Being involved in a bus accident can be a traumatic and life-altering event. Because of the large size and weight of these vehicles and the increased likelihood of them rolling over, bus accidents often result in catastrophic damages. Getting money from the responsible party following a collision can be vital to covering the costs of your injuries and moving forward.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, we have been helping accident victims recover the compensation they need for over a century. Our team of Lafayette bus accident lawyers has the necessary experience to help you get the money you require and deserve. Reach out to us to learn more about your options with a free case review today. Whether you’ve been injured in a bus accident or any other personal injury situation, our Lafayette Personal Injury attorney is ready to fight for your rights and provide the legal support you deserve.
Determining Liability After a Lafayette Bus Accident
If you have been involved in an accident with a bus, you may be considering taking legal action against the responsible party. However, to be able to do that, you must first determine who exactly is responsible for your damages. In some cases, establishing fault is simple. However, in many cases, proving fault can be very challenging.
One of the difficulties in proving fault is that many parties could potentially hold a level of liability for your accident, and they are all likely to be pointing fingers at one another. Fortunately, after you secure the services of an experienced bus accident lawyer in Lafayette, they will know exactly what to look for when attempting to establish liability.
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Recoverable Damages You May Be Able to Pursue After a Bus Accident
Following an accident with a bus, you will need to identify what damages apply to your case. Some damages are easy for anyone to identify. However, future losses can be hard to determine without experience with these kinds of cases. Additionally, there are some damages you may not realize you are eligible to pursue.
Fortunately, when you hire an experienced bus accident attorney in Lafayette, they will have the expertise needed to determine all the damages you are eligible to pursue. All recoverable damages can be grouped into three main categories. If you’re seeking comprehensive guidance on pursuing damages in Lafayette, don’t hesitate to consult an Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover any losses you endured due to your bus accident that directly impacted your finances. Typical economic damages include:
- Property damage
- Medical costs
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning ability
- Any expenses paid to accomplish daily tasks that your injury prevents you from completing yourself
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are far from simple. These damages include any other losses you sustained, not categorized as economic damages. Non-economic damages can be varied and are not easy to quantify. Typical non-economic damages include:
- Decreased quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are significantly different from the compensatory damages reviewed above. Instead of focusing on compensating accident victims for their losses, these damages are used to punish the liable party for their actions.
Punitive damages are only awarded in extreme cases where the liable party acted with the direct purpose of harming others or if they were criminally negligent.
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Make Sure to File Your Lawsuit Before Time Runs Out
In Indiana, the personal injury statute of limitations typically gives bus accident victims two years to sue the at-fault party for damages. Failure to submit the required documents before the two years pass will likely mean that you’ll lose your options for pursuing compensation for the damages you suffered.
Although the statute of limitations is often very unforgiving, there are many exceptions that could potentially apply to your case. Depending on the particular circumstances of your accident, an exception to the statute of limitations could allow you to file a lawsuit even if the statute of limitations expired years ago.
However, you need to understand that an exception can work the other way as well. For example, if you are filing a lawsuit against a government entity, you will likely find that you are limited to mere months rather than years. To protect yourself and your ability to recover money after an accident, the best move is to hire an experienced Lafayette bus accident lawyer.
What a Bus Accident Attorney Will Do for You
After you hire a bus accident attorney, they will take over every aspect of your case with the intention of getting you the compensation you need for your damages. One of the first actions they are likely to take will be to launch an independent investigation into your case with the aim of determining fault and gathering evidence to support your compensation claim.
After completing their investigation, your attorney will review and assess your damages so they can calculate the full value of your claim. Depending on the path you choose, your attorney will either file a lawsuit against the liable party with the court or submit your insurance claim to the at-fault party’s insurance provider.
If you are pursuing a lawsuit, your attorney will go through the pretrial process steps before representing you in court. Throughout the process, your lawyer will attempt to negotiate a fair settlement agreement with opposing counsel. Should they succeed, you will get the money you need quickly and be able to move forward with your life.
Reach Out to a Bus Accident Lawyer in Lafayette for a Free Consultation
Following a bus accident, you need to ensure that you hire a lawyer with experience handling cases similar to yours and a record of securing favorable compensation for their clients. At Vaughan & Vaughan, our team of experienced bus accident attorneys has a long history of helping accident victims get the money they need.
Contact us using the contact form on this site or by giving us a phone call today. You can schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team, who will review your options with you.
