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Steps to Take After a Salem Bus Accident
Bus accidents are scary and dangerous. Around 55 bus accidents happened in Salem, Oregon, in 2022 alone. Now, the aftermath of these incidents can be challenging, leaving you astounded and not knowing what to do.
First, take a breath and then take charge of the situation. Unless you are too injured, it is in your best interest to take a few key steps immediately after a bus accident in Salem. Including the following:
1. Call 911 right away and ask for immediate rescue and medical attention. If you or someone around you is bleeding, do your best to stop the bleeding while you wait for paramedics.
2. Let emergency staff look at your injuries. If needed, go to the hospital and get assessed by a doctor. Get scanned and tested if they suggest.
3. Document the scene and photograph key evidence. This includes vehicle damages and your injuries.
4. Report the accident to the DMV as soon as you can. This is required by law if your vehicle or property suffered damages of $2,500 or more.
5. Exchange information with the opposing driver, including name, number, address, and other details.
6. Keep a detailed record of medical bills and other information. Your lawyer might need it, and your insurance provider will ask for it.
7. File the insurance report and claim for damages or injuries you suffered. It’s suggested that you do this under an attorney’s supervision.
8. Hire a Salem bus accident lawyer to handle all the legal intricacies.
1. Call 911 Immediately
The bus drivers are responsible for calling 911 in case of any injuries. However, being at the front, they are also prone to injuries that leave them incapacitated. If your driver is unable to do so, you must call 911 and seek immediate rescue.
Oregon has forty-two 911 call centers ready to help and dispatch rescue at any given moment. If the bus has suffered significant damages, you and the passengers around might need necessary rescue measures. This can include:
- Calling law enforcement to shut off roads, direct traffic, etc.
- Fire rescue and saving stuck passengers
- Immediate paramedics on the scene
Be ready to inform the dispatcher about how many people are injured, and the kind of medical attention you or the other passengers need, etc.
2. Allow Emergency / Paramedics to Assess Injuries
Once the paramedics arrive, you must cooperate and allow them to assess your injuries. Paramedic records will assist when filing an insurance claim or building a lawsuit—if it comes to that.
3. Photograph & Document the Accident Scene
If you can, take photos of the damages and injuries. Documenting the entire incident can help strengthen your case and ease the insurance claim process.
Document the accident with both photos and video footage and save your documents. Here’s why it’s important:
- Taking photos helps to prove injuries and damages suffered
- Documenting the scene ensures key details match law enforcement reports
4. Report the Accident to the Oregon DMV
After a bus accident in Salem, report the accident to the Oregon DMV. This applies to whether you were on the bus, in a car that collided with the bus, or a pedestrian affected by the bus accident. According to ORS 811, 720, people in a vehicle accident are obliged to report, even if the police have reported it.
Reporting is required by law if:
- Damage to your or the other vehicle was $2,500 or more
- The accident results in injury or death
- If the vehicle damage is worth $2,500 or more and was towed from the scene
- If the damage to any property was $2,500 or more
Fill out the form provided by Oregon.gov and add all the important details. You can also call their official number to file a report with a live representative.
5. Exchange Information
If other passengers, pedestrians, or drivers suffered injuries in the bus accident, you must exchange information with them. You can also gather witness information and seek their accounts of the bus accident. This information includes the following:
- Accounts of the accident, including time, location, circumstances
- Contact information, including phone numbers, emails, etc.
- Insurance details, such as company name and policy
The testimonies of witnesses, passengers, or anyone involved can be vital to your case.
6. Keep Detailed Records
You must prove damages in court and with your insurance provider. Therefore, you must secure things like medical bills, car repair bills (if applicable), or any other bills caused by the accident. Keep other records like the police report as well.
After reporting such a scene, the police will make a documented report of the events. You can request it once they finish it and secure it with your records. Your lawyer will also ask for these records for any legal proceedings.
7. File an Insurance Report & Claim
File an insurance claim as soon as you are able to. You can call your insurance provider or email them the details. It must include all the essential details, like photos, accident reports, etc.
8. Hire a Bus Accident Attorney in Salem
You can guess that the aftermath of a bus accident is a legal grinder. It can be difficult to focus on recovery, medical bills, and the legal elements. That’s why it is so helpful when an attorney can help get you financially compensated while you heal.
A bus accident attorney can also ensure you don’t get lowballed by insurance adjusters or the opposing party’s legal representation.
Benefits of Hiring a Bus Accident Lawyer
The legal fallout of any bus accident or personal injury claim can be a handful to deal with. Therefore, hiring bus accident lawyers can help you with the following:
- They can gather information and evidence
- They can talk to concerned parties, witnesses
- They can file for an insurance claim
Hiring a bus accident attorney not only rids you of the need to do it all yourself but also increases your chances of getting maximum compensation for your injuries and damages.
How Are You Compensated for A Bus Accident Injury?
Your compensation depends on the type of injuries and damages you suffered. Usually, the law separates two main compensation types: economic and non-economic. Some of the types of compensation you might be entitled to under each category include:
Economic
- Medical Expenses
- Loss of Wages
- Property Damage
- Funeral Costs
Non-economic
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Loss of Consortium
- Disability/Impairment
The compensation you are owed will come down to the damages and injuries you sustained in the bus accident.
Next Steps to Take
Focus on recovery, including mental and physical health, while an attorney addresses legal action. It is difficult to process any accident, much less a bus accident. There will be many medical appointments, and you will need time to rest and heal. A bus accident lawyer will be able to handle all insurance phone calls for you and will protect your rights as they seek your compensation.
Contact Goldberg & Loren for dedicated Salem bus accident representation.
Sources:
[1] Oregon Crash Summary 2022. (n.d.). State of Oregon – Oregon.gov. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Data/Documents/Crash_Summary_2022.pdf
[2] Oregon Department of Emergency Management: About 9-1-1 in Oregon: State 9-1-1 Program: State of Oregon. (n.d.). About 9-1-1 in Oregon: Oregon Department of Emergency Management. https://www.oregon.gov/oem/911/pages/about-911.aspx
[3] ORS 811.720 – When accident must be reported to Dept. of Transp. (n.d.). https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.720
