Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyers
It is estimated that over 400,000 people ride the MARTA public transportation system each day in Atlanta. In addition, according to the American School Bus Council, over half of all school children ride a school bus every day across America. Thankfully, most of these bus rides take place without incident, and the traveling public arrives safely at home and to other destinations.
When you step on a bus or place your children on a school bus, you expect that the vehicle is safe and that the driver has had the proper vetting and training. However, that is not always the case. Even though bus drivers are generally held to a higher standard than other drivers, they still can make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes are careless and result in personal injury or even death to passengers or other drivers. If you or someone you love was injured in a bus accident, it is time to call a qualified Atlanta bus accident lawyer.
The Complexities of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can be one of the most complicated and time-consuming types of personal injury cases. This is because there are usually multiple witnesses, multiple injured victims and potential plaintiffs, multiple insurance companies, and a lot of information to analyze. Furthermore, insurance companies and their defense lawyers could argue that the victims were somewhat at-fault for their own injuries if they were standing or up from their seat.
An experienced Atlanta bus accident lawyer could make this process easier, as they could obtain and thoroughly review accident reports, insurance documents, and medical records to understand the entirety of what happened. They understand the comparative fault arguments the defense may make, and they know the right tactics to defend you from them.
Statute of Limitations in Atlanta
The state of Georgia has imposed time limits for accident victims who seek to file a civil lawsuit. Georgia Code Section 9-3-33 states that bus accident victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim and four years to file a property damage claim. If the case is against a public entity, however, it may require early notice (ante litem) before a lawsuit can proceed.
Bus accident laws in Georgia can often be confusing and overwhelming to accident victims, especially when legal requirements such as ante litem notice come into play. A qualified bus accident attorney in Atlanta understands and could properly apply the complex personal injury laws in Georgia, including satisfying the required statute of limitations.
Recovering Damages
The main purpose of a bus accident lawsuit is to obtain a settlement or an award at trial that helps make the victim whole again. While no amount of monetary award will ever make life exactly the same, having money to pay medical bills and to defray the costs of life-altering adjustments can relieve a lot of the stress that injured individuals face.
Several factors will be taken under consideration to determine the settlement or award amount that the plaintiff receives. These include:
- Pain and suffering;
- Past and future medical bills;
- Lost wages;
- Loss of companionship;
- Mental anguish;
- Legal and transportation expenses;
- Punitive (or punishment) damages.
Speak with an Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer Today
If you are ready to take control of your life after a bus accident, contact an Atlanta personal injury lawyer today. They could provide you with a case review and help you with every step of this process to obtain the best outcome possible.
A seasoned attorney could take care of the details with the various insurance companies and other parties involved so that you do not have to carry that burden. You could also count on them to be on your side and explain what you need to know when you need to know it. Call today to learn more.
