Maison Law represents bus accident victims in Santa Maria. If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident, the experienced accident attorneys at Maison Law can help you get compensation for your damages. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need an Attorney for a Bus Accident in Santa Maria?
You can file a claim with the bus company or owner’s insurance to receive a settlement, assuming they will not deny your claim. Once you’ve accepted their settlement offer, your case will be closed and you no longer have the right to an attorney or additional compensation.
By consulting with an accident attorney, they can help you avoid low settlement offers and begin negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance adjusters on your behalf. An attorney can also:
- Gather evidence
- Witness identification and sworn statements
- Traffic camera footage
- Pictures of the incident
- Connect you to trusted doctors for continued treatment
- Assign liability to all additional parties responsible
- Communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf
- Build a case to confirm your claim
- Represent you in court if your case goes to trial
Maison Law represents bus passengers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians who have been injured in a bus accident in Santa Maria. Contact Maison Law today to discuss your legal options.
What Should You Do After a Bus Accident in Santa Maria?
What you do immediately after a bus accident will greatly impact your case. Bus accidents can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved, but for your own safety, it is important to remain calm and remember the following steps:
- Ensure the safety of you and your passengers: Depending on the situation, this could mean moving your car to the side of the road, or if you are severely injured, it could mean remaining where you are until help arrives. Check yourself for burns, lacerations, or broken bones. Oftentimes, the adrenaline from an accident can mask the pain from major injuries.
- Call the Police: The police will file an accident report and take down the names of everyone involved, as well as assign fault based on the evidence in front of them. A police report will serve as evidence if you need to back up your claims later.
- Document the incident: Take photos or film the aftermath of the bus accident. Film yourself recounting the details of the incident and describe the pain you’re in. It is best to capture how the accident played out while the memory is still fresh in your mind.
- Gather witness statements and bus driver information: Film or record witnesses willing to give a statement about the accident. Take down their names and phone numbers. Photograph the employee’s employee ID number or take down their bus number if possible. All of this information will help support your claim and assist your attorney in building your case.
- Do not admit fault: Don’t admit fault even if you feel you may have caused the accident. Allow the police to conduct their investigation and determine fault.
- Get Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, it is important to get checked out by a doctor or go to a hospital. Certain injuries can lie dormant and manifest themselves hours, or even days later.
Types of Common Bus Accidents in Santa Maria
The wine country of Santa Maria Valley is a popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, increased traffic raises the risk of bus accidents, which tend to happen the most in busy intersections filled with pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists all going in different directions.
The most common types of bus accidents are:
- Rear-end-collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Side-impact collision
- Single vehicle accidents
What is the Typical Compensation for a Bus Accident in Santa Maria?
Say you’re headed home from a day at Presqu’ile Winery in the Valley and you get rear-ended by a SMRT Bus on HWY 1 and suffer serious injuries. Compensation will be dependent upon your economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages consist of:
- Emergency room treatment
- Hospital bills
- Medications and medical supplies
- In-home care assistance
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings due to your inability to return to the same line of work
- Vehicle repair or replacement
Non-economic damages cover things that you can’t assign a specific dollar amount. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (filed by a spouse or family member to cover loss of love or companionship)
By calculating these factors, you can estimate what your compensation should be. However, a knowledgeable accident attorney will be able to give you a better idea of what you can expect to recover for your damages.
Contact a Santa Maria Bus Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one are hurt in a bus accident due to a careless bus driver, our accident attorneys can get you the compensation you need. Contact Maison Law today for a free, no-risk case consultation. No upfront money is required and you don’t pay a dime until your case is won.
