Have you been injured in a San Diego bus accident? If so, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries. Call Injury Trial Lawyers, APC today to find out how we can help to get you the money you need after your accident. You have a limited amount of time to act, so it is important to call our San Diego bus accident attorney today.
Causes of Bus Accidents in San Diego
There are many reasons that bus accidents happen in and around San Diego. Determining what caused your bus accident will allow us to determine which party (or parties) are liable for your accident-related injuries. It is important to understand that bus drivers are not the only reason bus accidents happen. Drivers of other vehicles on the road, the city or county of San Diego, bus manufacturers, bus companies, and pedestrians could all potentially be liable for bus accidents that happen in San Diego. Common causes of bus accidents in San Diego may include:
- Distracted driving;
- Fatigued driving;
- Speeding;
- Driving under the influence;
- Improper training;
- Mechanical issues; and/or
- Jaywalking.
Injuries in San Diego Bus Accidents
When a bus accident happens, the likelihood of suffering a serious injury is high. Since 2004, the Injury Trial Lawyers have handled thousands of personal injury claims helping bus accident victims recover millions in compensation for injuries including:
- Broken bones and fractures;
- Scrapes and lacerations;
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Concussion;
- Burn injury;
- Spinal cord injury;
- Loss of limbs;
- Internal organ damage;
- Paraplegia;
- Paralysis; and
- Death.
Call our San Diego bus accident attorney today for more information about how we can help you get the money you need to recover from your accident.
Why Should I File a Bus Accident Personal Injury Claim?
If you have been injured in a bus accident you are probably stressed and overwhelmed. The injuries you have suffered in the accident will likely generate extraordinarily high medical bills and may even force you to miss time at work. A reduced income will only make the stress of the situation worse. Filing a personal injury claim will help to get you the money you desperately need to get by after your life-changing accident.
The money you recover from your San Diego bus accident claim can be used to pay for your medical bills, emotional distress, embarrassment, and compensate for lost wages. If your injury is particularly serious and affects your ability to work, your claim can also compensate you for your reduced earning capacity.
When Can I File a Bus Accident Claim?
It is important to act quickly after your San Diego bus accident because you will have a limited amount of time to file a claim.
Civil Personal Injury Claim Statute of Limitations
In most cases, you will have two years from the date of your bus accident to file a civil claim for damages. This statute of limitations can be extended in some situations and give you a little bit of extra time to get the money you need. The statute of limitations may be extended if:
- There is a reasonable delay in the discovery of an accident-related injury;
- You are a minor at the time of the accident; and/or
- The negligent party is unavailable.
Government Administrative Claim Statute of Limitations
Sometimes the city of San Diego or San Diego County may be responsible for your bus accident and, as a result, liable for your injuries. This may be due to faulty signage, malfunctioning traffic signals, or dangerous road conditions that the government failed to fix in a reasonable amount of time. Whatever the case, it is important to know that there is a slightly different process for filing a personal injury claim when the defendant is a government entity.
To recover compensation from the government you must file an administrative claim with San Diego within six months of your accident. If you do not do this it will be incredibly difficult to get any money from the city or county for your injuries. Hiring an experienced San Diego bus accident attorney will help to ensure that all claims are filed within the applicable statute of limitations.
Why Should I Hire a San Diego Bus Accident Attorney?
A bus accident has likely inflicted serious (and even life-threatening) injuries. Your main focus should be on getting better, and not struggling with a complex legal process. The insurance companies you go up against will be represented by skilled attorneys who will try to minimize the amount of money you walk away with. Having an experienced San Diego bus accident attorney on your side will increase the chances of maximizing the compensation you receive. Call the Injury Trial Lawyers today to learn more about how we can help you.
What Will the Injury Trial Lawyers Do?
When you hire the Injury Trial Lawyers, we will get to work on your case immediately. We know that the sooner you recover the compensation you need, the sooner you can begin to move on from your accident.
Client Meeting
Your case will begin with a meeting with one of our San Diego bus accident attorneys. At this meeting, we will listen to your account of the accident and ask you a series of questions. It is important to be as honest and detailed as possible when you answer these questions. We will use your explanations and answers as a foundation for your case.
Investigation
A thorough investigation into your San Diego bus accident will allow us to determine liability and legal strategy. This investigation may include:
- Reviewing police reports, accident scene photographs, and medical evaluations;
- Interviewing witnesses, police, and other relevant parties;
- Consulting with expert witnesses; and
- Legal research.
Determine Liability
We will analyze the results of our investigation and determine which party (or parties) should be held responsible for your injuries. In California, more than one defendant can be named in a personal injury lawsuit. Each defendant can be held liable for the percentage of the accident that is determined to be their fault. This means that you can also be held responsible if your negligence contributed to your accident. If we determine that your negligence contributed to the accident we will structure our legal argument to minimize the role you played. The less fault that is attributed to you, the more you will be able to recover.
Negotiation and Litigation
Most personal injury cases are settled in pre-trial negotiations. We will meet with the at-fault party and/or their insurance company to negotiate a settlement in your case. We will use any evidence that may help maximize the settlement offers you receive. If we are not satisfied with the offers you get we will not hesitate to take your case to trial. We are skilled trial attorneys who thrive in the courtroom. Our reputation precedes us in court, so most insurance companies will be eager to settle before the case reaches this point.
What Should I Do After a Bus Accident?
While a personal injury claim may not be your first thought after an accident, there are certain steps you can take to help get the most out of any claim you decide to file in the future.
See a Doctor. Get medical help immediately after your San Diego bus accident. This will help to make sure that you aren’t suffering from any internal injuries that could be dangerous in the future. The doctor’s medical report will also be used to prove that your injuries were caused by the accident.
Get a Police Report. A police report is not admissible in court but is extremely helpful in documenting your accident. The report will contain information that is likely to be lost or forgotten in the days, weeks, and months following your accident. Your attorney will use this information as a foundation for your case.
Don’t Speak to Insurance Companies. Insurance companies aren’t on your side and do not have your best interest at heart. They will try to manipulate a difficult situation and get you to agree to accept a lowball offer. They may even try to get you to say something that could be used against you down the line. The best way to keep this from happening is to keep quiet and wait for your attorney to handle any communications.
Call a Bus Accident Lawyer. Bus accident claims should be handled by an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer. We know how insurance companies operate and can make sure that you aren’t given a lowball offer. We will fight aggressively to make sure that the at-fault parties are held responsible and that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
San Diego Bus Accident Attorney
Have you or someone you know been injured in a San Diego bus accident? You may be entitled to recover money from the party responsible for your accident. This compensation can be incredibly important for your physical, mental, and emotional recovery. Contact the Injury Trial Lawyers for information about how we can help to get the most out of your bus accident injury claim.
You have a limited amount of time to file a claim, so it is important to call us as soon as you can. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency-fee-basis. This means that you do not have to worry about legal fees unless we win your case. We only get paid if we are successful in getting you compensation in the form of a settlement or award. Call us today to set up your free consultation with our San Diego bus accident lawyers.