If a bus slams into you while you’re driving your car, hold the liable party accountable for their actions. Or, if you’re traveling on a bus and the driver causes an accident in which you’re injured, you have the right to seek compensation for the harm that you’ve suffered. In the aftermath of either of these situations, get a Fairfax bus accident lawyer on your side.
MartinWren, P.C., has handled thousands of personal injury cases, including many involving bus collisions. We can connect you with a Fairfax personal injury lawyer who’ll commit substantial time and resources to your bus accident case. Your attorney will position you to secure compensation for your accident losses. To learn more, schedule a free case consultation.
Don’t Deal with the Ramifications of a Bus Accident Alone
Your Fairfax bus accident attorney will advise you to prioritize self-care. They want you to get medical care and continue to do so for as long as necessary so that you can fully recover from your bus crash. Meanwhile, your lawyer will analyze your bus accident, determine who is at fault, and, if warranted, submit a claim or lawsuit on your behalf.
Many bus crash cases are resolved via settlement. Your attorney can provide insights into mediation and settlement negotiations relative to your case. They may get a reasonable settlement offer from a liable party or their insurance company. However, if this doesn’t happen, your lawyer has no issue with taking your case to trial.
The team at MartinWren, P.C. knows how difficult it is to proceed with a bus accident claim or lawsuit by yourself. In your bus crash case, we will work hard to get you a verdict or settlement that lines up with your expectations. For more information, request a free case consultation.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call (434) 817-3100
When to File a Fairfax Bus Accident Claim
The Code of Virginia § 8.01-243 restricts the time frame for most bus crash claims to two years. Your bus accident lawyer in Fairfax can explain the statute of limitations for you to submit a claim or lawsuit. Ultimately, if this window closes, you may be solely responsible for any losses from your bus crash.
Filing a claim is not a guarantee that your case will be resolved quickly. Unfortunately, a liable party’s insurance company may use stall tactics and others to frustrate and annoy you. If this insurer is successful, it will convince you to give up on your claim or to accept a lowball settlement.
Your attorney can share FAQs and other resources with you regarding insurance settlement negotiations. If a settlement offer is made, you’ll have the opportunity to review the proposal with your lawyer. Yet, if you don’t get a settlement that provides you with adequate compensation, your lawyer will encourage you to move forward with a trial.
Compensatory Damages Available to Bus Accident Victims
Your lawyer can give you insights into the types of damages that you can get in a personal injury case. They can calculate your economic and non-economic damages from your bus collision. Common reasons why a judge or jury will award damages to bus accident victims include:
- Emotional distress, mental anguish, and other pain and suffering
- Costs of treating a concussion, whiplash, and other bus accident injuries
- Loss of income if you can’t work due to your injuries
Your attorney wants you to keep track of what you spend on medical care and other costs that you incur after your bus accident. If you do, your lawyer can use your medical bills, pay stubs, and other evidence to strengthen your case for damages.
Fairfax Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me (434) 817-3100
Evidence That You Can Use in a Bus Crash Case
Just because you say that someone is to blame for your bus collision doesn’t mean that a judge or jury will agree with you. Prior to your trial, your lawyer can collect evidence from a wide range of sources, boosting your chances of securing damages. Evidence that your attorney can utilize in your case can include:
- Accident scene photos
- Traffic camera footage of your accident
- Bus driver records
- Bus maintenance records
- Witness statements
The party liable for your bus accident may have concerns about your lawyer’s collection of proof. In this situation, they may be increasingly inclined to offer a fair settlement. Alternatively, your attorney’s evidence may compel a judge or jury to rule in your favor.
How to Prove That Someone is to Blame for a Bus Accident
In addition to collecting evidence, your lawyer will focus their argument on negligence. They want to show a judge or jury that someone acted negligently and, because of this, should be held liable for your bus accident lawsuit. In your lawyer’s argument, they want to prove that these elements of negligence were present at the time of your bus accident:
- Duty of Care: A bus driver, a bus company, or another party has a legal obligation to comply with a standard of care.
- Breach of Duty of Care: A party ignores this standard and, as a result, puts you and others at risk of getting hurt.
- Causation: This party’s actions correlate with your bus accident.
- Damages: You’re dealing with losses because a party violated their duty of care and caused your bus accident.
Virginia has a contributory negligence statute that can determine whether you receive damages in your bus crash case. With this, you can’t be in any way responsible for a bus accident and still recover damages. Thus, if the court rules that you’re even 1% liable for your accident involving a bus, you may be responsible for all of your losses from the incident.
Click to contact personal injury lawyers today
Our Fairfax Bus Accident Lawyers are Here to Assist You With Your Case
At MartinWren, P.C., we know that it’s intimidating and confusing sometimes to find legal help. We give you access to personal injury attorneys who take the guesswork out of your case proceedings.
Give a bus accident attorney in Fairfax from our team the opportunity to serve you. Contact us today to get started.
Call (434) 817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
