What to Do After a Bus Accident

Buses are big vehicles and the larger a vehicle is, the more damage it can potentially cause in a collision. According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, 105 people in Michigan were killed in accidents involving big trucks and buses in 2022, with an additional 3,632 people injured. Whether you’re a passenger on a bus at the time of the accident or a pedestrian or cyclist who gets hit by a bus, the effects of the crash can significantly impact your life.

Can You Get Michigan No-Fault Benefits for a Bus Accident?

If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, Michigan no-fault benefits can cover things like medical bills, lost wages, and replacement services, such as paying someone to help with household chores while you recover. 

Under Michigan law, injured parties can be eligible for no-fault benefits in many different situations, even if they weren’t driving their own vehicle at the time of the accident. This can include injuries in bus passengers, as well as pedestrians and cyclists. If you have your own no-fault auto insurance policy, you will be able to make a claim through that. If you don’t have your own no-fault insurance policy, you could make a claim through a spouse’s policy or a policy belonging to another family member who lives with you. If you don’t have a no-fault policy and don’t have a spouse or other family member who does, you could make a claim through the insurer of the bus. 

Do You Need a Lawyer for a Bus Accident?

If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer for help as soon as possible. Bus accidents can be more complex than a standard car accident case and it’s important to make sure you have someone on your side who knows the law and can make sure your case is handled correctly. 

There may be important deadlines that apply to a bus accident case and if those deadlines are missed, you will not be able to make a claim for your losses. If you are going to make a claim for Michigan no-fault benefits, you’ll need to apply for benefits within one year of the accident. There may also be other important deadlines that apply to your case. For example, if the bus involved in your case is operated by a regional transit authority, you need to provide written notice to the transit authority within 60 days of the accident to be able to sue for economic damages not covered by Michigan no-fault. In the Metro Detroit area, examples of a regional transit authority would be SMART or DDOT. Working with a lawyer early on will help make sure these critical statutes of limitations aren’t missed.  

Contact a Michigan Vehicle Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a collision involving a bus, either as a passenger or as a pedestrian or cyclist, let Scott Goodwin Law help with your case. When you contact us for a free consultation, you’ll be able to get help from a lawyer experienced in helping people just like you. Find out how we can help you today.

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