Savannah, GA Bus Accident Lawyer

Many people rely on buses from services like Chatham Area Transit or The Dot to travel to and from wherever they want to go every day. Most of the time, there are no incidents of not that happening during bus rides. However, buses do, unfortunately, get into crashes from time to time, and people can get seriously injured. In addition to the obvious physical dangers present in bus crashes, bus accident victims can be burdened with enormous medical bills and lengthy recovery periods.

Luckily, we are here to help. Our attorneys have the drive, professionalism, and experience to take those who harmed you to task and get you the damages you are entitled to. Let us handle the legal issues while you focus on recovery from your injuries.

Receive a free case review from Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s bus accident lawyers when you call our office at (470) 287-3070.

Who Causes Bus Accidents in Savannah, GA?

In short, bus accidents happen because another party is negligent or careless. In the case of bus accidents, this could be a bus driver doing something careless, like driving drunk or speeding. Additionally, bus drivers need special training to operate larger, unwieldy vehicles. So, if a bus company like Chatham Area Transit hired a driver who they knew was not trained, they may be negligent as well and can be included in your lawsuit. You may also be able to sue bus companies if the bus driver acted negligently when doing something related to their job.

Other drivers can also cause bus accidents. So, if another driver is doing something negligent and crashes into a bus, you should sue them, not the bus driver.

Sometimes, bus accidents have nothing to do with the driver. An issue with the bus, like a defective axle or faulty brakes, can easily cause a crash. In those cases, it may be prudent to include the designer or manufacturer of the bus as a party in your lawsuit, as their defective product caused your injuries.

What Should I Do After a Bus Crash in Savannah, GA?

There are many things that may happen after a bus crash. People may panic, cry out in pain, or simply freeze up and not know what to do. However, there are a number of things you can do right after a bus crash happens to both ensure you are safe and improve any future claim you may want to bring to our bus accident lawyers. In addition to improving your case, having a plan of action can help mitigate fear and stress about bus crashes. That being said, you should not worry if you did not do some or any of these things, as each bus crash will be different, and you may not have been afforded the opportunity to take every step.

Call Emergency Services

In order to get help after a bus accident, emergency services need to know that one happened in order to respond. It is often the bus driver’s responsibility to call emergency services when their bus crashes, but sometimes they may not be able to or not want to. In those cases, it is time to take the initiative. Either dial 911 yourself or tell someone else to. In a crisis situation, it is better to pick someone in particular to do a task rather than ask for “someone” to call emergency services, as the call is more likely to happen that way.

Get Medical Attention

Once first responders have been notified that there is a crash, you should let them examine you and follow all of their instructions. Of course, if you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to do things, you will be taken for medical treatment, and you do not necessarily need to worry about the other steps explained here. If you are examined on-site by first responders, do as they say. If they are going to take you to the hospital, follow those instructions. However, if you are able to stick around near the accident, you can do other things that can help potential future legal claims.

Collect Information

Once you are cleared to stick around near the accident, you should go about getting as much information as you possibly can about the situation. Take many photos and videos of the area around the accident, and be sure to talk to anyone who may have seen what happened. The photos and videos can be used as evidence to support your claims in court, and people nearby can serve as potential witnesses who can testify in court on your behalf.

Additionally, you should try to get the name, license plate number, and insurance information of any other drivers involved in the accident; they may be potential parties you can sue in court.

Do not be worried if you cannot get as much information as you would like. There are many circumstances that can make it hard to do so. Although it is good to get evidence when it is “fresh,” you can still get that information from things like police reports with the help of our attorneys.

Call Our Attorneys

As soon as the opportunity presents itself, you need to get in touch with legal counsel after a bus accident. This is because you do not have an unlimited amount of time to file your claim. Under O.G.C.A. § 9-3-33, you have two years from when you are injured to file a bus accident lawsuit. This may seem like a long time, but it is really not when you take into account the time it takes to gather information, recover from injuries, and do other things. Therefore, it is always an idea to contact our legal professionals sooner rather than later so that you can file on time.

Speak to Our Savannah, GA Bus Accident Lawyers Now

Rice, Murtha & Psoras has bus accident lawyers ready to review your claim when you call our office at (470) 287-3070.