When the unexpected occurs through no fault of your own, you need strong legal representation on your side. If you’ve suffered injuries from a bus accident in Chesterton or the surrounding areas, the Chesterton bus accident lawyers of Vaughan & Vaughan are here to help.
Our mission is to cut through red tape, stand up to powerful insurance entities, and ensure you receive the maximum financial recovery to which you are entitled.
Our Chesterton personal injury lawyers will address all aspects of your case with unmatched dedication and fight to ensure you collect every dollar you are owed.
Why Do I Need a Chesterton Bus Accident Attorney?
Bus accident cases can involve complex legal issues that differ from other vehicle collisions. Here are some reasons you should consider hiring a lawyer with experience in bus accident injury claims:
Establishing Cause
Your lawyer will understand the dynamics, engineering, and liability aspects unique to buses. This can help establish cause and liability to validate your injury claim.
Protecting Your Claim
Insurance companies and large transit organizations will have attorneys well-versed in defending bus claims. Our attorneys level the playing field so your rights are protected and your compensation claim is not minimized or denied.
Experience
Handling many bus cases means the lawyer has seen various injury scenarios and damage patterns. Things like long-term medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering are difficult to calculate fully.
Our Chesterton bus accident lawyers know how to account for all economic and non-economic damages to obtain maximum and fair compensation. This experience aids assessment of the value of your personal injury claim.
Resources
Relationships and past successes with expert witnesses like accident reconstructionists and medical specialists give our attorneys an advantage.
As Vaughan & Vaughan have been serving the community for over a century, we have the resources to stand toe to toe with teams of corporate lawyers and defend your rights.
Maximizing Your Compensation
Veteran attorneys know insurance company tactics and the art of negotiations. We can leverage this knowledge to get you the highest possible settlement.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
How Can a Bus Accident Lawyer Accurately Assess the Value of My Claim?
It’s important to know the true value of your damages before you make a demand or accept a settlement. Our bus accident attorneys in Chesterton will perform a thorough evaluation of your damages to keep you from accepting a settlement that is too low in value.
There are a few key ways that our attorneys can leverage their experience to better assess the value of your claim:
Injury Patterns
Experienced injury accident lawyers have evaluated hundreds of injury cases over the years. We understand common injuries that result from motor vehicle crashes, like traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and soft tissue injuries. We can correlate the details of your injuries to demand appropriate damages.
Past Settlement and Jury Verdict Values
Lawyers maintain extensive databases of past case outcomes involving similar injuries. We can research fair settlements and jury awards in comparable prior cases to guide the valuation of your claim.
There is no fee
unless you win
What Are Some Common Challenges in Bus Accident Injury Claims?
Here are some common challenges a bus accident injury victim may face in their claim:
- Determining liability – A lawyer will conduct an investigation and gather evidence like witness statements, traffic camera footage, and physical evidence to prove who was at fault.
- Establishing damages – A lawyer ensures all medical records, proof of lost income, and bills are obtained to document the full extent of injuries to support damages claims.
- Delay tactics – An experienced lawyer will push negotiations forward and be prepared to litigate if needed to overcome insurer delay strategies.
- Pre-existing conditions – A lawyer can consult with medical experts to differentiate injuries caused by the accident versus any prior injuries or conditions.
- Challenging experts – Our firm can use qualified expert witnesses to counter defense experts and establish the strength of the plaintiff’s expert evidence.
- Legal defenses – A skilled lawyer understands potential legal defenses and builds the case strategy to overcome any defenses raised by the defendant.
- Settlement pressure – An experienced lawyer will hold out for a fair settlement and be prepared to take the case to trial if needed to avoid a lowball settlement amount.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bus Accident?
There are a few different entities that can potentially be held liable for a bus accident:
- The bus company – As the owner/operator of the bus, the bus company has a responsibility to properly maintain its vehicles and ensure its drivers are trained, qualified, and following all safety regulations. If a lack of maintenance or negligent driver actions caused the accident, the bus company may be liable.
- The bus driver – The individual operating the bus at the time of the accident can be found negligent and held liable if they violated traffic laws, were distracted/impaired, acted carelessly, or otherwise operated the bus unsafely.
- Other drivers involved – If another vehicle, like a car, collided with the bus due to unsafe driving by that vehicle’s driver, such as running a red light, that other driver could also be held jointly liable.
- Municipalities – If unsafe road/traffic conditions such as poor visibility, lighting, signage, or road defects were a contributing factor, the city or state department of transportation with responsibility for that infrastructure may share liability.
- Parts/component manufacturers – In some cases, liability could extend to companies that manufactured or sold defective parts if those parts caused or contributed to the accident, such as brake or tire failures.
You may be able to recover damages from one or multiple of these potentially liable parties depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. Your Chesterton bus accident attorney will investigate and identify all sources of liability.
What Damages Are Recoverable in a Bus Accident Case in Indiana?
Here are some of the common types of damages that may be recoverable in a bus accident case in Indiana:
- Medical expenses – Past and future costs for medical treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, assistive devices, nursing care, etc.
- Lost wages – Past lost income and future loss of earning capacity due to injuries.
- Property damage – Repair or replacement costs for a damaged vehicle or other personal property like a cell phone or laptop.
- Physical pain and suffering – Compensation for bodily injuries, physical impairment, and pain experienced.
- Emotional distress – Damages for mental anguish, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Disfigurement or scarring – Aggravation caused by permanent appearance changes from injuries.
Contact a Bus Accident Law Firm in Chesterton for a Free Case Evaluation Now
At Vaughan & Vaughan, we have been fighting for justice for injury victims in the Chesterton area for over a century. Our attorneys understand that being involved in a serious bus accident can turn your life upside down, both physically and financially.
That’s why those needing a Chesterton bus accident lawyer to take on their case can trust our team of experienced litigators. We have a long track record of outstanding results and have recovered significant compensation for countless victims and their families.
With Vaughan & Vaughan on your team, you can focus fully on your recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation.
