Edwardsville Bus Accident Lawyer

Severe injuries are common in bus crashes. In the aftermath of an accident, you could be hospitalized and face significant medical expenses. Recovering damages can be critical for covering these costs and getting your life back on track. An experienced Edwardsville bus accident attorney can help get you the money you need.

At the Morelli Law Firm, we have been helping injury victims get the compensation they deserve for years. Our team of experienced Edwardsville personal injury lawyers has helped countless injury victims collect fair compensation. Get in touch today to schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney from our firm.

Ensure That You File Your Bus Accident Lawsuit on Time

If you are planning to sue the liable party for damages after a bus accident, you need to familiarize yourself with the filing deadline. The personal injury statute of limitations in Illinois gives accident victims two years to take legal action against those responsible for their damages. Failure to file on time could mean the loss of your right to pursue compensation.

However, it’s critical that you reach out to an experienced bus accident attorney in Edwardsville, even if you believe you have missed your opportunity to take legal action. It could turn out that the circumstances of your case create an exception that allows you to file outside the usual two-year window.

Alternatively, the particular details of your situation could result in a smaller time frame for taking legal action. This is a common exception when filing a claim against a city bus or public school bus. There are strict limitations that apply when taking legal action against a government entity. An experienced attorney can help ensure all the necessary paperwork gets filed on time.

Damages Your Edwardsville Bus Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover

When you suffer damages following a crash, you will likely be wondering how much you can expect to recover. The compensation available following a bus accident will depend on a variety of factors. Because the injuries sustained in these cases tend to be substantial, the money awarded for these losses is often significant.

Occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians are subjected to the extreme size and weight of a bus, while riders in the bus can suffer injuries related to the lack of seatbelts and the high rate at which rollovers occur in these crashes. These elements often result in severe damages for those involved in bus accidents.

Determining the damages that apply to your case is vital for recovering the full compensation you deserve. In addition to compensatory damages, the details of your case may also make you eligible to claim punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Every loss caused by your bus accident that hurts you financially is categorized as a type of economic damage. Economic damages cover both the money you are compelled to spend and any income you are prevented from earning as a result of the injuries you sustained.

Following a bus accident, the most often claimed economic damages include:

• Property damage
• Lost income
• Decreased earning ability
• Medical expenses
• Future medical bills

Non-Economic Damages

Every other loss related to your accident belongs in the vast category of non-economic damages. Instead of hurting your finances, the damage done by these losses tends to be far more profound. Non-economic damages are typically very personal in nature, and these losses are often irreplaceable.

Because these damages are so impactful, the money recovered for non-economic damages often accounts for the largest portion of the money claimed by the liable party. Following a bus accident, the most often claimed non-economic damages include:

• Permanent disability
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Decreased quality of life
• Mental anguish

Punitive Damages

Unlike the compensatory damages discussed above, the purpose of punitive damages is not to replace the losses incurred by an accident victim. Instead, these damages are used as a means of punishing the responsible party for the role they played in causing the accident.

Punitive damages are only assessed in a small fraction of bus accident cases. A judge will only award punitive damages if your injuries were the result of intentional harm or gross negligence.

Use Caution When Dealing With an Insurance Company After an Accident

It is critical that you use caution when dealing with an insurance provider after a bus accident. Despite how they attempt to portray themselves in advertisements, insurers don’t really care about injury victims. Instead, their focus is on maximizing profits by minimizing payouts. Insurers have a wide variety of tricks they will employ to deny or devalue your claim.

The best way to protect yourself against the predatory practices of insurers is to decline to speak with them until you have secured the services of an experienced attorney. When you hire a lawyer to represent you, the insurer will be unable to contact you directly.

By forcing the insurance company to work through your attorney, you will prevent them from using any of their tricks against you and level the playing field.

Get Help From an Experienced Bus Accident Attorney Serving Edwardsville Today

By working with an experienced lawyer, you will greatly improve your chances of getting the money you need and deserve after a bus accident. At the Morelli Law Firm, our team of Edwardsville bus accident lawyers will give your case the attention it needs to ensure a favorable outcome.

Contact us by giving us a call, using our online chat tool, or completing our contact form and schedule your free case review today.