If you are in a bus accident, you should call 911, document the scene, seek medical care, file a police report, and consult an attorney. Calling a Salt Lake City bus accident lawyer can help you protect the integrity of your claim throughout the process.
What to Do Right After a Bus Accident
Immediately after a bus accident, prioritize your safety and that of others by getting out of the way of additional risk and calling 911. Once you do that, follow all dispatcher information and recommendations and check on the other people involved if it is safe to do so. Then, take the following steps to gather as much evidence as possible:
- Take photos and videos: Use your phone to take photos of the damage you see, including the bus, your vehicle (if driving), and your injuries. Also, take photos of the area surrounding the accident. Then, take a video of the surrounding area to help demonstrate where the accident happened.
- Gather information from witnesses: Get the names and contact information for all parties involved in the accident. This should include anyone who witnessed what happened, passengers on the bus, and third parties.
- Obtain driver information: Be sure to get the bus company’s and driver’s names and contact information. Take a photo of the bus’s license plate.
In addition to these steps, be sure to provide police with any information about the incident you have, but stick with just the facts. Avoid speculation on what might have happened or what you believe took place.
That could become misleading and be used against you later. Avoid making statements implicating you in the cause of your injuries, and speak with a Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer.
For a free legal consultation, call (801) 266-0999
Get Medical Care Immediately Following a Bus Accident
Get medical care as soon as possible after the accident. By visiting the local emergency room right away, you can treat any injuries that may or may not be obvious, protecting your health from worsening. Let responding medics take you to the hospital if they believe it is best for you to do so.
If you do not go to the emergency room immediately, get to an urgent care center as soon as possible, ideally the same day. This helps to document your injuries and connects them directly to the bus accident. If your health changes in any way in the next day or so—especially if you develop additional injuries, aches and pains, or if you feel ill—get to the emergency room.
This is also a good time to start a log of your experiences. Document, either in a video or in a journal, what happened, how it happened, and what happened to you specifically. Document the pain and injuries you have, and then, for the next few days, document any losses, such as being unable to go to work or engage in planned activities.
Filing a Police Report
If you are in a bus accident, filing a police report can be important. If the police come to the scene, they may take your statement, which means you might not have to go to the police department. If you did not provide a statement at the scene, head to the emergency room and then the police station to document your role in the accident and obtain an online report.
Depending on the type of bus, it may be necessary to participate in an investigation. For example, city buses owned and operated by the city itself may require you to report the accident and injuries within days. This is in addition to filing a police report.
If you are unsure what steps to take in Salt Lake City, discuss your case with a bus accident lawyer. Your attorney can be available to you as soon as needed, even the same day as the accident. Let your lawyer handle contacting insurance companies about your losses.
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How an Attorney Can Help You with Your Bus Accident
A Salt Lake City car accident lawyer provides various resources for victims. The first step is to help you report the injury to the appropriate parties, including the city, the bus provider, and the insurance provider responsible. Your attorney will then assist you with the claim.
Once you hire a bus accident lawyer, follow their lead in updating the required parties about your injuries and losses. Focus on your physical and mental health recovery while they work towards building your case. This minimizes many of the risks you face in making statements that could cause a denial of your claim if you are in a bus accident.
Your attorney will handle negotiating with the insurance company or the other at-fault parties involved, along with handling any questions about fault. Your attorney will seek legal action when appropriate based on how willing the insurance company is to negotiate with you. After a bus accident, having a lawyer by your side can be critical.
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What You Do After a Bus Accident Matters
A bus accident can cause serious injury and long-term financial implications that warrant a fair and often robust claim. When you take the necessary steps to document your injuries as thoroughly as possible, show fault in the accident through evidence, and work with an attorney, you put yourself in the best possible position to recover damages fairly.
One of the first things you should do if you are in a bus accident is contact a Salt Lake City bus accident attorney at Siegfried & Jensen. We have decades of combined experience that you can lean on when filing a lawsuit for your bus accident injuries.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form