Evidence Needed In a Bus Accident Claim

Most people feel safe climbing onto a city bus or school bus, which we typically think of as safe, friendly neighborhood vehicles. Yet, there are more than 13,000 bus accidents each year in the United States, and 51% of them involve injuries. Whether you or your loved one suffered injuries as a passenger in a bus accident or in another vehicle involved in a collision with a bus, the distress of a bus accident doesn’t always end after you leave the scene. For those with significant injuries, recovering compensation after a bus accident can be a challenging process. In fault-based insurance states like Georgia, an injury victim has the burden of proving fault through a preponderance of the evidence so they can recover compensation.

Evidence of Liability for a Bus Accident Claim

A bus accident claim is uniquely challenging due to the multiple parties who are potentially liable for damages, like an injury victim’s medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. It often requires an investigation by an experienced accident attorney to identify the liable party and document compelling evidence of their liability. An injury victim must provide evidence that proves the following standards of liability:

• That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to bus passengers and others on the road
• They breached their duty through negligence
• The breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
• The injury victim suffered damages from the injury

Evidence in bus accident claims typically includes the police report, photos, and videos of the damaged bus, the accident scene, and the accident itself if it was captured on traffic cameras. Eyewitness testimony from bus passengers and other observers is also key evidence in a bus accident claim.

Common liable parties in bus accident claims are the bus driver, the city bus agency, a public school system, a negligent bus maintenance company, or the manufacturer of a defective bus part. One party may be entirely at fault, or multiple entities could share contributory fault under the state’s comparative negligence insurance laws.

Evidence of Damages In a Bus Accident Claim

Part of proving a defendant liable for damages requires showing that the injury victim suffered damages from the injury. A bus accident victim does not have a case if they walked away and suffered no losses. Atlanta accident attorneys know that injuries are expensive as well as painful, and many people suffer significant or severe injuries in bus accidents in Georgia. Evidence of damages includes the following:

• A medical report
• Medical bills, receipts, and invoices
• The testimony of medical experts about the amount of pain the injury involves and whether or not the injury victim faces disability
• Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses
• Employer statements showing the injury victim’s lost earnings
• Receipts for replacement of damaged property

An Atlanta personal injury attorney skilled in handling accident claims will carefully calculate the damages to ensure that the injured client receives the maximum compensation available.

How Can a Bus Accident Lawyer In Atlanta Help?

A bus accident is a frightening experience, especially when you or a loved one suffers serious injuries. Instead of leaving your claim in the hands of an insurance company that prioritizes its profits at the injury victim’s expense, get experienced legal representation for your claim from an Atlanta bus accident lawyer at Piasta Walker Hagenbush. Our team of skilled investigators, on-call accident reconstruction specialists, and medical experts are ready to put compelling evidence behind your bus accident claim so you can recover full and fair compensation for your damages.