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A short distance from Charlotte, North Carolina, Kings Mountain is quickly becoming the go-to hotspot for tourism and activities. As the entire region grows, the potential for accidents involving buses will also increase.
With people eager for inexpensive ways to visit museums and other sights in the area, bus tours are an easy way for groups to split the cost of travel. Unfortunately, the increased presence of tour buses increases the risks to other drivers on the road. After an accident with a bus, a Kings Mountain bus accident lawyer from Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, can help.
What to Do If You Are Involved in a Bus Accident
Your first course of action, if you did not see medical personnel on the scene, is to seek medical care. In many cases, you may feel fine after an accident because the adrenaline and shock keep symptoms at bay. However, many problems can manifest after several hours to several days following an accident.
Suppose you do not live in Kings Mountain but are involved in an accident here. In that case, you can seek medical assistance at Kings Mountain Hospital initially. Medical records can be transferred to your home physician upon release.
Once you have obtained medical assistance, it might be wise to contact an attorney for bus accidents. You may not need an attorney, but receiving positive verification with a free consultation is no risk. In addition, contacting an attorney before returning home means that you will have a local voice even though you are miles away.
How a Kings Mountain Bus Accident Attorney Can Help
Whether you are a resident of Kings Mountain or live elsewhere, having a local attorney working on your behalf makes sense. Our lawyers know the state and federal laws and understand the claims process.
They will be busy working on financial compensation for you while you recover from your injuries. Some of the tasks our legal team can assist with include:
- Supporting your claim with evidence
- Pursuing all liable parties
- Making a case for the other party’s negligence in causing the wreck
- Compiling and sending demand letters to gain compensation for you
- Negotiating for a potential settlement out of court
- Filing the appropriate paperwork for a lawsuit
- Representing you in court if necessary
What Damages are Recoverable in Bus Accidents
Getting compensation for your injuries might not be on your mind. But with any significant accident, medical costs can add up quickly. By talking to a bus accident attorney, you can begin recovering the unexpected expenses you will have due to the wreck.
Your recovery may be extensive, and our firm can help you plan for that by determining the extent of your injuries. We will also consider other factors, including your emotional well-being and future expenses. If you are eligible for compensation, you deserve to have an experienced legal team working to help you recover from a bus accident.
Compiling the Evidence to Determine Fault
To prove liability, your lawyer will need to prove that:
- There was a duty of care, such as the duty to operate a bus safely
- The driver failed to exercise safe driving practices
- Their breach of duty caused your injuries
- The damages you received due to the accident are compensable
Meeting each of these four elements, duty, breach, causation, and damage, is the basis on which an injury case is built. Your attorney can gather and present evidence, obtain witness testimony, and compile additional documentation to support your claim.
Contributory Negligence in North Carolina
North Carolina does have a somewhat archaic stance on contributory negligence. The defendant’s insurance company will try to determine that you were in some way also at fault. Suppose a court determines a factor of one percent of the shared responsibility. In that case, you may not receive compensation.
If our attorneys believe that shared fault will arise, they will advise you accordingly.
Rounding Up All the Liable Parties
An accident involving a commercial bus may have more than one liable party. Of course, the driver is always a factor, but the company that owns the bus and a maintenance contractor may also share liability in some cases. We will work hard to locate all the liable parties for your case.
North Carolina Law Limits Your Time to Take Legal Action
To file an injury lawsuit in North Carolina, you must take action before the expiration of the statute of limitations which is three years per G.S. § 1-52. Wrongful death cases have a shorter statute of only two years per G.S. § 1-53.
A Kings Mountain bus accident lawyer will ensure that all filing deadlines are met so you can concentrate on healing from your injuries.
Negotiating a Settlement is Common
A majority of injury cases settle before going to court. Part of the negotiation process is determining the compensation you deserve and sending a demand letter. Once the liable party receives your demand letter, they usually open negotiations with your attorney.
Initial offers are usually meager, meaning a small percentage of your original request. Then, we will negotiate on your behalf, presenting evidence and documentation. Throughout the entire process, you will be in the loop. The final decision on accepting any settlement amount is yours.
If no settlement is acceptable, our legal team will complete the necessary filing for a lawsuit in court to represent your interests in court if necessary.
Contact a Kings Mountain Bus Accident Attorney for Help Today
If you think your injuries are due to someone else’s negligence, contact a Kings Mountain bus accident lawyer at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC. Our legal team offers a free consultation and a contingency fee arrangement if you retain us to handle your case.
