Bus accidents are terrifying experiences. Buses are very large vehicles that can easily crush other cars and trucks in a collision. If you are a passenger on a bus during an accident, you could be violently thrown about, sustaining painful injuries. Bus drivers and the people who employ them can be held liable for injuries sustained in bus accidents.
Bus accidents are different than ordinary car accidents, and they are often more extreme. Buses are very large and capable of causing serious harm to other drivers, pedestrians, and even passengers on the bus. You could be faced with considerable expenses for medical bills and vehicle repairs with no way to pay for them. If the bus driver is at fault, you can hold them and their employer liable and get compensation for your damages.
Speak with our Yonkers bus accident lawyers if you were hurt in a bus accident. You may feel overwhelmed and confused about what steps you should take next, but the team at The Martello Law Firm, PLLC is here to help. Call our offices at (646) 396-0236 to schedule a free, confidential legal consultation about your accident.
What To Do After a Bus Accident in Yonkers
The moments immediately following a bus accident can feel like walking in a haze. You might be in a state of shock and unsure of your surroundings. The very first thing you should do is get medical help. If you can, call 911. If you are unable to reach your phone, try to get someone nearby to make the call for you.
Getting medical attention right away, even if you feel relatively unharmed, is crucial. Not only is it in the best interest of your overall wellbeing, but it helps build a record of your injuries. We will rely on this record when we argue the value of your damages.
After you call for help, you can think about collecting evidence from the accident scene. Collecting evidence does not mean investigating the crash scene like a C.S.I. team. You can collect evidence simply by taking photographs and recording videos of the scene on your cell phone. Crash sites are often cleaned up very quickly because they pose a hazard to other drivers on the road. If you can preserve the scene in photos and videos, we will be better positioned to argue for compensation.
Bus crashes often involve multiple victims. Buses can carry a great many passengers, and any one of those passengers could provide eyewitness testimony about the crash. If you can, exchange contact information with some people at the crash site. They may be willing to testify about the accident.
After a crash, you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. Our Yonkers bus accident attorneys can review your case with you and help you file your lawsuit. Filing the lawsuit requires an assessment of damages and well thought arguments regarding how the accident happened and whom is to blame.
When to File a Lawsuit for a Bus Accident in Yonkers, New York
You may be going through a lot right after a bus accident. However, you should keep in mind that there is a time limit on when you can file a personal injury lawsuit. In New York, under C.V.P. Law § 214, the statute of limitations on most personal injury cases is 3 years. The statute begins to run on the day your cause of action arises, meaning the date of the accident. If the deadline for filing has passed, you may be barred from ever filing your claim and getting compensation.
While statutes of limitations impose hard deadlines, a few exceptions may allow you to buy more time. Generally, conditions that would prevent you from filing within the statutory period may be grounds for tolling the statute. For example, if you were in a bus accident at the age of 15, you could not file a lawsuit on your own because you are a minor. In such a case, the statute would be tolled until you turn 18, and then the clock would start ticking. Our Yonkers bus accident attorneys can help you figure out if your deadline has passed or if you still have time to file.
The time to file a personal injury lawsuit will be different if you plan on suing a city or other municipality. Many buses are part of public transportation entities and are owned by a state, city, or local government. In such cases, you can sue the municipality only after filing a notice of claim with them. This notice must be filed within 90 days of your accident, according to G.M.U. Law § 50-e.
Claiming Damages After a Yonkers Bus Accident
Your damages include more than just your physical injuries. Any losses caused by the bus accident or attributed to the accident may be included in your damages calculations. Our Yonkers bus accident lawyers can go over your case with you and begin calculating damages you can claim. While people are often concerned with medical bills and paying for vehicle repairs, they overlook other important damages.
You can also claim lost wages as part of your damages calculations if your injuries cause you to miss work. Bus accident victims are often so hurt that they cannot return to work for a while. In extreme cases, victims may never be able to work full-time ever again. The earnings you miss out on during recovery and beyond can be claimed as part of your damages.
While your monetary losses are important, you must also consider the losses that are not outwardly visible. After a bus accident, you might be in tremendous physical pain. You may also be suffering mentally. Many accident survivors experience anxiety, depression, panic attacks, or PTSD. Even though these experiences do not come at a financial cost, they come at the expense of your mental and physical health and deserve compensation.
Call Our Yonkers, New York Bus Accident Attorneys
Do not dismiss your bus accident as just an accident. The people responsible for the accident should be held accountable for their negligence. Our Yonkers bus accident lawyers will fight to get your damage paid for. Call The Martello Law Firm, PLLC at (646) 396-0236 to discuss your case in a free legal consultation.
