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Maine Bus Accident Attorneys
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Maine Bus Accident attorneys helping victims recover fair compensation.
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Maine’s public transportation options work to help keep the streets and highways of Maine less congested and thus benefit everyone who drives on them.
However, no convenience ever comes without some drawbacks. Buses can transport dozens of people at once, but they are large and unwieldy vehicles, making them a threat to anyone on the roads beside them. And in the event that a bus accident occurs, the outcomes can be tragic, leaving dozens potentially injured or worse.
Thankfully, Maine’s bus drivers are well-trained, requiring certification that goes far beyond what the average person needs to drive a vehicle. As such, bus accidents are relatively rare.
Still, if you are unlucky enough to be involved in one, you should contact a bus accident law firm right away. An experienced bus accident attorney can help you navigate the legal system and pursue the compensation you need to recover from any injuries you suffered.
Don’t wait after getting hurt; contact the Maine bus accident lawyers at Gideon Asen to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.
The Challenges of Filing a Maine Bus Accident Lawsuit
Bus accidents differ from car accidents in one major way: Most buses in the state of Maine are operated by either the state or local governments. Therefore, if you want to file a lawsuit against the owner of a bus, you need to file it against the government.
Unfortunately, Maine places significant restrictions on lawsuits against the government. The first involves the statute of limitations. Typically, you have six years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. However, with bus accidents, you will likely only have two years to file a lawsuit, as that is the number of years one has to file lawsuits against a government entity.
Even worse, that isn’t the only time limit. Unlike with lawsuits against other parties, you must file a notice to government entities that states your intention to sue within 365 days of sustaining your injury. Filing that notice is not the same as filing a lawsuit; it is an extra step, and if you skip it, you can never file a lawsuit.
Finally, Maine places a hard cap on how much money you can get in a lawsuit against a government entity: either $400,000 or the cap of a relevant insurance policy the government has (if that policy cap is higher).
With all of these limitations, it is in your best interests to consult with an experienced bus accident attorney as soon as possible. At Gideon Asen, we start working as quickly as possible after a bus accident client in Maine hires our law firm. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
What to Do After a Bus Accident in Maine Where You Are a Passenger
If you are a passenger on a bus that gets into an accident, the good news is that there is no way your negligence caused the collision. You weren’t driving the bus or the vehicle that hit the bus, and that means the insurance policy of another party should cover your injuries. Unfortunately, getting that compensation may be harder than it seems; after all, you are just one of potentially dozens of parties that were harmed in the accident.
To obtain compensation, you’ll need to either contact the appropriate insurance company and prove that you were harmed in the accident or file a lawsuit against the negligent party. But because you weren’t a driver in this particular case, you likely won’t receive any sort of contact information at the crash scene.
Instead, your attorney will have to track down the relevant parties and make sure you are added to all pertinent insurance claim(s). Furthermore, you may be at the mercy of the insurance companies' determinations regarding fault, and if they disagree, it could cost you.
To protect your rights, contact Gideon Asen and consult with a bus accident attorney as soon as possible. Our Maine bus accident lawyers will work fast to determine the identities of all relevant parties and ensure that you are a part of any claim from the very start.
We will also investigate the accident and independently gather evidence. That means you won’t need to rely on the investigations performed by the insurance company. Your lawyer can prove fault, if required, during a claim or a lawsuit. Just because you weren’t driving either vehicle, that doesn’t mean the insurance companies have the right to treat you any worse.
What to Do After a Maine Bus Accident Where You Are a Driver
If you are a driver in an accident with a bus, you should treat the accident as you would a standard car accident. Call 911 right away to report the accident, and then share your contact and insurance information with the bus driver. While the information from the bus driver will probably be more complex than what you would normally receive from a fellow car driver, the process doesn’t change here. Collect and preserve the information for use during a claim or a lawsuit.
You should also document the accident scene if you are physically able and it is reasonably possible. Pictures of damage to your vehicle and injuries you sustained could help you get compensation. You should also gather the contact information of any witnesses who can testify to the negligence of the bus driver.
With all of that taken care of, call Gideon Asen and schedule a free consultation. Whether you pursue an insurance claim or a lawsuit, bus accidents are complicated legal matters, and you will appreciate being represented by our team throughout the entire process.
FAQ
How Much Will a Bus Accident Attorney in Maine From Gideon Asen Cost Me?
At Gideon Asen, we take bus accident cases on a contingency basis. In other words, we only get paid if we successfully obtain money for you. If we don’t, you will never pay us anything.
After winning a case, the fee for our services will be determined based on how successful we were. That is to say, we charge a percentage of the money that we obtain for you. The rate will be set before we agree to take your case, which means you’ll know exactly how much it will be before hiring us, and you’ll never end up with less money at the end of a bus accident case.
Can I File a Claim Against a Private Bus Company?
If you are injured in an accident involving a private bus company, your case will likely be a bit easier to handle. You won’t be limited by the rules involving government entities, meaning you’ll have more time to file a lawsuit. There also won’t be a cap on the damages you can collect.
However, private bus companies usually have corporate insurance companies and lawyers, which means, in some ways, they can be equally difficult to deal with. You should contact our law firm, even if you intend to file an insurance claim, to protect your rights from a potentially predatory insurance company.
What Types of Damages Can I Pursue From a Bus Accident Claim in Maine?
There are two main types of damages you can seek. The first is economic damages, which cover any expenses or losses associated with your injuries, such as your medical bills. Your Maine bus accident attorney will collect as much documentation as possible to identify your economic damages.
When another party is responsible for your injuries, you may also be eligible to seek damages for the pain and suffering you experience. The value of these damages is difficult to calculate, considering they are not tangible losses, but a skilled bus accident lawyer in Maine has the experience to determine a fair value for them.
Contact a Maine Bus Accident Lawyer at Gideon Asen Today
If you’ve been seriously injured in a bus accident in Maine, the law allows you to seek compensation for your injuries if they were caused by the negligence of another party. The attorneys at Gideon Asen can help you understand your rights and take the actions necessary to get compensation. Contact us immediately to schedule a free consultation.
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“Taylor Asen and Ben Gideon’s professionalism, expertise, diligence, commitment and kindness never wavered, diminished or faltered during the period it took to resolve my medical malpractice case.”
