If you have been injured in a bus accident, hiring a bus accident lawyer serving McLean is critical for navigating the legal process and the nuances of these cases. These accidents generally cause considerable injuries and expensive losses, and this is not the time to handle your case on your own. With so much at stake, a lawyer can communicate on your behalf.
The Pendleton Law Team has a long history of successfully securing compensation for our clients. Whether we settle a claim or pursue litigation, our team fiercely advocates for our clients to ensure they receive the resources they need to offset their losses. When you hire a personal injury lawyer serving McLean to handle your bus accident, you also receive the support of a firm that has been fighting for clients for 15 years.
Protecting Yourself After a Bus Accident in McLean
Bus accidents can cause serious damage, and navigating the aftermath can quickly become complicated. Knowing what to do if you are in a bus accident can help minimize your suffering and protect your rights to legal action and compensation. Regardless of whether you are a bus passenger, motorist, pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist, you should take the following steps:
- Call 911 and receive initial medical treatment, as well as follow-up care if you don’t require emergency care
- File a police report with law enforcement and request a copy so you have documentation of the event
- Exchange contact information and insurance details with all parties involved in the accident
- Gather evidence by taking photos and videos of the crash, getting witness statements, and keeping thorough records throughout your case
- Contact your insurance company to let them know you were in an accident
- Hire a bus accident lawyer representing the McLean area to help you prepare, submit, and handle your claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
These steps can help you hold at-fault parties accountable and avoid wrongful accusations of fault. Your lawyer can also help you gather additional evidence to strengthen your claim, such as maintenance records, driver log books, black box data, and more.
For a Free Legal Consultation
Call The Personal Injury Lawyer Hotline.
804-250-5050
Identifying and Establishing Liable Parties in a McLean Bus Accident
Bus transportation often relies on multiple parties to keep operations running smoothly. Because each party performs a different role, many parties can contribute to a bus accident. It is also what makes these cases complex and lengthy.
Parties who can potentially be held liable for causing an accident may include:
- Bus driver: Drivers can be at fault for failing to follow the rules of the road or being careless. It is also not uncommon for drivers to be less alert due to exhaustion from demanding schedules.
- Bus company: Bus carriers can be at fault when they do not vet or train their drivers appropriately or follow regulations to ensure maximum safety.
- Bus mechanics: Mechanics are responsible for conducting regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs to ensure buses operate correctly and are safe for passengers.
- Bus or parts manufacturers: Manufacturers that make buses or mechanical parts can be liable for designing or producing defective parts that threaten the safety of passengers.
- Motorist: Other motorists can be at fault in bus accidents when they engage in negligent behavior and fail to account for buses’ limitations.
Once your lawyer has identified which party was negligent, they can build a case that establishes the at-fault party’s duty of care to safety and how exactly they breached their duty to you and caused a bus collision. Finally, our team can demonstrate that this was the reason you suffered damages, and they are obligated to pay you for the harm you sustained as a result.
Let the Heavy Hitters® Take On Your Case 804-250-5050
Claims Against Local Government Entities
The Fairfax Connector provides bus transportation throughout McLean and the surrounding areas. This system is operated by the Fairfax County government. In the event that an accident is caused by bus personnel, claims are filed against the applicable local government party. These types of claims often have strict deadlines and unique processes due to sovereign immunity.
Before a lawsuit can be filed against a government entity, notice must be given stating the reason for the claim and a detailed account of what occurred and how the party is liable, per Virginia Code Article 18.1. Notice must be given within one year of the accident, and any additional action must begin within 18 months of the filing of the notice. Injured individuals have the burden of demonstrating negligence.
In a settlement for losses caused by a bus accident, personal damages are capped at either the applicable insurance policy or at $100,000. Given the nuances of these cases, it is essential to hire a lawyer right away to protect your right to recovery.
Central Virginia's Top Rated Personal
Injury Lawyers 804-250-5050
Talk to a Bus Accident Attorney Serving McLean About Recovering Compensation for Your Losses
Talk to The Pendleton Law Team about recovering compensation to ease the burden of your losses after a bus accident. We walk you through how lawyers calculate personal injury settlements as we evaluate your losses to determine what you may be able to recover. We also factor in variables that can affect the value of your case.
Recoverable losses may include:
- Expenses for medically necessary treatments, therapies, surgeries, medications, accommodations, and equipment
- Cost to fix or replace damaged property or belongings
- Temporary loss of wages or long-term earning capacity
- End-of-life care and arrangements
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life, including the ability to enjoy activities
- Emotional and psychological trauma
- Loss of companionship or consortium
When pursuing compensation for these and other applicable losses, it is important to remember that you have a limited time to act. You must file your claim within two years of the accident (Virginia Code § 8.01- 243). However, if your claim is against a government entity, you must follow the steps and statute of limitations that apply. In these situations, compensation may be subject to caps on damages.
Let Us Be The Heavy Hitters® For Your Case Speak To An Attorney Now
The Pendleton Law Team Provides Fierce Advocacy
The Pendleton Law Team is fierce and compassionate, so you receive the advocacy and support you need after a bus accident. Our team is ready to get to work for you when you hire a bus accident attorney representing the McLean area.
We prioritize and protect your interests so you are not taken advantage of during your case. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case.
The Pendleton Law Team Is Here For You 804-250-5050
