Bus Accidents: A Quick Event with Long-Term Effects

Bus Accidents: A Quick Event with Long-Term Effects

Many people rely on public transportation to get around the city in which they live. This includes city, school or activity, church, charter, and coach buses.

It is imperative the driver and company responsible for these buses use caution. Unfortunately, collisions involving buses still occur. Many bus accidents are due to the negligence of the bus driver, speed, or distracted driving. Furthermore, the bus may be poorly maintained or improperly repaired. As a result, passengers can sustain serious injuries.

Physical Injuries

Physical injuries can be extremely serious, often resulting in long-term medical treatment, rehabilitation, or worse. Broken bones, torn ligaments, fractures, cuts, and bruises are obvious injuries by the victims of a bus accident. Victims may also be permanently scarred from a brain or spinal cord injury, burns or fiscal fractures.

Often times, surgery is the remedy. Sometimes brain injuries are not obvious during such incidents, but they can arise later. It is imperative that medical treatment is sought immediately, even if you are not sure of the extent of your injuries.

Regardless of the injury, bus accident victims may be entitled to recover compensation for the pain, suffering, or harm done.

Emotional Damage

In some cases, the horror doesn’t end when the bus halts. The fear from the collision can cause emotional trauma and affect the quality of life of a person forever. Oftentimes, the victim will replay the accident over and over again in their mind. This can be very traumatizing.

Economic Losses

With physical and emotional injuries, bus accident victims can suffer significant financial losses. There are three main financial losses that may be recovered on behalf of bus accident victims.

1. Medical Bills and Expenses – Medical care is imperative when the victim of a bus accident suffers physical or emotional injuries. The accident victim may have serious and or permanent injuries.
2. Future and Past Lost Wages – After a victim of a bus accident gets injured, they are often unable to work. This is called a loss of earning capacity.
3. Pain and Suffering – in some cases, the pain and suffering that an accident victim faces can add up to a monetary amount and be compensated for after an accident.

How Can An Attorney Help?

Buses are a common form of transportation in North Carolina and throughout the United States, especially in our larger cities. For some of us, this is our primary source of transportation. While we expect to board a bus and get from point A to point B safely and without harm, accidents happen that lead to serious injuries to those on board.

If you or a loved one have been injured while riding a bus, whether city-operated, charter or even a school or activity bus, you could be entitled to compensation. The accident lawyers at Riddle & Brantley are respected in the community and have the knowledge to handle legal matters thoroughly and effectively. We will fight for the proper compensation accident victims deserve and address your legal concerns. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. No matter where you are in North Carolina we are available 24/7.