When distracted bus drivers or poorly maintained city buses cause you to experience a bus accident injury, you might ask “How much is my bus accident settlement worth? The data shows the average settlement depends on the extent of the injuries and the fault attributed to the driver. Bus accident settlements can range from $25,000 to $300,000.
PennDOT data covering 2022 shows over 450 bus crashes involving injuries occurred in Pennsylvania last year. The open-concept design of buses combined with limited access to safety equipment such as airbags and seatbelts means accident injuries are often catastrophic. ‘PennDOT data covering 2022 shows over 450 bus crashes involving injuries occurred in Pennsylvania last year. The open-concept design of buses combined with limited access to safety equipment such as airbags and seatbelts means accident injuries are often catastrophic.
Understanding the nature of bus accident injuries, their impact and the road to recovery can help you in your bus accident injury claims. Let’s explore several of the most common questions bus accident lawyers face regarding Pennsylvania bus accident injuries.
What Should I Do at the Scene of a Bus Accident?
The actions you take minutes after a bus accident can determine the potential value of your injury case. Take the following steps to ensure quality medical care and protect your rights to compensation in case of a bus accident injury:
- Ask for the contact details of your fellow passengers and bus driver
- Fill out a SEPTA incident card to register as a victim of an accident on a SEPTA vehicle
- Take a picture of the bus, the scene of the accident, and your injuries with your phone
- Speak with on-scene emergency personnel and seek treatment
- Visit a local hospital or urgent care clinic for examination even if you’re not in pain and don’t think you’re suffering an injury
What are the Most Common Types of Bus Accident Injury?
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Scrapes
- Soft tissue injuries
- Loss of limb
- Emotional injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Chest injuries
How is the Value of a Bus Accident Case Determined?
The factors associated with determining a potential bus accident injury settlement include the severity of the injuries the victims suffer, the medical cost associated with injury recovery, the impact of the accident on their income-earning potential, and the pain and suffering the victim’s experience due to their injury.
The insurance company handling your case will offer a settlement based on the preceding factors, and you can contest their offer with the assistance of a bus accident attorney familiar with bus accident law in PA. Book a free consultation with a bus accident lawyer before accepting a settlement.
What is the Statute of Limitations on Bus Accident Settlements In Pennsylvania?
If your bus accident occurred on a SEPTA bus, you have six months from the day of your injury to file a Notice of Intent with SEPTA. If you suffered an injury on a private bus line, such as on a Greyhound bus or a tour bus serving cities across Pennsylvania, you have two years from the date of injury to file your bus accident claim.
Do I Sue SEPTA or the Bus Driver for My Medical Bills?
If you were traveling on a SEPTA vehicle and the vehicle was in motion at the time of your injury, you would file your injury claim against SEPTA. The principle of Sovereign Immunity may protect SEPTA depending on the circumstances resulting in your injury. However, when a driver operates a vehicle negligently, and their negligence results in your injury, you can sue SEPTA for medical bill compensation.
Which Parties Can I Hold Legally Responsible for Bus Accidents in Pennsylvania?
Unlike car accident cases, which generally only involve the other driver, bus accident cases can involve numerous parties. The bus driver, the company operating the bus line, the bus maintenance company, and potentially the other passengers can all be held responsible for your bus accident injuries.
Should I Provide the Bus Company’s Insurance Adjuster with a Statement?
The insurance adjuster’s role is to reduce the insurance firm’s liability levels. They represent the financial interests of the insurance company. Avoid giving the insurance adjuster any information that might reduce the potential value of your claim.
In getting a statement from you, the insurance adjuster will try to convince you to admit partial blame for your injury. They may also try to suggest your injuries took place before the accident. Before speaking with the insurance companies, discuss your bus accident injury claim with a personal injury lawyer.
Your lawyer can prepare you for the required communications and insurance documentation within your personal injury claim.
Call Bus Accident Settlements Lawyer Jeffrey Penneys for Pennsylvania Accident Claim Negotiation
Harnessing over two decades of experience in bus accident claims, Philadelphia, PA-based Jeffrey Penneys has stood up for bus accident injury victims across the state. He knows the strategies for securing SEPTA settlements and negotiates fearlessly with the big insurance companies in pursuing justice.
Don’t try to take on your injury settlement process on your own. Put a powerful advocate behind you and call the Law Offices of Jeffrey Penneys at 215-798-9416 for a free, no-obligation bus accident consultation.