Call 911 immediately to report the accident and request medical help. Move to a safe location if possible, document the scene with photos, collect witness information, and seek medical evaluation within 24 hours even if injuries seem minor.
Ensure Safety and Call Emergency Services
Check yourself and others for injuries as your first priority. Call 911 to report the accident and request paramedics for anyone experiencing pain, bleeding, dizziness, or other injury symptoms. Provide the dispatcher with the accident location, number of injured passengers, and injury severity.
Move to a safe location away from traffic if you can walk without severe pain. Buses blocking roadways create secondary collision risks from other vehicles. Exit through doors or emergency windows following driver instructions. Help other passengers who need assistance but avoid moving anyone with suspected spinal injuries unless immediate danger exists.
Stay at the Accident Scene
Remain at the accident location until police arrive and complete their investigation. Leaving the scene before authorities dismiss you can result in criminal charges and harm your injury claim. Provide your contact information and statement to responding officers.
Document the accident scene while waiting for police. Take photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, and visible injuries. Capture different angles showing the bus position, nearby vehicles, and surrounding area. These photos preserve critical evidence that disappears after scene cleanup.
Gather Evidence and Information
Collect contact information from all witnesses who saw the accident occur. Request their names, phone numbers, email addresses, and brief accounts of what they observed. Witness statements prove valuable when the bus company disputes liability or claims you caused the accident.
Obtain the bus driver's name, employee number, and insurance information. Record the bus number, route number, and transit company name. Note the exact accident time and location including street names and nearest intersections. Public transportation accident lawyers in Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, Oceanside, Las Vegas, and Phoenix use this information to investigate your claim and identify all liable parties.
Document Your Injuries
Photograph all visible injuries including bruises, cuts, swelling, and bleeding. Take photos immediately after the accident and again over the following days as bruising develops. These images prove injury severity and timing when insurance companies question your claims.
Write down everything you remember about the accident while details remain fresh. Note what you were doing before impact, how the collision felt, and your immediate symptoms. Document conversations with the bus driver, other passengers, and responding officers. Memory fades quickly, and detailed notes strengthen your case.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Visit an emergency room or urgent care clinic within 24 hours even if you feel fine. Many serious injuries including concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage show delayed symptoms. Medical evaluation creates documentation linking your injuries to the accident.
Describe all symptoms to healthcare providers including pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and emotional distress. Mention any prior injuries or medical conditions so doctors can distinguish old problems from new accident-related harm. Follow all treatment recommendations and attend scheduled follow-up appointments.
Why Immediate Medical Care Matters
Insurance companies argue that delayed treatment means injuries are not serious or resulted from other causes. Gaps between the accident and first medical visit weaken your claim. Emergency room records documenting injuries within hours of the crash provide strong evidence supporting your case.
Medical records establish injury causation, severity, and treatment necessity. Doctors note physical examination findings, diagnostic test results, and prescribed therapies. These professional assessments carry more weight than your own injury descriptions when negotiating settlements.
Report the Accident Properly
File an accident report with the transit company within 24 to 48 hours. Most bus systems have online reporting forms or phone hotlines for passenger incidents. Provide basic accident details but avoid detailed statements about fault or injuries until consulting an attorney.
Notify your insurance company about the accident even if you were a passenger. Your health insurance may cover initial medical bills before recovering costs from the transit company. Auto insurance policies sometimes include medical payments coverage that applies to bus accidents.
Preserve Critical Evidence
Request a copy of the police report within 7 to 10 days after the accident. Reports contain officer observations, driver statements, and preliminary fault determinations. Review the report for accuracy and note any errors that need correction.
Keep all documents related to the accident including medical bills, prescription receipts, therapy invoices, and transportation costs for medical appointments. Save pay stubs showing missed work and any correspondence with insurance companies. Organized documentation supports full compensation for all damages.
What Not to Do After a Bus Accident
Never admit fault or apologize for the accident. Statements like "I'm sorry" or "I should have held on tighter" give insurance companies ammunition to deny your claim. Stick to factual descriptions of what happened without assigning blame.
Avoid signing documents from the transit company or their insurance carrier without attorney review. Release forms and settlement agreements may waive your right to future compensation. Insurance adjusters pressure quick signatures knowing most injuries require weeks to fully manifest.
Social Media Warnings
Do not post about the accident on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social platforms. Insurance companies monitor social media for content contradicting injury claims. Photos showing physical activity, vacation trips, or positive statements about your recovery reduce settlement values.
Set all social media accounts to private and instruct friends and family not to tag you in posts. Even innocent content like attending a wedding or playing with children gives adjusters arguments that your injuries are not severe.
Contact an Attorney Quickly
Consult a bus accident attorney within 72 hours of your crash. Early legal involvement preserves evidence before transit companies destroy video footage, GPS data, and maintenance records. Attorneys send preservation letters requiring companies to maintain all accident-related documentation.
Most bus accident lawyers offer free consultations to evaluate your case. They review accident details, assess liability, estimate claim value, and explain your legal options. Early attorney involvement increases settlement values and prevents costly mistakes that harm your claim.
Michael Avanesian, the founder and driving force behind Avian Law Group, is a passionate and dedicated attorney with a strong background in personal injury law. As a partner at JT Legal Group, Michael led the growth of the personal injury practice from a single employee to a team of over ninety professionals, securing over $2 billion in settlements for clients in just three years.
