It is not uncommon for a bus to crash into a parked car or another passing car when backing up out of the place it had been located. Because of the relative size of a large buses or coach buses, even if it is moving quite slowly it can still cause a lot of damage and may even cause significant injuries if passengers are in the car when it is hit.
If you have been hit by a bus that has backed into you and you are injured and your car damaged, you are entitled to file a personal injury claim. By doing so you can recover the financial cost of an accident which was not your fault.
Damage and Injuries Caused by a Bus That Backed into My Car
Even minor bumps from a bus can cause significant damage to your car. It is most likely to be scratched and dented, as a bare minimum. It could have a bumper bent in, windscreen or side windows smashed or a fender damaged.
How much any occupants were injured depends on where the bus hit the car and how fast it was moving when it hit the car. The accident would have taken you as a surprise and it would be unlikely that you and any other passengers were wearing seat belts if the car was hit in a parking lot. Injuries could include:
- head injuries;
- facial injuries;
- whiplash;
- lost or damaged teeth;
- cuts and bruises;
- shock.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
You need to prove that the driver was at fault if you intend filing a claim against the company. If the bus hit your car when backing up, the driver may not have been looking carefully enough, or couldn’t see because you were in a blind spot, or he / she expected you to get out of the way.
If you think that the accident could have been avoided and the fault lay with the bus driver, you may be able to use an eye witness to help substantiate your claim. The bus will have passengers on it and it’s likely that some of them would have seen what happened, so could act as witnesses.
If you have a cell phone with a camera app with you, or a real camera, it is advisable to take photos showing the position of the two vehicles after the crash. A report from the car repair yard can also be used as evidence.
How a PI Lawyer Can Help You Win Your Claim
Large corporations, like Greyhound, have sophisticated methods of damage control when it comes to defending themselves against accident claims. You may find that the insurer challenges your account of what happened and claim that you were at fault.
This is where you need an experienced personal injury attorney to fight for a just settlement on your behalf. Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page today!
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Greyhound, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
