What Should You Do After an Austin Bus Collision?

Austin bus accidents can frighten everyone involved. Many buses lack seatbelts and airbags, and they often carry dozens of passengers at once—some of whom might need to stand in the aisles when the bus is full. Their high centers of gravity make them vulnerable to rollover accidents. Their large sizes make their collisions considerably more forceful than those involving other types of vehicles. These factors, in turn, can make bus accidents especially devastating.

If you were in a bus accident, what should you do next? How should you handle the situation? Below we discuss some important steps to take following a bus accident.

Seek Medical Care

If you or your child were in a bus accident, seek medical care as soon as possible following the accident. You may feel perfectly fine at the scene of the accident, but some injuries—including whiplash and traumatic brain injuries—may not present themselves until days later. Seek medical care as soon as you can, because early treatment can go a long way toward making sure that some injuries don’t deepen. If you do decide to wait, make sure that you go to the hospital or to urgent care immediately if you or someone involved in the accident:

• Becomes nauseated
• Is disoriented
• Struggles with memory concerns
• Experiences unexpected or acute pain, particularly in the head, neck, back, or abdomen
• Has any other unusual symptoms that seem to be associated with the accident—including psychological conditions like post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Collect Information

If you were seriously injured in an accident on public transportation, collect key information about the event, including:

• The name of the driver.
• The number of the bus. This can help you and your lawyer determine who was driving the bus, and provide your attorney with key information.
• Who is responsible for the bus company. Depending on your location, the bus company may be a governmental entity or a private business. That could significantly change the process you need to use, and the deadlines involved in, seeking compensation.
• Any information about how the accident occurred. If you were present at the time of the accident, you may want to write down a witness statement that describes what you saw.
• A list of other eyewitnesses who may have seen the accident and might testify as to what they saw.

Seeking Legal Assistance for Your Austin Bus Accident Case

If you were in a bus accident and sustained serious injuries from the collision, seek legal advice to ensure that you receive compensation for the full cost of the injuries. If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a bus accident, call us today at (512) 851-1004, or contact us online, to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about your right to compensation.