Colorado offers public transportation in the form of the Regional Transportation District, or RTD. This mass transportation system provides low-cost rides by bus and rail to thousands of people in Denver, Boulder and the surrounding cities. Unfortunately, city buses in Colorado are not always safe for passengers or the public. If you get involved in a public bus accident, know what to do to protect your rights.
Stay Calm
Do your best not to panic in the aftermath of a public transportation bus accident. You may be hurt, in pain and overwhelmed by the confusion of an accident involving so many people. However, try to remain calm and remember that there are steps you need to take to protect yourself physically and financially. This includes not admitting any fault for the accident if you were in a motor vehicle that a public bus crashed into. Do not apologize to the other parties involved, shout or become aggressive.
Check for Injuries
Immediately check yourself and others involved in the RTD bus accident for injuries. This includes other passengers on the bus, the bus driver, the driver of the other vehicle, bicyclists or pedestrians. Keep in mind that you may be injured even if you do not notice pain, swelling or other signs of injury right away. Some serious injuries have delayed or late symptoms, including whiplash, traumatic brain injuries and back injuries.
Seek Medical Care
If you have been injured, do not delay in seeking professional medical care. An insurance company will check to see if you received immediate medical treatment after the bus accident. If not, this could be used as a reason to reject your claim or diminish your payout. Request copies of your medical records, x-rays, treatment plans and health care bills.
Report the Accident
While you are still at the scene of the crash, report the public transportation bus accident to the local police by calling 911. You may not be legally obligated to report the accident unless you are a vehicle driver, but doing so can ensure that the police arrive at the scene and take your statement. Write down your police report number before you leave. Your police report can contain important information about the crash to use as evidence for your claim.
Gather Information
Going up against RTD and the government’s insurance provider after a public bus crash in Colorado is not easy. RTD has immense resources to put toward fighting liability for a bus accident. You should prepare for the legal process ahead by collecting information and evidence and getting in contact with a skilled Denver personal injury lawyer. Do this by speaking to eyewitnesses, taking photos and videos, writing down a detailed description of events, and collecting copies of important records and documents.
File an Insurance Claim
Begin the recovery process by filing an insurance claim. In Colorado, the party at fault for an automobile accident is responsible for paying for related losses. If the bus driver caused your crash, you may be able to hold RTD vicariously liable. RTD may also be liable for an accident caused by dangerous driver hiring or training practices, poor bus maintenance, or other examples of negligence. You can file an insurance claim after a public bus accident as an injured passenger, bicyclist, pedestrian or third-party driver.
Contact a Bus Accident Lawyer in Denver
You have rights as a victim of a public transportation bus accident in Colorado. Protect them with help from an Denver bus accident lawyer at Manning Law. We can help you go up against RTD and other powerful adversaries to pursue fair financial compensation for your losses. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. We can help if you sustained any type of injury in a public bus crash. Contact us today for a free injury case consultation.
