February 6, 2012

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School Bus Accident and Injury Statistics

Filed Under: Accident

When parents put their children on a school bus, they assume they will be transported safely and securely. Sadly, this is not always the case. In the past 20 years, more than 1,400 people have died in school bus accidents. Nine percent of those were occupants on the actual school bus.

Sobering Statistics

  • School buses are the largest mode of mass transit in America. In fact, they provide more than 8 million student trips annually.
  • School buses transport more than 23 million students every year.
  • 16,000 school bus crashes occur every year
  • 27 children die in bus accidents every year.

What constitutes a school bus accident?

A school bus crash is defined as one that directly or indirectly involves a school bus-type vehicle or a vehicle functioning as a school bus by taking students to and from school or related activities.

Did you know…?

The time of day in school bus accidents plays a key role regarding when they may occur. For example research shows that a majority of school kids are actually killed in bus crashes during the hours of three and four in the afternoon. The time between seven and eight o’clock in the morning is also when children generally are injured in a crash involving a school vehicle.

Emotional Impact

Whether it’s a minor accident or a pile up involving fatalities, a school bus accident on any magnitude can have a huge impact on everyone involved, no matter if they are the child occupants on the bus or the parents of those involved.

In The News…

Although parents hope they never receive a call that their child has been involved in a school bus accident, the fact of the matter is that school bus crashes happen. Take for example the case in Georgia. A driver lost control and flipped over a school bus, which tragically killed a 17-year-old student. The bus, which was transporting 12 students, also sent other children to the hospital. Authorities say the driver of the bus was new and in training.

Another example of a fatal school bus accident includes one where another student, also 17 died. The crash happened in Missouri and also left 50 people injured. It involved two school buses and a pickup truck and a tractor. The accident left behind a mangled metal mess and a lifetime of heartache and pain for members of the victim’s family.

Injuries

Injuries that can occur on a bus can run the gamut from minor to severe or even death. Some children can suffer traumatic injuries such as spinal injuries, broken bones, lacerations, brain injuries as well as severed limbs, soft tissue injuries or internal bleeding.

Annually, thousands of kids as well as adults are injured in traffic accidents involving school buses as well as public transit vehicles. In fact, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) says close to 20,000 occupants were injured in bus accidents in 2002.

Causes of Bus Accidents

The causes of school bus accidents vary. They can be caused from problems such as a faulty engine, bad breaks, talking on a cell phone, drunk driving, poor street maintenance or dangerous weather conditions.

If your child has been injured

If your child has been injured in a school bus accident you may want to contact a child injury lawyer. An attorney who understands school bus-related safety laws can guide you through the legal maze and protect your rights and the rights of your child.

Filed Under: Accident

On Whiplash Injury Compensation

Filed Under: Accident, Compensation

No one anticipates being hurt in an accident, but unfortunately it does happen. When someone is injured in an accident, he or she should make steps to ensure that the appropriate compensation is awarded. Most insurance companies will award an injured person a reasonable amount of money, but this may not be enough to cover all the medical bills resulting from the injury.

Insurance companies are in business to make money, and this being the case, will sometimes employ one of the following tactics in order to find a loophole:

They may insist that the injured person be examined by a physician of their choosing before they will pay the personal injury compensation claim. The doctor they choose may claim the injury is not as bad as the person stated.

They may also claim that the individual had a previous injury for which they are not responsible. This is quite common where back injuries, or whiplash cases are concerned.

If the accident involved a motor vehicle, they may try to force the person to go to a garage selected by the insurance company in order to have the repairs completed, which may result in substandard work being done on the car.

There are some things people can do in order to combat such unethical insurance company practices.

Researching the insurance company is a good place to start, as an individual can see if similar complaints were ever made against the company.

One should also retain the services of a lawyer or paralegal, in order to make sense of the laws that apply to such cases, and avoid legal pitfalls.

A person should contact a lawyer’s referral service and acquire the names of some local attorneys who work on such cases on a regular basis.

Insurance companies do not mind taking peoples money, but they are not very fond of paying claims when the time comes. For this reason a person should seek legal advice when injured, and should not feel guilty about his or her desire for appropriate personal injury settlement amounts.

Filed Under: Accident, Compensation Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

A Workplace Accident Claim Story

Filed Under: Accident, Claims, Employment

Dealing with a workplace accident claim is not fun. I had a really hard time getting what I felt I deserved when I was injured on the job last year. It was really a nightmare scenario that I hope no one has to go through. The reality is that lots of people have accident on the job and have just as hard of a time as I did getting compensated what they deserve. If I knew then what I know now, I would have done things a lot differently.

First of all I would have reported the accident and filed my claim immediately. When I was first injured, the pain wasn’t so bad, so I didn’t do anything about the first day. I hurt my back lifting some heavy cargo and thought I just needed to sit down for 10 minutes and relax. I did that and the pain wasn’t so bad, so I actually continued my work day like nothing happened. It was a real big mistake, because the pain only got worse the next day. When I woke up I felt like someone was stabbing me in the back. The worst part was that the pain was radiating all the way down to my legs. Walking was a chore. I went straight to the doctor and he sent me for an MRI.

