Whittier Bus Accident Lawyer

Whittier Bus Accident Attorney

When you get on a bus in Whittier, you typically assume that you will get safely to your destination, which is usually true. Unfortunately, buses can get in accidents, just like any other vehicle, and this can cause serious damage to those on the bus and others on the road. If you are injured in an accident with a bus, it’s important that you secure the services of an experienced Whittier bus accident lawyer. An attorney can help you determine how you can recover compensation for your injuries.

Heimanson & Wolf, LLP: Your Whittier Bus Accident Attorneys

Bus accidents are complicated and can result in car insurance claims, personal injury claims, or even product liability claims. Filing these while you are injured is a difficult undertaking. Although it is possible to file and pursue a personal injury claim without an attorney, you are not likely to receive a lot of compensation.

An attorney can help you build a stronger case after investigating the accident, making a claim more likely to succeed. Attorneys have experience calculating damages, so they can determine a fair value that maximizes your compensation. They also have experience negotiating with other parties to get a settlement.

The team at Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, has more than 40 years of collective experience, with a focus on personal injury law. If you or a loved one was injured in a bus accident, we can help you get the compensation you deserve so that you can physically and mentally heal from the experience.

What Compensation Is Available in a Bus Accident Claim?

When you are able to prove that another party acted negligently, leading directly to the accident and your damages, you can hold them liable for the entirety of those damages. Depending on what party is liable in a bus accident claim, you may file a car insurance claim first, followed by a personal injury claim to cover any remaining damages. In other bus accidents, you are filing a personal injury claim against a public or private bus company, a vehicle manufacturer, or another party that was negligent.

The damages available in a personal injury claim will vary based on your situation, but they may include:

• Medical treatment costs. Injuries from a bus accident may include cuts, broken bones, internal injuries, whiplash, and much more. Medical bills that are covered may include surgeries, prescriptions, medical devices, mobility aids, transportation to the hospital, and more.
• Lost income. When your injuries prevent you from returning to work for a period of time while you recover, a personal injury claim can compensate you for the wages you would have earned during that time.
• Lost earning capacity. If your injuries are severe, and you cannot ever return to work due to a disability, or you can only work at a lower-paying or low-hours job, a personal injury claim can recover the income you should have earned during your life if you were not injured.
• Property damage. This may include damage to a motor vehicle or bicycle that was involved in the bus accident, along with any other personal property on your person that was damaged. A claim should recover the costs to repair or replace these items.
• Pain and suffering. In addition to economic damages, which have a clear numerical value, you can also recover pain and suffering and other noneconomic damages. These damages are hard to calculate, but they could include your physical pain, mental trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life due to your injuries.

You may also be able to recover punitive damages. In California, punitive damages are awarded when the at-fault party acts with willful or cruel conscious disregard toward individuals’ rights or uses fraud to conceal their involvement. These damages are awarded with the intention of punishing the at-fault party for their wrongdoing.

Your attorney in Whittier can help you determine the current and future impact of your injuries and effectively calculate what a fair settlement is.

Bus Accident Lawyer FAQs

Q: What Is the Maximum Payout for Whiplash?

A: The maximum payout for a whiplash claim in California will vary significantly based on the unique cause and the severity of the injury. A more serious whiplash injury typically involves higher medical treatment and care costs, more lost time at work during recovery, and longer-lasting effects on a person’s life. These factors increase the maximum payout available.

A claim’s value is also affected by the level of negligence displayed by the at-fault party. An attorney is essential for determining the true extent of the damages in your unique situation.

Q: What Is a Good Bus Accident Settlement Figure?

A: A good bus accident settlement figure will rely on the unique damages and long-term effects of an injury you suffered. The value of a settlement will also rely on being able to prove another party fully liable and whether the other party acted with gross negligence. A good settlement should recover the entirety of your damages, including medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering damages, so it could range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

Q: How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth in a California Bus Accident?

A: Pain and suffering damages can be difficult to calculate, including those induced by a bus accident in California. These damages are noneconomic, meaning that they do not have a set value. In determining the value of pain and suffering damages, you should consider the severity of your injury, how long it is likely to affect you, and its impact on your daily life. California no longer has a cap on pain and suffering damages in most types of personal injury claims.

Q: Do I Have to Pay Taxes on a Personal Injury Settlement in California?

A: When you receive a personal injury settlement in California, you may have to pay taxes on some portions of it to state and/or federal taxes. Most compensatory damages are not taxed, as they are recovering a loss rather than providing income. However, compensatory damages for lost income are taxed, as income tax would have applied had you been able to earn the income. Punitive damages are also taxed, as these damages do not recover a loss but are additional damages in the settlement.

Finding Legal Support in Whittier

Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, can help you or a loved one who was injured in a bus accident. It’s important to understand that you have a limited amount of time to file a claim, and you should get in contact with an attorney as soon as possible. Our attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our firm today.