Your legal options after a bus accident in Texas include:
1. Negotiating a Settlement
You can attempt to negotiate a fair settlement with the liable party or their insurance company.
2. Taking Your Case to Court
If the insurance company or liable party denies your claim or does not offer a fair settlement, you can take your case to court.
Negotiating a Settlement
If you choose to negotiate a settlement, you may have to provide evidence and documentation to establish that the other party was liable for your injuries and damages.
The liable party or their insurance company can either accept your claim and offer a settlement or deny your claim.
Take Your Case to Court
If the insurer does not offer you the settlement you want, or if it denies liability altogether, you can choose to take your case to court.
Responsible Parties You May Be Able to File a Claim Against
Liability in a bus accident depends on a lot of factors, including how the accident happened. The party responsible for the crash may include:
- The bus driver
- The bus company, such as METRO
- The bus manufacturer
- Another driver
- A government agency
Expenses and Losses You May Recover in a Texas Bus Accident
We cannot estimate how much your case will be worth without first investigating the accident, as there are so many variables that go into the case value. However, some of the damages we may account for when pursuing a recovery include:
Medical Expenses
These expenses might include emergency room bills, ongoing care, assistive devices, prescription medications, copays, and more.
Lost Wages
Your recovery may account for lost wages and loss of future earning capacity (if your injuries required you to take a lesser paying job, work fewer hours, or retire). This can also include loss of benefits and pension.
Noneconomic Damages
You may also qualify to recover for the noneconomic damages you experience, including mental distress, physical pain, loss of consortium, loss of quality of life, and more.
Time Limits on Legal Action in a Bus Accident
Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, Texas imposes a two-year statute of limitations on most personal injury cases, including bus accidents. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this two-year period, you may be unable to take legal action to pursue a recovery.
Since a bus accident may involve a government entity, you may have less time than this to take legal action. Do not delay, call D. Miller & Associates, PLLC today: 713-850-8600.
How a Bus Accident Lawyer May Help Your Case
A bus accident lawyer may be able to help you with your case in the following ways:
Help You Navigate the Accident Claims Process
A bus accident lawyer can help you file claims, retrieve documents, communicate with insurance companies, and manage the many requirements and deadlines of a bus accident case.
Help You Gather Evidence
An attorney may help you obtain the following types of evidence that may help you establish fault and liability as well as the value of your damages:
- Accident or police report
- Eyewitness testimony
- Photographs
- Video surveillance
- Medical records
- Proof of lost wages
- Expert witness testimony
Communicate with the Insurance Company
The insurance company may use certain tactics to deny or devalue your claim. This might include getting you to say something that jeopardizes your claim. Our attorneys can manage communication with the insurer to protect your right to recovery.
Secure Expert Testimony
A lawyer can help you identify medical experts, accident reconstruction experts, and other expert witnesses who can testify about how your accident occurred or the effects of your injuries.
Fight for a Fair Settlement
A bus accident attorney can help you negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company by presenting evidence of fault and liability and documenting all your damages.
Take Your Case to Court
If you are unable to reach a fair settlement with the insurance company, our legal team can assist you in filing a lawsuit to pursue recovery in court.
Seek Legal Assistance from a Bus Accident Lawyer in Texas
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a bus accident, an injury lawyer from D. Miller & Associates, PLLC may be able to help you file a claim and seek recovery.
Get a free, no-obligation consultation. Call us at 713-850-8600.