filing a bus accident lawsuit in your jurisdiction.
Georgia has set that deadline at two years for injury claims. If the government operated the bus that injured you, your deadline is one year.
Still, you will not want to wait to seek medical or legal advice. Act now—call a doctor to identify your injuries and ensure they don’t worsen. Then call our experienced Atlanta bus accident lawyers to give us the time needed to fully investigate your claim, preserve evidence, locate witnesses, and file your claim or lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations, ensuring that you can pursue monetary compensation for your injuries.
