Being injured in a bus accident can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you might require long-term medical treatment and lose a significant amount of time from work. While you may be entitled to recover your losses in a personal injury action, there are a few important steps you can take to help ensure your rights are protected along the way.

1. Report the Accident

If you were injured in a bus accident, it’s vital to report the collision immediately. By calling 911, the police will respond to the scene and generate an accident report. Although this document typically cannot be used in court because it is considered hearsay, a police accident report is a crucial tool for negotiating a settlement with the insurance company.

2. Gather Evidence from the Scene of the Accident

If possible, try to gather evidence at the scene of the accident to support any personal injury claim you might file. For example, take photos or video of the scene of the collision using your smart phone. You should also collect the names and contact information for any witnesses who observed the accident as it occurred. A personal injury attorney can assist you with gathering other key evidence in your case, such as dashcam footage, surveillance footage, and bus maintenance logs.

3. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if you do not think your bus accident injuries are serious, seek medical attention immediately. If paramedics arrive at the scene, let them evaluate you. You should also go to the emergency room promptly after the collision for a thorough assessment. While many types of injuries do not appear until days or weeks later, a doctor will conduct a physical examination and potentially use X-rays and CT scans to diagnose internal injuries. Obtaining the medical help you need is not only critical for your health, but your medical documentation is the foundation of any personal injury claim you may pursue.

4. Document Your Injuries

After seeking medical attention, it’s important to document your injuries each day and note the impact they had on your daily life and livelihood. Keep a daily journal where you describe the physical pain you felt, what activities you were prevented from participating in, and any limitations you experienced. It’s also important to maintain an up-to-date list of medications, medical providers, and the exercises you performed as part of your recovery effort. Document the emotional side effects you experienced in connection with your injuries, such as any sleeplessness, depression, or anxiety.

5. Keep Track of Your Financial Losses

In addition to documenting the physical pain and emotional distress you experienced each day, keep track of your financial losses. This can include out-of-pocket expenses in connection with medical treatment or medication, lost wages, home modifications to accommodate a disability, and household assistance. You may be entitled to recover compensation for these monetary losses in a personal injury action.

6. Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan

Once you begin your course of medical treatment for your bus accident injuries, keep following your doctor’s orders until you have reached maximum medical improvement. Continued treatment is essential for your recovery, as well as to strengthen your case. Any gap in your medical treatment can be used by the insurance company to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.

7. Do Not Speak with Insurance Adjusters

If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, it’s best to avoid speaking with any insurance adjusters. After the crash, the bus company’s insurance company will likely contact you to obtain information about the accident and your injuries. However, insurance adjusters are trained in using tactics to get you to admit fault. Anything you say can be used against you to reduce your compensation or deny your insurance pay out entirely.

8. Do Not Settle Without Consulting an Attorney

The bus company’s insurance company may offer you a settlement shortly after the accident. Do not accept any settlement offer without first speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney. The first settlement offer made by the insurance company is typically for a lowball amount that does not take the extent of your injuries into consideration. Since the full extent of your damages cannot be known until you have completed your medical treatment, you can typically maximize your compensation by waiting to settle.

9. Avoid Posting on Social Media

Anything you post on social media about your bus accident injuries can be used against you in your case. For instance, if you post a photo of yourself skiing or snowboarding, the defense will argue you are not as injured as you claim. Even photos or comments made by friends and family on your social media page can be taken out of context by the defense. It’s best to avoid using social media entirely, or you might consider deactivating your account, while your personal injury case is ongoing.

Contact an Experienced Alaska Personal Injury Attorney

It’s essential to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a bus accident injury. Whether you were a pedestrian, bus passenger, or struck by a bus while in your vehicle, a skillful attorney can evaluate your claim and advise you regarding the steps to take to avoid pitfalls in your case. Proudly serving accident victims in Anchorage, Soldotna, Kenai, Palmer, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, and other areas of Alaska, The Trial Guy, Eric Derleth, represents clients for a wide range of personal injury matters, including bus accidents. Call 907-262-9164 to schedule a free consultation at our Anchorage or Soldotna office, or contact us online. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.