In a big city like Los Angeles, public transportation is necessary to keep the city functioning. Unfortunately, public transportation vehicles, like LA Metro Buses, sometimes cause accidents or strike pedestrians. If this happens, talk to an attorney immediately about obtaining compensation.
Being hit by an LA Metro Bus can leave you with severe injuries, high medical costs, and various other expenses and injuries. The thing about cases like this is that LA Metro Buses are operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), which is a public or governmental entity. As such, you may need to jump through special legal hoops before you file your case in court. You should speak to an attorney immediately if you find yourself in this situation.
Contact our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys for a free, confidential legal evaluation by calling the Law Office of John J. Perlstein at (213) 252-1070.
What Should I Do if I am Hit by an LA Metro Bus?
Being hit by a bus may be very difficult to recover from, and you might be in need of urgent medical care. If you are hit by an LA Metro bus, stay calm and focus on getting immediate help.
Call the Police
If you are hit by an LA Metro Bus, call 911 immediately and make sure the police are sent to the accident scene. A bus accident of any kind can be chaotic, and the police can come in and take control of the situation. If the police arrive before medical responders, they can render some emergency aid until an ambulance arrives.
The police should also begin investigating the accident. They may detain the driver, talk to passengers on the bus and other witnesses, and begin gathering information and evidence for a formal police report.
Get Urgent Medical Care
You must get immediate medical care after being hit by a bus. After the accident, your adrenaline levels may spike, and you might not feel how badly you are really hurt. Even if you can stand back up after the accident, you may be far from okay.
Getting immediate medical attention will also ensure that your medical records about your injuries and treatment are thoroughly documented. Our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys will likely need copies of your medical records to prove your injuries in a lawsuit.
Contact a Lawyer
Once you have gotten to a hospital and received medical treatment, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Do not delay in contacting a lawyer for help, as the longer you wait, the more evidence may be lost, and the harder it may become to recover fair compensation.
How Do I Sue for Damages After Being Struck by an LA Metro Bus
If you are hit by an LA Metro Bus, you may sue for damages like almost any other accident. However, you may end up suing the LACMTA, which is a governmental entity. As such, there may be some special legal hurdles to overcome before you can sue.
Suing a Governmental Entity
Suing the LACMTA is different than suing a private person or entity. Rather than simply file a formal complaint in court, you must submit a notice of your claims to the LACMTA no later than 6 months after the accident. This is a very short timeframe, and you must contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
Once you file a notice of your claim, the defendant must approve your claim and agree to pay compensation or deny your claim. If your claims are denied or the defendant fails to respond, you may take your case to court in a lawsuit.
Assessing Available Damages
Before starting your lawsuit, we must accurately assess the damages in your case. It is crucial that we identify all possible damages and accurately determine what they are worth. If any damages are mistakenly left out of your case or undervalued, you might end up losing valuable compensation as a result.
Draft and File a Formal Complaint
After we have information about the parties involved, your claims for damages, and evidence to support your claims, we can draft a formal complaint and file it in court. The complaint will officially start your lawsuit.
After the complaint is filed, we must wait for the defendant to file a response in which they may admit or deny the allegations against them.
FAQs About What to Do After Being Hit by an LA Metro Bus
Who Can I Sue After Being Hit by an LA Metro Bus?
You may sue the driver of the bus if we have evidence to believe that they acted negligently during the accident. More importantly, you may sue the LACMTA since that is the entity that operates LA Metro Buses. Your attorney can help you determine who exactly should be included in your case.
How Long Do I Have to Prepare a Lawsuit After Being Hit by an LA Metro Bus?
In California, the standard statute of limitations for personal injury claims allows plaintiffs 2 years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, if you are suing a governmental entity like the LACMTA, you must submit a notice of your claim to the defendant within 6 months of the accident.
What Should I Do if I Am Struck by an LA Metro Bus?
If you are hit by an LA Metro bus, remain calm and call for help. You may need an ambulance and emergency medical responders to help you. You should also talk to the police as soon as possible if you do not speak to them at the accident scene. After you get treatment, call a lawyer to begin exploring your legal options for compensation.
How Do I Gather Evidence After an LA Metro Bus Hits Me?
Depending on how badly you are hurt and how you feel after the accident, you may be able to start collecting evidence at the accident scene while you wait for help to arrive. You may take photos, record videos, and exchange information with others at the scene. If you are too badly injured to do this, we can review police reports about the accident to find evidence.
How Do I Begin a Lawsuit for an Accident with an LA Metro Bus?
You may begin a lawsuit for an accident involving an LA Metro Bus by first contacting an experienced attorney for help. If you are suing the LACMTA, your attorney can help you file a notice of your claim with the defendant within 6 months. If the claim is denied, they can then file a formal lawsuit in court.
Ask Our LA Personal Injury Attorneys for Help with Your Case Today
Contact our Orange County, CA personal injury attorneys for a free, confidential legal evaluation by calling the Law Office of John J. Perlstein at (213) 252-1070.