Whether you are a bus passenger or a motorist, an accident involving a bus can leave you with injuries and additional costs. Consult our bus accident lawyer serving Reston to find out whether you can seek compensation from liable parties.
The Pendleton Law Team has been helping injured people with legal advice and representation since 2011, and our experience may benefit you. Our personal injury lawyer serves Reston, so feel free to request a free consultation from the Heavy Hitters®.
Compensation You May Recover After a Bus Accident in Reston
When others are to blame for your injuries, you can seek compensation after being injured in a bus accident. Knowing what the average bus settlement is doesn’t really help you. Your eligibility for compensation and the value of your damages depend on the facts of your case, your injuries, and how they affect you.
- All medical costs incurred due to the accident
- Wages you lost and will lose if your injuries prevent you from working
- Pain and suffering, a category that includes trauma and emotional distress
- Compensation for any disability, impairment, or disfigurement caused by your injury
- Compensation for the way long-term injuries affect your overall quality of life
Our bus accident lawyer represents clients in Reston and can help you by evaluating your case from a legal perspective. They may handle negotiations with insurance companies, and if necessary, they may represent you in court.
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Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Reston
Buses often drive slowly and stop frequently. Other drivers may become impatient and change lanes when it is unsafe to do so, causing accidents. Bus accidents also happen because of negligence on the part of a bus driver or their employer. This may include:
- Driving when overtired, sometimes due to hours of service violations
- Failure to maintain a bus properly
- Traffic violations
- Distracted driving
- Driver error
Determining why the accident happened is an important first step towards identifying who may be liable after a bus accident. A bus accident attorney serving Reston may examine existing evidence and seek additional evidence to support your claim.
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Liability and Bus Accident Cases in Reston
Bus accident cases are often complicated by the number of parties that may be liable or share liability for your accident. It’s important to remember that Virginia’s contributory negligence rule may bar recovery if you are found partially at fault, subject to limited exceptions. Liable parties may include:
- A bus driver
- The company that employs them
- A school district or local government authorities
- A workshop that is negligent when repairing or maintaining the bus
- The drivers of other vehicles
When determining liability, negligence is a key principle. A party that owed you a duty of care, failed in that duty, caused your accident, and injured you may be considered negligent. For example, a bus company has a duty to ensure its buses’ brakes are in good condition. If they fail and cause an accident resulting in injury, they may be liable.
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Steps You Can Take to Safeguard Your Right to Compensation After a Bus Accident
If you or anyone else is injured in a bus accident in Reston, the first thing to do is to summon emergency services. If you’re able to gather information on the scene, do so, but do not place yourself at risk or aggravate your injuries.
When help arrives, cooperate with the police to the best of your ability, but don’t speculate about fault. Once you have received medical attention, follow instructions from medical personnel to the letter. This may protect you against any claims that you aggravated your injuries due to your own negligence.
At this stage, consulting The Pendleton Law Team may help protect your interests. We may begin preparing your case and handling communications with insurance companies on your behalf so that you can focus on healing.
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Important Deadlines in Bus Accident Cases
Per Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-243, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit when seeking damages from private individuals or companies. If you fail to file a lawsuit within the time allowed by the Virginia statute of limitations, you will usually not be able to proceed with legal action.
If government agencies are involved, the process is different, and the deadlines are shorter. For example, per Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-195.6, you or your attorney must file a written notice of any claim against the Commonwealth of Virginia within one year of your accident.
Although either of these deadlines may make it seem you have plenty of time to seek compensation, it may be advisable to involve an attorney as soon after your accident as possible. If you do so, they may be able to preserve additional evidence and begin building a case.
How a Bus Accident Attorney Representing Clients in Reston May Help You
If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, your attorney may relieve you of a great deal of work and worry with the potential for recovery of a fair settlement. Meanwhile, you can rest and recover. Tasks an attorney may undertake on your behalf include:
- Investigating your case
- Identifying liable parties
- Evaluating your damages
- Dealing with insurance companies or government agencies
- Meeting all the required deadlines and following the correct procedures
- Evaluating any settlement offers based on their knowledge of your case
- Representing you in court if settlement offers are inadequate or there are liability disputes
Accident cases involving injury are often complex, and bus accident cases have unique features that further complicate them. Having an attorney to advise you may affect the outcome of your claim.
Talk to Us About Your Bus Accident And Discover Your Options
It’s impossible to advise anyone accurately without knowing the specific details associated with their case. The Pendleton Law Team wants you to understand your options, and won’t charge you anything for a case evaluation. All you need to do to get started is call our emergency hotline.
Our bus accident lawyer serving Reston is available to listen, answer your questions, and help you determine your options based on your situation so that you can move forward with greater clarity and confidence. Simply reach out, and we’ll be there for you.
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