The MRI showed I had some major herniations at multiple levels. I wasn’t able to do anything for 4-6 weeks, and if they didn’t heal on their own, I might need surgery. My companies insurance carrier gave me a hard time every step of the way, and complained that I should have alerted someone to my injury right away. They didn’t want to pay 100% of my claim for that reason. That’s when I made the decision to hire a personal injury attorney. Hiring a work injury attorney, or a car accident solicitor is really a wise move if you are getting a hard time from the insurance carrier. It helped me get a fast settlement for an amount that I felt was finally fair.

Filed Under: Accident, Claims, Employment Tagged With: , , ,

A Short Guide To Filing An Accident At Work Claim

Filed Under: Accident, Claims, Employment

When dealing with accident claims or workplace accident claim, many people have no clue what the process involves and what they are entitled to. If you were injured on the job, or in a car accident, you are likely going to be able to be compensated for some or all of what the injury has cost you. You may also be entitled to general damages, also known as pain and suffering. This is money added to your settlement above and beyond your out of pocket expenses. In most places your injury must be significant to be eligible for pain and suffering damages. If the injury leaves scarring, or has left you disabled, you will fall into the category of injured people who can collect a pain and suffering award. This amount of money can really vary depending on the company you are dealing with and the severity of your injury.

If you are injured at it was no your fault, you have every right to seek compensation from the at fault party. You are entitled to have any medical bills paid, and paid days missed from work reimbursed, and travel expenses paid for. Any cost that you incurred do to the injury should be compensated for. This also includes any prescription drugs you needed to buy due to the injury.

You may also not be sure if you should hire a personal injury attorney as well. This is a decision that should be mulled over carefully. If you have a serious injury then it is probably in your best interest to hire a lawyer. Personal injury lawyers can tell you what kind of claim you are looking at. They know what kind of general damages you can expect and will help with every step of the claims process along the way. If you have recently been injured in a car accident, or have an accident at work claim, you can at least contact a lawyer for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Accident, Claims, Employment Tagged With: , , ,

Work Accident Compensation For Personal Injury On The Job

Filed Under: Accident, Employment

If you have recently been injured on the job you need to knows as much as you can about a personal injury compensation claim. Accidents happen on the job at an alarming rate, and it is the employers responsibility to ensure the safety of its workers, and to justly compensate anyone who is injured at work. It is of the utmost importance that you promptly and correctly fill out the necessary paperwork at your place of employment when an injury at work occurs.

Many people are naive about what rights they have when is comes to getting hurt at work. They may think that it’s better to suck up the pain and not be a complainer. Work is hard to come by these days and no one wants to do anything that could jeopardize the standing they have within their company. The truth is that a company cannot legally fire an employee due to an injury that occurred at the workplace. There are way to many legal repercussions the company would have to face. It would be unrealistic for an organization to not play by the rules and risk all they worked so hard for. It’s imperative that you alert your immediate supervisor so that everything can be on record.

When it comes to being compensated on claims it all comes down to documentation. That’s why filing a proper report is the important first step that will set you off on the easy path to proper compensation. You also would be well advised by a personal injury specialists or some advisors to keep all your records in proper order, such as doctors bills and records, x-rays, prescription bills, and transportation expenses. You should be getting compensated for everything that is related to the injury, including the days of work you were forced to miss. Properly filing work injury claims or personal injury claims in a timely manner will help make sure you get what you deserve.

Filed Under: Accident, Employment Tagged With: , , ,

Mistakes That Can Be Made With Auto Accident Claims

Filed Under: Accident, Claims

When someone needs to complete auto accident claims they are probably in a hurry to get the paperwork done and receive their settlement. This is very understandable. But, at the same time, it can be very dangerous if the person does not take their time and ensure that everything is accurate. So, there are a few common mistakes that people often make that should be pointed out in order to help other avoid the same situation.

Number one, many people will not take the time to get the medical treatment that they need once the accident has taken place. There are times when the accident has taken place and the individual does not think that anything is wrong with them, medically, so they do not go to the hospital in order to be check out. This is a huge mistake on the part of the accident victim and it will make auto accident claims much more difficult. This is because many insurance companies will not pay for some of the damages if the person was not check out properly by a health care professional.

Another mistake that some individuals make is signing paperwork that their insurance companies send them. This should not be done if you are trying to get a settlement for the accident. So, it is very important to make sure that you are taking the time to read everything before it is signed. It is also a very good idea to have all of those papers reviewed by an attorney first in order to verify that you are not agreeing to something that you are unaware of. You also do not want to be admitting to be being at fault for any part of the accident.

Third, there are a lot of individuals that will sign paperwork to end auto accident claims as soon as possible. They will want to sign immediately in order to get their money. This can be a very negative experience as well because the person may not get exactly what they are entitled to if they do not take the time to make sure that they are being reimbursed for everything that they are entitled to. It does no good for the person to rush and to forget very important details that need to be considered and worked into the settlement. That is why it is very important to take the time to gather all necessary paperwork and get all information together before agreeing to anything. Remember to hold your ground.

