If you were hurt riding on a Lafayette Transit System (LTS) bus – or if you were hit by an LTS bus – you have immediate steps you need to take to secure the scene, report your accident, and get help.
Immediately after an accident, call 911. The bus driver should do this, but there is no guarantee that someone else is already calling 911; do it yourself if you need to. From there, you should try to collect evidence and witness contact information, info for all drivers involved, and any insurance info you need. Then get all medical care you might need and call a lawyer as soon as you can.
For a free case review, contact Schoenfeld Law Firm’s Lafayette personal injury attorneys immediately at (337) 674-2099.
What to Do Immediately After an LTS Bus Accident
In the immediate aftermath of a crash, there are four steps to take:
Report the Crash
Any auto accident involving injury needs to be reported to the police. Call 911 yourself; do not assume the bus driver or someone else is alert and able to make the call.
When you call, request an ambulance as well, especially if you or someone else has obvious injuries. Try to give them information about how many people seem to need medical attention; bus accidents might actually need multiple ambulances.
Collect Evidence
The immediate aftermath of a crash is often the best time to gather evidence, such as photos of the accident scene. The most important information you can gather right now is the following:
- The names and contact info for all drivers
- The names and contact info for all witnesses
- The make, model, and license plate number of all vehicles
- The insurance info for all drivers.
Also collect whatever info you can about weather, lighting, road conditions, etc. Our attorneys can follow up with witnesses for statements or depositions, and we can seek security camera or dash cam footage, as well as employment logs and other evidence about the LTS driver. However, if you see any dash cams or security cameras nearby, let us know immediately so we can request the footage.
Get Medical Attention
As an accident victim, the law puts a burden on you to get medical care and avoid letting the injuries get worse. This is also generally what’s best for your recovery.
Follow the ambulance crew’s instructions. If you need to go to the hospital immediately, do not worry about collecting evidence. Seek all care you need, even if it’s expensive; we’ll claim damages for it later and work to make the at-fault parties pay for it.
Continue following through with all doctor’s appointments, rehabilitation, etc., and follow your doctor’s orders about what tasks and job tasks to avoid while you are healing.
Call a Lawyer
Call our Lafayette personal injury lawyers as soon as you can, ideally within the first few days of the crash. We can collect evidence you might have missed, send letters to preserve and demand video and other evidence, and start negotiating with the defense for damages.
How Long Does it Take to File a Claim?
It can be a few weeks before your claim is actually filed, whether we are talking about insurance or a lawsuit. Lawsuits often take even longer to prepare before filing.
Once the lawsuit is filed, we have additional evidence exchange and gathering to get through, which can take weeks. That doesn’t even include the time it takes for the initial filings and any potential legal debates over those documents.
All in all, it can take several months before a claim is resolved through insurance, and lawsuits often take more than a year. This is a long process, and you should work with a lawyer to understand each step of the case after the initial crash.
FAQs for Accidents Involving Lafayette Transit Buses
Can You Sue the LTS?
If the LTS driver was the one to cause the crash, you can often sue the LTS in their place. You can also hold the LTS directly liable for its own issues, such as negligent bus maintenance or hiring a dangerous driver.
However, these claims are often subject to the Louisiana Governmental Claims Act, which might create some additional procedural issues for your case. Make sure you work with a lawyer.
How Long Do I Get to Sue for an LTS Accident?
Injury victims get 2 years to sue under the current statute of limitations for personal injury in Louisiana. This used to be 1 year, but claims after July 1, 2024, get a 2-year filing deadline instead.
Do I Need to Collect Evidence Myself?
It is often best to collect any evidence you can after a crash. Crash scenes are cleared quickly, especially on crowded streets, so taking photos and making sure you get everyone’s contact info are the most important steps.
Police officers might take photos and should put everyone’s contact info into their police report, but do not trust that this will happen. Our lawyers can typically help you get other evidence later, such as security camera footage (in the next few days), police reports (in a couple weeks), and medical records (as the care comes up).
As part of your case, we can also demand relevant driver employment records, bus maintenance logs, etc.
What Evidence Do I Need to Save?
If you get any bills, records, or communications about the accident, damages, injuries, or expenses related to the accident, save them. These will help our lawyers build your case.
You should also take note of the progress of your recovery, including notes about how the injury affects your daily living and mood. Something like a “pain journal” can be helpful when claiming pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other “non-economic” damages.
When Should I Call a Lawyer?
While you might get 2 years to file your claim in court, you should call our lawyers far sooner. We need to build your case, and working with us from the beginning also allows us to guide you through the aftermath of the case. We are more than just your attorneys, and we can guide you through choosing doctors, finding rental cars, and handling other challenges in the aftermath of your crash.
In any case, you should call us before accepting any damages related to your accident.
Call Our Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you were hurt in an accident, call the New Orleans, LA personal injury lawyers at Schoenfeld Law Firm right away at (337) 674-2099.
