What to do After a Bus Accident

Public transportation is a great way to get to and from areas for a huge part of the working population! In the southern region of the United States, 63.8% of the working population used public buses to get to and from work in 2019 according to the census. With the number of people taking the bus, you have to think it is safer on the roads for this type of transportation. Although this may seem true, it isn’t the case when it comes down to a bus accident. 

As many know, public buses do not have seatbelts or do not require passengers to wear seatbelts if available. If the bus gets hit by another vehicle or if the bus hits something, passengers are not safely secured and risk becoming injured. As a passenger on a public bus, it is important to know what to do when you find yourself injured during a bus accident. From 2012-2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that Florida had 139 fatal bus accidents that led to 146 deaths. 

If you find yourself involved in a Fort Myers bus accident, the bus accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner want you to be prepared! 

Potential Injuries Involved With Bus Accidents

If you find yourself involved in a Fort Myers bus accident, you should always make sure you go to a doctor and get checked for potential injuries. 

Common injuries include:

• Head and Spinal Cord
  • If you are seated, you have the potential to bang your head against metal framing or windows.
• Broken Bones
  • If you are a standing passenger, you have the potential to fall if the bus stuck or stops suddenly. When the bus is moving at speeds of 35 to 45 MPH and suddenly stops, your body continues to move at that speed. If you aren’t wearing a seatbelt, your body can be flung forward and this will potentially cause broken bones.
• Lacerations and Cuts
  • If the glass windows break, you have the potential to suffer from cuts and gashes. These can lead to infection or worse, loss of blood and possible permanent disfigurement. 

It is important for you, as a victim, to keep track of all your injuries. If you decide to go after the at fault party, you need evidence to prove you have been injured during the bus accident. Our Fort Myers bus accident lawyers would be able to use this type of documentation in order to get all your medical treatments compensated to the fullest amount available. 

Who is At Fault During a Bus Accident?

Being a passenger in a bus accident, it is difficult to know who exactly is responsible for compensation. There are 3 potential parties that could be held responsible just depending on the circumstance. 

1. Bus Driver – If the bus driver is under the influence, sleepy or at fault, they would be the ones responsible for compensation.
2. Bus Company – If the bus lacks the proper maintenance to be considered safe to drive on the road and that is the cause of the accident, then the bus company would be responsible for compensation.
   • Florida public transit is required to carry insurance that protects $200k per person and $300k per incident.
3. Another Driver – If another driver is the cause for the bus accident, they would be the ones responsible for compensation, similarly to a regular car accident.

Now keep in mind, in certain circumstances you can potentially collect compensation from multiple parties involved. That is why it is so important to have one of Steinger, Greene & Feiner’s Fort Myers bus accident lawyers on your case! It’s good to note that Florida’s required PIP coverage does not apply to passengers on public transportation.

What Comes Next?

After being involved in a bus accident in the Fort Myers area, you are feeling overwhelmed, injured and a bit confused as to what you should do or who to call. As mentioned at the beginning, it is vital for you to get examined by a doctor to confirm injuries caused by the bus accident. Taking photos of the scene, getting a copy of the police report, and exchanging your information with other passengers on the bus are all things that would benefit and build your case!

If you or a loved one ever finds themselves in a Fort Myers bus accident, contacting a Steinger, Greene & Feiner bus accident lawyer to help you receive the compensation you deserve is the best move you can make!