If you do not own a car or prefer more eco-friendly methods of transportation, you might ride on public transit multiple times throughout the week. If you have children, you might send them to school on the school bus so they can socialize with friends and have a convenient mode of transportation. When you get on a bus or send your children on the bus, you expect the driver to have the proper training and exercise a reasonable amount of caution. However, there are always risks associated with large motor vehicles.
Negligent bus operators, large potholes, defective auto parts, or other reckless drivers on the road can all cause dangerous accidents. Any collision involving a bus can lead to devastating injuries.
If you were in this type of severe crash, you or your family may be suffering from an injury, emotional distress, and significant financial hardship. Our Spring Hill bus accident lawyers can help you file a claim to get you back on your feet. An experienced personal injury attorney at our firm will help you fight for compensation. Attorney Mike Hancock has worked as a lawyer for over thirty years, fighting for those wrongly injured due to another’s negligence. He started his career in insurance defense, so he has the insider secrets as to what the insurance adjusters’ arguments will be to pay you less than you deserve. He makes sure that will not happen.
Common Bus Crash Injuries in Spring Hill
Due to their significant size and weight, buses can cause major harm to those involved in a crash. Especially because these types of vehicles often do not provide the protection of seatbelts. These injuries may include, but are not limited to:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
Many of these injuries can be life-threatening. If you suffered harm in a bus collision caused by someone else, seek legal help from a skilled lawyer in the area.
What is Negligence in an Injury Claim?
To obtain financial compensation in a bus accident case, you must prove another party was negligent. Establishing negligence involves demonstrating the following:
- Someone owed you a duty of care
- They breach their duty of care
- That breach caused an accident
- You suffered injuries in that accident
In a bus accident case, the driver can be considered negligent if they violated a traffic law and caused a crash. Alternatively, the vehicle manufacturer could be held liable for an accident caused by a faulty auto part. Our Spring Hill lawyers understand what is needed to establish fault in a bus crash claim and will take care of figuring out who all the at-fault parties may be.
Potential Compensation in a Public Transit Accident Case
Once you prove the other party was negligent for your accident, you can recover compensation for various types of injuries and losses. This includes economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Past and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
If you lost a loved one in a public transit accident or school bus, our lawyers can also help you and your family seek wrongful death damages.
How Does Insurance Work in a Bus Accident Case?
Dealing with insurance companies is often one of the most difficult parts of a personal injury case. Bus companies carry insurance in most cases, and these insurance companies will try to pay you as little as possible. They may even attempt to pressure you into taking an early settlement that is far less than the value of your case. This is why it is important to speak with an attorney before accepting any offer from the other party’s insurance. Attorney Mike Hancock’s prior insurance defense experience is not something every personal injury attorney in Tampa has. He can represent you and hold the insurers accountable for your bus collision case.
What is Personal Injury Protection Insurance?
Florida Statute § 627.736 requires that all Florida drivers carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This is a type of “no-fault” insurance designed to help injured drivers get financial support after an accident without having to file a lawsuit. The minimum limit is $10,000, and you have 14 days from the date of the accident to seek medical attention. If you were driving when a bus struck your vehicle, you will have to seek compensation through your insurance before filing a case.
PIP insurance covers costs related to medical treatment, including ambulance expenses and the cost of rehabilitation. Unlike other states, Florida’s PIP insurance only covers up to 80 percent of your total damages In order to receive more than $2,500 in PIP benefits a physician other than a chiropractor has to state that the person had an emergency medical condition, the Florida Statute § 627.732 loosely defines “emergency medical condition” as a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, which may include severe pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in any of the following:
(a) Serious jeopardy to patient health.
(b) Serious impairment to bodily functions.
(c) Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
PIP insurance also pays up to 60 percent of your lost wages, up to a limit of $10,000. If your family member lost their life as a result of the accident, you can receive up to $5,000 in funeral expenses.
Why is it Important to Hire an Attorney?
Bus accident cases can be incredibly complicated. You must gather evidence, prove negligence, and deal with insurance companies. If you attempt to represent yourself in the case, the other party may try to take advantage of you. This could result in you walking away with less compensation than you deserve. Working with an experienced lawyer can improve your chances of obtaining adequate compensation in a bus accident case.
Contact a Spring Hill Bus Accident Attorney Today
A bus accident should not rob you of your physical or financial freedom. PIP insurance may cover some of your damages, but our legal team can help you file an injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your remaining losses and help make sure you are headed in the right direction as far as your physical recovery. A Spring Hill bus accident lawyer at Hancock Injury Attorneys can represent your interests and fight for your rights throughout the case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your situation with a legal professional.