Assessing injuries
Once you assess your own injuries, if any, you should find out if other passengers suffered any harm. You should make sure to alert emergency medical personnel about the accident. Once they arrive on the scene, those who have sustained the most severe injuries should be the first to receive attention. You should visit a doctor as soon as possible to determine the extent of your own injuries.
Recording information
Any information you can gather will be of help to a personal injury attorney. Take down bus information, including the name of the bus company, the driver’s name and the license plate number of the vehicle. You should also exchange contact information with other passengers, especially those who were sitting near you. If possible, use your cellphone to take pictures of the accident scene, the damage to the bus, and the area where you were sitting or standing. It is a good idea to write down as much as you can remember about events both before and after the accident took place. Professionals will investigate the incident, and their findings will determine how the accident happened and who was at fault.
Determining compensation
An attorney experienced with cases involving bus crashes will tell you that both the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and the Metro Regional Transit Authority of Akron have rules related to the filing of accident claims. There are limits on damages, and compensation from each individual’s health insurance or from a third party will be figured in when these companies arrive at a settlement for the victims of a bus crash.