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Mississippi Bus Accident Attorneys Protecting The Rights of Clients Hurt in a Bus Accident in Biloxi, MS

What Should I Do After Being Injured in a Bus Accident in Mississippi?

Buses are typically seen as a safe and inexpensive way to get around town or across the state. However, there are hundreds of bus accidents in Mississippi every year, many of them resulting in significant injuries or deaths. The process of filing a claim after being hurt in a bus accident is not always as straightforward as the process of filing an auto accident claim. The attorneys at the Rundlett Law Firm, PLLC have handled many bus accident claims in the Biloxi, MS area and vicinities – here are some answers to common questions they often receive about bus accidents.

What Steps Should I Take if I Have Been Hurt While Riding a Bus in Biloxi?

If you were in a bus accident that resulted in injuries, call 911 and get medical help right away for yourself or any other victims. Getting first responders to the site of a bus accident should always be the first step, as this type of accident is potentially catastrophic for both passengers and any other vehicles involved.

If you are not seriously injured and it is safe to collect information about the scene of the accident, you may want to record as many details as possible. That can include details about the bus you were riding, such as whether it was a private charter bus or a city bus, whether any other vehicles were involved, whether the bus has a number or specific route, as well as the driver’s name, the contact information of any witnesses and videos or pictures from the accident site.

In addition, even if you don’t believe you were injured, you may want to be examined by a healthcare professional soon after the accident. This is because many types of injuries, such as whiplash, may not manifest themselves for days, even weeks after the accident. If you begin showing delayed symptoms while under the care of a medical professional, it will be easier to demonstrate that your injury is a direct result of the bus accident and not caused by a separate event.

Who Pays For My Bus Accident Injuries?

Determining liability in a bus accident can be a complex tax due to the many variables you may have to consider. If the accident investigation points to the bus driver as the main responsible party due to his or her reckless actions or negligence, the bus driver may be held financially responsible for your injuries. In most cases, however, the bus driver is employed by a transportation company in the private sector, which means the company will typically carry some type of liability insurance with coverage for accidents that may have been caused by an employee.

Bus accidents can also be caused by a third party, such as a passenger car or another vehicle. If that is the case, that driver will likely be financially responsible for your injuries, and you may be filing a claim with that individual’s auto insurance carrier. If it is determined that the bus accident was caused by a mechanical failure originating from a lack of maintenance, the company that owns the bus may be held responsible for neglecting to properly inspect and maintain its fleet. Sometimes, a manufacturing defect or a faulty part may cause an accident, resulting in a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the bus.

Your claim may escalate in complexity if the bus involved in the accident belongs to a government entity. Those types of buses may include public transport buses, school buses, and any other city or state-owned buses – even the notorious trolleys that circulate in Biloxi. Accident claims against a government entity have tiger deadlines and require special steps, and the help of an attorney may be essential for a successful claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bus Accident Claim?

Bus accident claims in Mississippi follow the same statute of limitations as other personal injury and property damage claims, allowing not more than three years from the date of the accident for a victim to initiate a claim. This applies to accidents involving privately owned and operated buses and other vehicles. You may also want to keep in mind that, when dealing with insurance carriers, each insurance company may have its own deadline for receiving claims.

Accidents involving government-owned buses have different deadlines. Depending on the jurisdiction, you may have as little as 30 to 180 days to initiate a claim. This can differ depending on whether your claim is filed under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act or the Federal Tort Claims Act. If you have been hurt in an accident with a government-owned bus, it is in your best interest to consult an attorney as soon as possible, as you may not have a lot of time to initiate your claim.

Can I Sue the Government for a Public Transit Bus Accident?

As you may now know, bus accident cases are usually complex, especially those involving a government-owned bus. It is possible to have a successful claim against a government entity in Mississippi after a bus accident, but working with a seasoned bus accident attorney is fundamental if you wish to achieve a positive outcome.

The bus accident attorneys at the Rundlett Law Firm, PLLC, have represented countless clients injured in bus accidents in Biloxi and surrounding areas. They have the skills and knowledge to help clients build successful claims to recover compensation for their injuries, economic losses, and emotional stress following a bus accident. If you or a loved one were in an accident while riding a public or private bus, contact the Rundlett Law Firm, PLLC, and request an initial consultation to discuss your case. Contact our Biloxi law office today at 228-338-1515 to get the legal service you deserve.