Taking a bus to a destination is meant to be a worry-free and often cost-effective way to get around in comparison to owning a car. It can be the way you commute to and from work, or to do errands. The whole point is that you can get on public transportation, sit back and relax while the driver takes on all the responsibility. What you don’t imagine, however, is your bus getting into an accident, and even worse yet, that accident is a result of the driver being intoxicated.
If this unthinkable situation has happened to you, it’s important to know the steps to take both immediately after the crash takes place, and in the days, weeks and months that follow. Let this post act as your guide to the key steps to take if you’re involved in a bus crash and the driver was driving while intoxicated.
Get Immediate Medical Care
No matter how minor or serious the bus crash may seem, immediate medical care should be sought. The fact is that not all injuries are visible, and you may start to feel lousy in the hours following the crash. Only by seeking medical attention can the proper examination and tests be done.
Depending on your injuries, it may not be as simple as visiting urgent care and then going home. You may need to remain in the hospital for a while to receive treatment.
Take Photographs of the Accident and Your Injuries
This tip will depend on the extent of your injuries, but if you can take pictures of the crash site, the surrounding area, and your injuries – these can help you later on when building a claim against the negligent party. A police report should also be filed, again, to help you build evidence in your case.
On-Going Treatment May Be Required for Recovery
Your doctor or medical team will be able to diagnose your injuries and then set up not just an initial treatment plan, but what may be a long-term or even permanent plan. Your new reality may include such things as:
- Regular doctor appointments
- Physical therapy/rehabilitation
- Occupational therapy
- Surgery or multiple surgeries
Typically, recovery isn’t a linear process; instead, it can be a path filled with obstacles and pitfalls. There can be setbacks and moments where it feels that progress isn’t being made. Often you need to see treatment and recovery as a journey, and you need to show patience and determination for it to be successful.
Follow the Treatment Plan as Laid Out
It can be quite overwhelming to be given a treatment plan that takes months, or years rather than days and weeks. The fact is that if you veer off the plan and choose not to follow the prescribed steps, you not only risk your recovery, but you may suffer negative health consequences. Try to view your treatment plan as a positive thing, and something that will benefit your future.
There Will Be a Need for Acceptance
This ties into the next tip, which is acceptance. It doesn’t mean you have to be okay with what happened to you; it means you need to accept your new reality and find ways to still feel fulfilled and happy with your life. This can be much more difficult if your injuries are severe, permanent or life-altering. How do you possibly begin to be okay with what happened to you and how it has impacted your life?
Many victims find that it’s helpful to speak to a professional counsellor about the feelings they are having. A counsellor can help you work through such emotions as anger, fear, sadness, and any anxiety the accident may have caused.
You may also want to open up to close friends and family about what you’re feeling. You’ll need a strong support system around you that gives you room to grieve your previous life and accept your new one. If you don’t have people you feel comfortable opening up to, look into local support groups. You may not be ready to share right away, but just listening to others who are in similar circumstances can offer a sense of relief, as they know how you feel.
Go Easy On Yourself – You’ve Been Through a Lot
Having a positive attitude during your recovery can help you to bounce back faster, but you also need to be realistic. Go easy on yourself when setting goals and expectations. You have just been through a traumatic experience and both your body and mind need to recover. Speed shouldn’t be the priority in recovery. Show yourself patience and understanding.
Don’t Attempt to Fight for Compensation on Your Own
Finally, it cannot be stressed enough just how much of a battle it will be to fight for fair compensation on your own. You as the injured party will have to prove the negligent party breached the duty of care, and that the breach is what caused your injuries. It also means you will be up against an insurance company that wants to settle for the least amount possible, which doesn’t work in your favor.
It’s for these reasons and more why it is important to hire us at The Cassisi Law Firm. We have experience dealing with bus accident cases just like yours, so we know what it takes to win a personal injury case such as this.
Don’t forget that compensation is meant to cover more than just your medical bills. Compensation can also cover:
- Loss of wages now
- Loss of future earnings
- Future medical treatment/care
- Pain and suffering
At The Cassisi Law Firm, we’re here to fight for you! You can come in and speak to us about your situation, and we can talk to you about how we would approach your claim.
Be sure to visit our offices at 10208 101st Ave Ozone Park, NY 11416.
You can also contact us for a free consultation at (718) 441-5050.
