Bus driving down the road

Steps to Take if You’ve Been Involved in a Bus Accident

By Steven Miller
Senior Partner

Bus accidents are potentially catastrophic and could result in major, even permanent injuries for victims. Not only will medical bills start piling up, but you will likely be unable to work during your recovery. That means lost wages and added financial stress on you and your family. Serious accidents deserve serious legal representation, and that’s where the dedicated personal injury lawyers of Miller, Montiel, & Strano, P.C. are ready to serve you. Here are the steps you should take after being in a bus accident.

Step 1: Get medical attention and follow your doctor’s recommendations

After being in an accident, you may not understand how severe your injuries are. You might even believe that you weren’t injured at all. But some injuries take hours or even days to fully set in. If you don’t seek immediate medical assistance, you could be jeopardizing your health.

You might also be jeopardizing your legal case. Lawyers who represent defendants in personal injury lawsuits look for excuses to blame victims for their injuries. By not seeing a doctor, an attorney might argue that it was your actions (not the defendant’s) that aggravated your injuries. You don’t want to be in the position of having to explain why you delayed seeing a doctor, so visit the emergency room or your primary care physician right away.

Also, for the same reason, follow your doctor’s recommendations concerning your recovery. Take any medicines suggested by your doctor and be sure to attend any follow-up medical appointments. By following your doctor’s orders and advice, it will be much easier to seek compensation from the at-fault party.

Step 2: Retain legal counsel early

The sooner you speak with an experienced Queens personal injury attorney, the better. Your medical and other bills will begin to accrue while you are recovering and unable to work (or at least work at your full capacity). Taking early legal action will help you seek monetary compensation to offset these damages. Your lawyer will also handle communications with any insurance companies or attorneys that contact you, which can be a legal minefield without the assistance of counsel.

You should especially retain a lawyer if a government entity, such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) or New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), is the owner or operator of the bus. Suing public entities like the MTA and NYCTA introduces considerable complexities into your case, because there are special rules involved with suing a public agency. For instance, you must serve a Notice of Claim upon the MTA and NYCTA within a very short time after your accident. Let an attorney handle this important step.

Your lawyer will also provide additional guidance on steps you should take.

Step 3: Start organizing evidence

Working with your attorney, you should begin documenting everything you can about the accident. You will need to present a case that the bus driver, the bus company, or some other individual and/or entity was negligent in causing the wreck. That means you need compelling evidence to substantiate your demand for compensation.

Start by writing down everything you can remember about the events leading up to and right after the accident. Memories fade with time and you might forget a crucial piece of information if you don’t write it down as soon as you can. The more details you can recall, the better.

If you can identify any witnesses to the accident, get their names and contact information. Plus, begin collecting your medical bills and evidence of other expenses related to your injuries. Start documenting the work you are missing because of the accident. Take notes on your physical condition and limitations as you recover.

Our Team is Ready to Help You

Being proactive about your accident is the best way to improve your chances of recovering the maximum compensation for your injuries. After you’ve obtained the medical attention you need, let the dedicated attorneys of Miller, Montiel, & Strano, P.C. go to work for you. Call us today.

About the Author
Steven Miller, Esq. is the founding member and Senior Partner in Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C. Mr. Miller’s extensive career as a trial attorney spans five decades. He tries cases for the catastrophically injured victims of construction site accidents, motor vehicle and premises accidents caused by the negligence of others. Mr. Miller is a detail oriented, tenacious attorney committed to achieving the maximum results for his clients; he has obtained numerous seven figure verdicts and settlements.