After a bus accident, it can be difficult to know where to turn. If your accident involved a private bus company, your claim will be against a corporation, and if it involved a public bus, your claim will be against a government agency. This means securing the compensation you deserve can be a challenge, requiring resources and skilled legal representation from a personal injury attorney.
Our lawyers begin a bus crash investigation by reviewing the police accident report and any internal incident report by the bus company. We interview witnesses and secure video footage, looking for signs of negligence, such as driver error, mechanical issues, or unsafe road conditions, to build a clear picture of what caused the crash and who’s responsible.
Once we have the evidence we need, your Athens bus accident lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement. If the insurer refuses to negotiate reasonably, we file a lawsuit and prepare for trial.
At Massey Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we work quickly when an injured client comes to us, ensuring their medical bills don’t become unmanageable. We identify every possible source of liability and compensation.
Your lawyer will communicate with insurers, so you don’t get stuck answering loaded questions or agreeing to something that may reduce your claim. When hospitals or doctors send demands for payment, we work to get your bills reduced or delayed until we resolve your insurance claim or lawsuit.
If a lawsuit does become necessary, we fight to include the full cost of your treatment, prescription medication, future care, medical devices, and any related costs in our demands. Your Athens lawyer coordinates with your medical providers to ensure your records clearly document how the bus crash caused your injuries, leaving no gaps the insurance company can exploit.
Our focus is simple: keep you in treatment and healing, work with your medical bill collectors, and push for the money you need to cover your care.
Georgia law gives you the right to pursue financial compensation if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. At-fault parties can include the bus driver, the transit company, a government agency, or even an auto parts manufacturer.
You generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but if the bus that hit you is city-, county-, or state-operated, your lawyer must send an ante litem notice within six months to a year (depending on the agency). This notice is one of the extra obstacles when suing or filing an insurance claim against the government, due to their sovereign immunity.
Your lawsuit can demand payment for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future health care needs. The state has a modified comparative negligence rule, outlined in Georgia Code § 51-12-33, which means a court can award you a payout as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for your injuries.
An Athens attorney from our firm can challenge wrongful accusations of partial fault, which are common in bus accidents involving pedestrians or collisions with other drivers. We ensure we seek compensation from every liable party, and we can manage multiple insurance claims on your behalf.
We bring Athens roots and personal injury experience to your claim, combining sharp legal focus and approachability for every case we take on. Some members of our team began their legal careers in insurance defense, giving us insider knowledge when negotiating with insurance companies. This insight allows us to predict an insurer’s next move, so we can counter their tactics and protect your rights.
You can talk to our legal team about your case for free. Contact us now to set up a consultation with an Athens bus accident lawyer.