Oftentimes, a bus accident is an honest mistake made by someone. Other times, it is due to someone’s reckless behavior. When you are involved in the accident, you have to understand the subsequent steps that you need to take as well as the evidence that will help you to substantiate your case.
Steps to Take When you Meet with an Accident
First, you have to contact 911 for a medical emergency. You may feel that your injuries are not very major, but you should still seek medical help for it anyway. Some symptoms do not show up until later, so you should call for medical help as soon as possible. Besides, this will surely help with regards to evidence. In fact, when you fail to seek timely medical attention and injuries were major than you expected, it will be tougher to make an accident claim later.
You also have to call the police after it so that they can prepare a report on it. You can get a copy of this report from your local police department, your state police, or the city wherein the accident took place. Moreover, it is essential that you take as many videos and photos of the scene in order to help with the claim. It is hard to discredit such kinds of evidence. You should collect the witnesses’ perspective on the bus accident you met with as well.
If possible, collect names, addresses, and phone numbers of the other passengers onboard too, as well as from other vehicles involved in the accident or other people who saw it.
Evidence to Help the Case Make Stronger
If the driver of the bus was negligent, it is vital that you give several different pieces of evidence in order to strengthen your accident claim. Bus drivers also have a duty of care and you have to prove it was not followed by them when the accident happened.
Eyewitness testimony is one that would actually help strengthen the accident case. It may help to prove the negligence. For instance, an eyewitness may testify to seeing the driver of the bus speeding. It would help to prove the negligent case. Another example would be having the testimony of an expert witness. If you were severely injured, the medical report about that will be enough to prove your case.
You need an experienced bus accident attorney on your side as well when dealing with the case. He or she will also help you gain a better understanding of all the options that you can take.