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If you’re the victim of a Florida bus accident, you deserve to be compensated fairly. But the process of negotiating with insurance companies–and potentially bringing your case to trial–can be extremely difficult without the support of an attorney. To help you get the compensation you need, here’s a guide to choosing and working with a Florida bus accident lawyer.
We have offices located in 10 Florida cities: Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Stuart, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Bay, St. Petersburg, and Vero Beach.
Click on the location nearest you for contact details. If it’s after hours, please leave us a message or use the contact forms on our website, and we’ll get back to you promptly.
We’re truly sorry to hear about your car accident, but this is where your journey to recovery begins!
Give us a call at (561) 277-0569 and we can go over the details together.
You don’t have to worry about paying us. The discussion with us will be free and if there is a case, we only get paid when you get paid.
Though the state of Florida doesn’t require bus accident victims to work with lawyers on their case, you might not be able to reach a fair settlement if you handle your case on your own. After being in a bus accident, you need to focus on your physical and mental recovery. You also likely have to pay expensive medical bills and take time off work–which may reduce your income. This leaves you with very little time to learn how to handle insurance claims and potential lawsuits.
The responsible party and their insurance company will do whatever they can to minimize their liability. This can present serious long-term challenges for you. For example, if the accident leaves you permanently injured and negatively impacts your ability to earn a living, you must ensure that your settlement is large enough to cover your current and future medical and living expenses.
Furthermore, each case is unique and requires a different legal approach to reach a favorable outcome for the victim. An experienced attorney will be able to carefully evaluate your case to determine which legal avenue to pursue and what type of evidence to collect. Their knowledge and experience can help you save time, energy and money so that you can focus on your recovery.
If you’re in a bus accident, it’s important to take appropriate steps to minimize your injuries and protect your legal rights. The moments after a bus accident can significantly impact your ability to collect compensation for any injuries you have suffered.
The first thing you should do after being in a bus accident in Florida is move to a safe location and assess yourself for injuries. If you or anyone else is hurt, contact emergency services to seek help.
After ensuring your immediate safety, contact the police to report the accident. The police will then document the incident in an official report, which can help you in the future if you pursue a claim or lawsuit.
You should also gather as much information as you can about the accident. Collect information such as the bus driver’s name, the bus company’s contact information, the bus number and the bus’s insurance details. Take photos of the bus, your injuries and any other vehicles involved. If anybody witnessed the accident, collect their contact information so they can issue statements if you pursue a claim or lawsuit.
Even if you feel fine after the accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some injuries may manifest later. A medical professional will be able to check if you have any injuries and put you on an appropriate treatment plan. If you pursue a claim or lawsuit, the documentation of your medical treatment can support your case and help you recover the compensation you need.
Be sure to save all the records you have of the accident and the aftermath. These records may include documentation of medical treatments, expenses, missed work days or journal entries describing your symptoms.
You should also speak with a bus accident lawyer as soon as you can. A lawyer will be able to evaluate your case and identify the best course of action–which may include pursuing compensation through an insurance claim or through a lawsuit. Filing claims and lawsuits can be challenging without a lawyer–especially if you’re recovering from injuries–so it’s best for you to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
As you work with your lawyer to pursue a claim or lawsuit, keep in mind that Florida’s comparative negligence laws may impact the compensation you can receive. Under Florida’s comparative negligence laws, you can only pursue compensation if you are no more than 50% at fault for the accident. This means that if the insurance companies or courts determine that you were over 50% at fault for the accident, you may not be able to collect compensation.
If you are partially at fault, the compensation you receive will be reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault for the accident that resulted in your injuries, the compensation you receive from the other party will be reduced by 20%.
Florida Statute 768.28 allows you to sue or pursue a claim against Florida government agencies that are responsible for your injuries or damages. If your injuries or other damages were the result of a Florida government agency’s negligence, you may be eligible to receive compensation from that government agency.
An example of a situation in which a government agency could be liable for a bus accident would be if the government negligently handled road hazards, and those road hazards caused the bus to crash.
To pursue a claim against a Florida government agency, you must notify the Florida Division of Risk Management of your intent to file a claim. When notifying the Florida Division of Risk Management, you will need to share facts about the accident and your injuries.
Keep in mind that the Florida statute of limitations for bus accidents is two years. If you wait too long to start pursuing a claim, you may lose your eligibility to collect compensation. To avoid errors and missed deadlines, you should consider speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after the accident so they can handle the process of filing a claim or lawsuit.
It’s important to choose your personal injury attorney carefully, as they will play a major role in your case. Working with an experienced attorney can mean the difference between a fair settlement and an unfair settlement. Here are some things to consider when choosing a bus accident lawyer.
By choosing an experienced lawyer, you can set yourself up to achieve the best possible outcome. The aftermath of an accident is hard enough as it is–you should work with an attorney who will ensure the legal aspects go as smoothly as possible.
The services of your bus accident lawyer typically start with an initial consultation. During this meeting, your lawyer will evaluate your case and advise you on your options. They will also help you select the best course of action.
Following the initial consultation, your lawyer will develop a legal strategy tailored to the needs of your case. They will also collect all necessary evidence, such as accident reports, witness statements, medical records and surveillance footage.
Your lawyer will also communicate with insurance companies and negotiate settlements. An experienced lawyer will use their legal knowledge to seek a fair settlement that covers your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and any other damages.
If the insurance companies do not agree to a fair settlement, your personal injury lawyer will file a lawsuit and represent you in court.
Personal injury lawyers–including Florida bus accident lawyers–typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any upfront costs. Attorneys who work on a contingency fee basis–such as Kogan & DiSalvo Personal Injury Lawyers–use their own funds to cover costs associated with pursuing your case. If you win a settlement or lawsuit, your lawyer will receive a percentage of that payment.
One of the main benefits of lawyers who work on a contingency fee basis is the extra assurance that their interests are aligned with yours. If you don’t receive any money, neither will they.
At Kogan & DiSalvo Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re committed to helping accident victims receive the compensation they deserve. If you need a Florida bus accident lawyer, contact us today for a free consultation so our experienced team can help you pursue the best course of action.
If you are injured and unable to come to us,
our attorney will come to you - there is no charge for us to do so.
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