What to Do After a Bus Accident in Tampa

A bus accident can be a chaotic and complicated type of collision. You may be one of many passengers involved in the crash or you might have been driving a different vehicle at the time. Either way, it can be difficult to recover the financial compensation you need for your medical bills and property repairs after a bus accident. You may need assistance from an experienced bus accident lawyer in Tampa during the claims process.

Don’t Wait to Seek Treatment

The most important thing to do is to get immediate medical treatment. Delaying medical care is one of the most common mistakes made by bus accident victims in Tampa. If you wait even a day to see a doctor, an insurance company can use this against you to reduce your payout or attempt to deny benefits. Protect your physical health and your legal rights by going to a hospital right away after a bus crash.

Don’t Assume You Are Not Injured

Another mistake is assuming you are not injured if you are not in pain right after a bus crash. Many injuries have delayed symptoms, including serious injuries such as head and brain trauma. Since bus passengers do not have seat belts, their bodies are jostled around in motor vehicle accidents. Adrenaline from the crash could be masking pain or other injury symptoms.

Do not tell the bus driver, a police officer or an insurance company that you have not been injured in the bus accident until you have seen a doctor. You may not realize that you have injuries until hours or even days later. It is important to always seek prompt medical care to quickly diagnose any injuries you sustained.

Determine Liability

Bus accidents in Tampa can have complex liability issues. The insurance company that is held liable, or financially responsible, for paying for the crash will depend on the circumstances. If a bus driver broke a traffic law or was careless behind the wheel, his or her employer may be held vicariously liable. This means, as an injured victim, you may be able to file a claim against a bus company, school or school district, or the government (after a city transit bus accident).

Be Careful When Speaking to Insurance Adjusters

When you file an insurance claim, be careful what you say to the insurance claims adjuster assigned to your case. Insurance adjusters want what is best for the insurance company, not you. Do not admit fault for the accident. If you are asked to give a recorded statement, politely decline. Give the adjuster the information you have about the bus accident, but do not give more details than necessary. Resist the urge to accept the first settlement offer. Instead, consult with a Tampa personal injury attorney to understand the true value of your case.

Call a Bus Accident Attorney in Tampa

You do not have to deal with a bus accident injury claim in Tampa alone. At Vanguard Attorneys, we can represent you during bus accident insurance settlement negotiations or a personal injury trial in Hillsborough County. We can go up against any corporation, government agency or insurance company on your behalf to pursue the case results that you deserve.

It is especially important to hire an attorney to represent you if you or someone you love suffered a serious or catastrophic injury in a bus accident. You may need greater financial compensation than what an insurance company initially offers you. Contact us today to begin with a free bus accident case review.