As horrible and reckless as it sounds, there are times when a pedestrian is struck by a commercial vehicle, such as a bus. If you ever find yourself in this situation, there are three things you need to do:
— Call for police and an ambulance. Depending on the severity of the accident, you may not be able to personally make this call. Instead, you’ll have to rely on a witness to do so on your behalf.
— Obtain as much information as possible. Once again, this may not be possible immediately following the accident. You may have to rely on the police report and witnesses to provide greater detail on the accident itself and how it came about.
— Take pictures. This can help your case if you decide to file a lawsuit in the future, but you may not be able to do this depending on how badly you are injured.
The most important thing is that you receive medical care, as you can suffer a variety of serious injuries if you are struck by a bus, even one that is moving at a slow rate of speed.
Once you know your injuries and the type of treatment you require, the last step is to learn more about your legal rights. Not everyone who is involved in this type of accident can file a lawsuit, but you should take the time to determine if you are in position to do so. It may be the best way to obtain compensation from the negligent party, such as the bus driver.
Source: FindLaw, “Pedestrian Hit by a Car: What to Do After the Accident,” accessed June 30, 2017