Congested city streets are perfect areas for auto accidents. The sheer number of vehicles makes it highly likely that at least a few fender benders unfold during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Throw in massive city-operated public transportation buses, and you have the perfect storm for worst case accident scenarios.
If you were involved in a car crash with a public transportation vehicle, you need to know how to get compensation for property damage and the medical bills associated with personal injuries.
Accidents that involve a public transportation vehicle bring a few unique factors to the insurance table.
First, the city has the resources to fight any compensation claim long after the accident occurred. Second, many auto insurance companies view the statements made by the drivers of public transportation vehicles as fact, which places auto insurance policyholders at a distinct disadvantage. Finally, you might have to counteract dozens of witness statements that confirm the story told by the driver of the public transportation vehicle.
What Types of Damages Can You Collect?
Whether your car was hit by a bus or a light rail train, the property damage inflicted on your vehicle might lead to an auto repair specialist to designate your vehicle as totaled. Trying to get money back from your auto insurance company for replacing a total car can be a difficult process.
Most insurers try to find ways to repair a vehicle, before agreeing to pay for replacing it. Public transportation vehicles can crush the exterior of an ordinary, as well as cause irreparable damage to the engine and the suspension system.
If you were driving your car at the time of a public transportation vehicle accident, you probably sustained serious injuries that include several broken bones and damage done to the spinal area. It is not just treating serious injuries that can cost you thousands of dollars.
The rehabilitation costs associated with a serious auto accident can go on for months, if not years on end. Even if you escaped from a public transportation vehicle crash relatively unscathed, you still have to pay for a rental car to temporarily replace your vehicle. Public transportation vehicle crashes require the services of a state licensed personal injury attorney who specializes in dealing with municipal governments.
How to Handle an Accident with a Public Transportation Vehicle
You can expect the driver of a public transportation vehicle to contact law enforcement immediately after an accident. The driver must inform his or her supervisor about the incident as well. Law enforcement officers that arrive at the scene of the accident will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the preliminary cause of the crash.
After compiling the evidence and acquiring the statements made by eyewitnesses, the police put together an official report that your auto insurance company uses to make a decision on your claim. Although the formal police report is considered the most persuasive document for an auto insurance claim, you should also file a report that details what happened before, during, and after the crash.
Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
You can expect the city to work with a team of highly skilled attorneys to fend off a civil lawsuit, as well as counter an auto insurance claim. Fight back against the city by hiring a highly rated personal injury lawyer who presents the most convincing case that gets you compensated. Most personal injury attorneys schedule free initial consultations with new clients.
