Bus drivers in Decatur, Illinois, are responsible for not only the safety of their passengers but other drivers on the streets. The Decatur Public Transit System’s buses operate on 15 routes, including a downtown trolley system.
However, bus accidents in Decatur can occur due to the extensive network of bus routes that crisscross the city’s streets. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, intercity buses accounted for 11%, and transit buses for 35% of all fatal bus crashes from 2010 to 2020. Additionally, 38% of the crashes involved school buses in the same period.
After a bus accident with your motor vehicle, consult a Decatur bus accident attorney from Nessler & Associates to help you file a claim. Our attorneys have experience handling all types of accident cases, including bus accidents. We can help you recover compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages from the liable parties.
What Are the Most Common Bus Accident Injuries?
A bus accident may cause a variety of injuries, ranging from cuts to severe ones, such as:
Head Injuries
Concussions occur when the head suddenly moves back and forth, causing the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull and damage brain cells. As a result, you may experience memory loss, headaches, blurred vision, confusion, and nausea.
If you suffer a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may need ongoing medical care and treatment due to ongoing chronic health problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 55% of people who suffer TBIs do not have a job, and 50% have been hospitalized at least once.
Spinal Cord Injuries
During a bus crash, a sudden blow to the spinal cord can cause the vertebrae to dislocate, break, and crush the surrounding nerves and soft tissues. As a result, the discs in the spine rupture, and the jelly-like fluid inside can leak out, creating herniated discs and causing pain and numbness.
Damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord may result in paralysis. There are two kinds of paralysis: total or partial paralysis, which affects either one or both sides of the body. For example, a paraplegic person cannot move their legs, lower torso, or pelvis due to paralysis of the lower body. Quadriplegia paralyzes the arms, legs, and upper torso.
Bone Fractures
The impact of a bus accident can result in painful broken bones that need immediate medical attention. Transverse fractures occur when a bone breaks in two perpendicularly. If the bone breaks through the skin, it is called a compound fracture.
The medical providers may provide you with a splint or cast for a mild bone break. However, if you have suffered severe bone injuries, a surgeon may need to insert metal pieces to realign your bones for proper healing. Sometimes, you may need to undergo follow-up procedures to remove the metal pieces.
Neck Injuries
A neck injury can include a sprain resulting from torn ligaments in the neck. You can also suffer strain from a pulled muscle or tendon. As a result of a sprain or strain, bones, tissues, or tendons can push against nearby nerves, causing pain.
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can ease pain and reduce inflammation. Your doctor may recommend cervical spine surgery to relieve pressure on the affected nerve if you experience pain and loss of motion.
Experiencing injuries in a bus accident can result in expensive medical expenses and lost income due to time off work for your recovery. Your attorney can evaluate the settlement for your injuries based on your medical bills and records.
What Damages Can You Get from a Bus Accident Claim?
With your attorney’s legal assistance, you can seek compensation for financial expenses related to your injuries. These costs can include:
- Medical expenses for hospital admissions, surgeries, follow-up appointments, medical prescription records, and physical therapy sessions.
- Lost wages, benefits, and reduced earning capacity.
- Loss of enjoyment, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering as a result of the injury.
Whether a bus belongs to a private bus company, public transportation, or school bus entity, your personal injury lawyer can hold the negligent bus driver liable for your injuries. We can review your records and present evidence that a bus driver’s negligence was responsible for the accident.
How Can I Strengthen My Bus Accident Claim?
Working with your attorney can help you strengthen your claim by demonstrating who caused the crash and how their negligent actions caused your injuries and damages. You can take the following steps to start a strong case with credible evidence:
Get Medical Attention
If you suffered injuries, contact emergency services for medical evaluations and treatment. You can also visit your primary physician for a physical examination and imaging tests. Specific injuries, such as traumatic brain injury and whiplash, can take hours and days to manifest symptoms after a bus collision.
Whenever you visit your doctor, ask for records. Ensure you keep a copy of each medical bill, invoice, and receipt for your lawyer to calculate your damages.
File a Police Report
Contacting the police is essential to documenting the accident for a police report to use in a bus accident lawsuit. During the interview with the police officer, you should provide specific details about the incident. Additionally, the police report may include information about the bus driver, such as their contact information, insurance company, and employer name.
Collect Crucial Evidence from the Accident Scene
Photograph and record videos of the scene of the crash, damages to your property, and injuries. Look for anything that may have contributed to the accident, such as potholes and damaged curbs. You can ask bystanders for their contact information so your lawyer can gather their statements.
Contact a Decatur Bus Accident Lawyer After Your Accident
When you are involved in a bus accident, a qualified bus accident lawyer is ready to help you with your claim. You can depend on our lawyers for their knowledge handling claims involving car accidents and truck accidents with buses.
At Nessler & Associates, we can analyze the police report, witness statements, and insurance documents to determine liability on the part of the bus driver and their employer. If negotiations with the bus company and their insurer do not result in a favorable settlement, we will take the case to trial.
Call our law office today at (800) 727-8010 for a free consultation. We handle all legal matters on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to worry about upfront legal costs.