Warner Robins, GA Bus Accident Lawyer

Bus accidents happen every day, and sadly, people are often very seriously injured by these accidents. Because buses carry lots of people, there is also a good chance that many people will get hurt in a single incident, increasing the magnitude of the tragedy.

If you were hurt in a bus crash around Warner Robins, call our office. Our lawyers have the skills and determination to get you the justice and damages you need after getting injured in a bus crash.

Chat with the bus accident lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras about your case today by calling (470) 287-3070.

Important Steps After Bus Accidents in Warner Robins, GA

Bus crashes are dynamic and scary experiences where anything can happen. That being said, there are some things that you can do immediately after an accident that can help improve a future bus accident lawsuit. Our bus accident lawyers have put together a guide to the most important things to do after a bus crash in this section below.

Get Help

The first and most important thing to do after a bus crash is to ensure that emergency services are on their way and that you and everyone else are getting the help they need. Call 911 or ensure that someone else is doing so, and let emergency medical personnel look over you and follow all of their instructions. If they say that you need to go to the hospital right away, then do that and do not worry about anything else – our lawyers will be able to pick up the slack.

Of course, many bus accidents end with the victims unconscious and unable to help themselves. In those cases, the important thing is that you get the care you need, not that you did investigative work after a crash.

Get Information

If emergency responders indicate that you can stay, you should stick around and get as much information as you can. Take videos and photos of the accident and surrounding area, talk to witnesses, and get the license plate number, insurance information, and names of any other drivers involved in the crash. It is also a good idea to note the name of the bus company and the bus driver involved in the accident. Our lawyers can use this information to build a case by figuring out the cause of your claim, tracking down witnesses who can testify at your trial, and determining potential defendants.

Preparing Your Bus Accident Lawsuit in Warner Robins, GA

After the proverbial dust has settled following the bus crash, you should start preparing your claim in some shape or form right away. There is a lot to do before a case gets resolved at trial or otherwise.

Choosing Who to Sue

When you are in the early stages of your claim, you have to figure out who you are going to sue in your lawsuit. Choosing defendants is very important because you can only get financial compensation from parties that caused your injuries. For example, if a drunk bus driver hits you, you should sue that driver to get them to pay for your injuries. On the other hand, suppose a responsible bus driver is operating a bus that is past inspection and has defective brakes. In that case, you may want to look to sue other parties in addition to the driver. Gathering information about your claim can help determine who you should sue and who should be left out of your claim.

Filing On Time

Once the essential bits of your claim are figured out, our lawyers need to file it quickly. Under O.G.C.A. § 9-3-33, plaintiffs have two years from the time they get injured to file personal injury lawsuits in Georgia. This is known as a “statute of limitations.” Once those two years pass, you cannot file a claim or be awarded damages. With the time it takes to gather evidence, recover from injuries, and do other things, those two years can pass by very quickly, so it is always best to try and file sooner rather than later.

Important Things Before Trial

Once your case is filed, there are many important steps that need to take place before trial. Some things, like discovery and depositions, are very involved and can take a long time. Other matters, such as court hearings on various things, will take varying amounts of time and effort, depending on what they entail. It is not at all unusual for the pre-trial process to take months or even years in a personal injury case.

Should You Settle or Go to Trial in a Bus Accident Lawsuit in Warner Robins, GA?

At any point, the defense may offer to “settle” the claim before trial. Parties settle cases by dropping charges and agreeing to certain terms. Nobody is found liable in court, but many settlement officers do include an admission of liability by one or both parties.

Many people think that settling a case is giving up, but that is simply not true. Settling your case may provide a similar or better outcome to going to trial. Of course, our lawyers will look at your situation to see if settling the claim makes sense for you and advise you on whether settling or going to trial is the best course of action.

If your case goes to trial, the outcome will be decided by the jury after they hear all the legal arguments and see all the evidence from both our lawyers and opposing counsel. The jury will also determine the compensation you get as damages if they find that the defendant is liable for your injuries.

Discuss Your Claim with Our Warner Robins, GA Bus Accident Lawyers

Rice, Murtha & Psoras has bus accident lawyers ready to assist you when you contact us at (470) 287-3070.