Every day, thousands of people travel by bus in the state of Connecticut. As with any major city, there are many people who take advantage of public transit, particularly buses. Since buses operate on public roads where other drivers and pedestrians are present, accidents involving buses are likely to happen.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) estimates that more than 700 million people use city buses each year. Each year, bus accidents cause hundreds of fatalities or serious injuries. Tragically, negligent bus drivers were to blame for a large number of these collisions. The causes range from poor driving or failing to yield to vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists, or other traffic violations. In some incidents, maintenance or seat belts were inadequate. With increased traffic in major cities, the chances of an accident occurring goes up.
Bus incidents frequently result in significantly more injuries than other accidents because buses have a far higher passenger capacity than cars or trucks. Following a bus accident, if you suffer injuries, you have legal options to recover damages.
In the case of a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim in CT, what you do next is important. Retaining a CT accident lawyer, such as Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, will allow you to discuss and review your options and what steps to take next.
What To Do Immediately Following A Bus Accident in Connecticut
No matter how experienced a bus driver may be, they are not immune to being involved in a bus accident. In the event of an accident, you should be aware of the steps you should take immediately after, especially if you or someone else sustains injuries. It will be easier for you to proceed if you know what to do and what to avoid in the event of a CT bus accident.
Seek Medical Care
Your physical and mental health should be your main priorities following any accident, but especially one involving a bus. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Remember that some injuries may not show signs immediately, but the damage could appear hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. If you have internal injuries, your doctor should be able to diagnose them, and you should ask for copies of your medical records to use as evidence when pursuing compensation.
Get a Police Report
It is strongly advised that you call the police as soon as a bus accident occurs. Any accident must be reported immediately in order to avoid future legal issues and to provide evidence for a bus accident claim. If there is an accident, the bus driver must call the police. However, you should do so as well. If you do, make sure to provide the officer on the scene with specific information, but refrain from admitting liability.
Get As Much Info As Possible
After being involved in a bus accident, you should gather all the evidence you can. If you decide to pursue compensation, you can use this information as proof. In order to support your case, photography is important, so photograph the crash site, your injuries, and any property damage. Also, get the contact details of all parties involved, including any witnesses.
Be Aware Of Connecticut's Statute of Limitations
According to Connecticut General Statutes § 52-284, there is a two-year deadline for filing a lawsuit after a car accident, bus accident or any other personal injury accident.
This means that anyone hurt in an accident brought on by someone else's negligence has two years from the occurrence date to file a personal injury claim.
Do I Need a CT Accident Lawyer?
It is not necessary to hire legal counsel in order to submit a claim or lawsuit, although it is highly recommended to do so to ensure you recover fair compensation.
A legal professional can be quite helpful because there are many rules and complicated laws that you might not be familiar with or understand. There are also filing deadlines.
You should speak with a CT accident lawyer like Brandon J. Broderick to avoid mistakes and get the compensation you deserve.
With the knowledge that you have a skilled attorney handling your case, you can concentrate on your recovery. Contact us today.