As most of you know, traffic across Southern California is out of control. California consistently ranks among the states with the most traffic. Because of this, automobile accidents become quite commonplace. Bus accidents are a type of automobile accident that maintains a high occurrence rate throughout California. Just recently a large shuttle bus carrying around 24 passengers overturned on State Route 330 in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains. Six of the 24 passengers incurred serious injuries from this accident. 14 other passengers incurred minor injuries. The bus was returning from an annual mountain retreat to a church in Downey, California. At the time of the accident, the bus was driving down a mountain road when it made contact with a Nissan Versa sedan. This crash happened about 20 miles from the site of a 2013 bus accident where eight people were killed.
If you or a loved one was injured at the fault of a bus driver, it is imperative that you hire an attorney for your case. Doing so will greatly increase your chances at adequate compensation. The personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Patrick G. Shea, APC have the skills and experience needed to aggressively take on your case. Contact one of our lawyers today for a FREE consultation.
The Path Towards Compensation
If you are injured in an accident at the fault of a bus driver, for example, you will need to get the insurance information from the bus driver. You should take pictures of the accident scene, document the weather conditions and time of day, and get contact information and/or statements of witnesses to the accident. At this point, hiring a personal injury attorney or automobile accident attorney will provide you peace of mind.
Your attorney will help gather all necessary documentation. For instance, your attorney will help gather all medical bills/records, documentation of lost wages, and documentation of various other expenses incurred from your accident. Once you have finished treatment, your attorney will put together a demand packet. Your demand packet includes evidence of all bills incurred as well as lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, etcetera. Your attorney will then mail/fax the demand letter to the defendant’s insurance adjuster for settlement purposes.
Most of the time these cases settle before having to set foot in a courtroom. If settlement discussions fail, however, you may file your personal injury lawsuit with the Court. There is a time limit on how long you have to file your claim. This is called the “statute of limitations.” In California, actions for personal injuries must be brought within two years of the date of the accident. If your claim is against a government agency, the lawsuit must be filed within six months of the injury. This time limitations should be strictly adhered to because if you do not file your lawsuit within this period, you are most likely barred from doing so.
Hire an Attorney for Your Case
If you or a loved one has been in an automobile accident at the fault of another person, it is critical to hire an attorney for your case. The Southern California personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Patrick G. Shea APC are here for you. We are prepared to help you. If you are unsure if you have a case, if another law firm has already turned you down, or if you simply have gotten frustrated with the bureaucracy and red tape when dealing with insurance companies, call on us for advice, support, and guidance.
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