If you have ever made some of these mistakes you will understand just how difficult it can be to face the facts that you may have ruined the case. But, if you are new to auto accident claims you will want to make sure that you are making the same mistakes that others have. This will mean that you are more likely to get the settlements that you are entitled do, and that you deserve, based on your accident and what you have experienced. The more effort you put into it, the better off you will be. Finally, it is important to realize that many insurance companies do not want to pay you for the damages that you are suffering from. They are going to do whatever they need to do in order to pay the minimal amount. So, you should always take your time and make sure that you are not rushing on their account. This is about you and what you deserve. Just remember that and always keep yourself, and your needs, first. You will be glad that you did when it is all over.

Filed Under: Accident, Claims Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Learning About A Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Filed Under: Accident, Moving Violations

If you are injured while riding a motorcycle, then you will most likely need to contact a motorcycle accident attorney. Yes, you can contact just about any attorney that specializes in accident claims but they may not have the precise knowledge that they need in order to help you with your case. You will find that this type of attorney has a greater knowledge of motorcycle laws related to riding and accidents. This will truly give you the most help.

Ok, so you may be concerned about when you need to call an attorney like this. You need to do that as soon as possible once the accident has taken place. Why? Because, the motorcycle accident attorney will begin to work on your case as soon as they get your call. What you need to realize is that even though you may have a very good relationship with your insurance agent, this person is not always willing to simply given in to a claim that you have made. Most insurance companies want to do whatever they can to avoid paying out on any claims. Therefore, you really need an attorney that will contact the insurance agent as soon as possible and begin working for you.

There are times when your motorcycle attorney will also take the time to contact, and interview any witnesses that may have been at the scene of the crime when it took place. This is something that you really want your attorney to do for you. This means that they are really concerned with your case and they want what is best for you. They will be able to sort through the facts and put together a great case for you when they take the time to talk to the witnesses that were at the accident.
When it comes to determining how much your case is worth, it can be very difficult to determine accurate figures.

This is another reason why a motorcycle accident attorney will be able to help you. They know all of the factors that come into play when it comes to this type of a case. They will be able to evaluate everything from the damage that was done to the bike, as well as the any person damages that you suffered. All of these things will determine what you may be able to get out of the case. These attorneys specialize in these types of cases and they know what to do in order to get the most for you.

Filed Under: Accident, Moving Violations Tagged With: , , ,

What You Should Do With Your Auto Accident Insurance Claim

Filed Under: Accident, Claims, Insurance

If you are filing for an auto accident insurance claim you will want to make sure that you are doing all you can in order to get the most out of your settlement. However, there are some very common things that individuals should do. This article will touch upon some of those things so that you will become more prepared for auto accident claims that you need to make. Reading this article also helps those who want to get workplace accident claim.

You will want to contact your insurance company and your auto or motorcycle accident attorney or workmans comp lawyer as soon as possible once the accident has taken place. Some people seem to wait as they take the time to decide how they want to handle the situation. This is not something that should be taken lightly. You will need to call the insurance company just as soon as you have determined that you are alright and that any other individuals that were involved in the accident are alright as well.

Making an auto accident insurance claim can become very tricky if you do not know what you are doing. If this is the first accident that you have ever been in then you may be worried about what you need to do in order to start your auto accident claim. You may also be wondering what you can file a claim for. However, these questions can be answered if you simply take the time to read your policy. You will find out exactly what is covered, and what may not be covered, so that you are able to file the correct claims and get the entire process underway.

Always make sure that you are being 100% honest with the insurance company. They will most likely find out if you are not telling them the truth in relation to the accident details. This means that your claim could be completely denied. You may then face some charges related to fraud. This will only create more complications for you in the end and it is not worth that at all. Therefore, if you are honest from the very beginning, you will not have to worry about it later on down the road. Why compound the problem by making up lies?

When you are filing an auto accident insurance claim, you will want to make sure that you are saving any receipts that you have if you have spent any money on damages, doctor’s visits, etc. These things may be needed for the claim and you will not want to miss out on being reimbursed for anything that your claim may actually cover. So, you will need to keep all of your paperwork and your receipts together in one location so that you always know where they are. This will definitely help you later on.

Always look at other insurance policies that you have. You may be able to file different claims with different insurance companies based on what each policy says. That is why it is very important to take the time to look over each policy and see what you can file in relation to each and every policy. You may find out that this could work out very well for you and your situation.

Make sure that you are working with the insurance company and trying very hard to give them what they need in order to help the auto accident insurance claim work out for you. But, at the same time make sure that you are not admitting any liability to the insurance company and you are not being dishonest with anyone. When you take the time to work with them, and provide them with as much detail as they need, you will be increasing the likelihood of winning your auto accident claim.

Filed Under: Accident, Claims, Insurance Tagged With: , , , ,

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Filed Under: Accident, Moving Violations

If you like to ride motorcycles, and you are very active in this manner, you may find yourself in an accident where you need to search for motorcycle accident attorneys. This means that you will need to know exactly when you should start this search. You may also need to understand what you should do if you are in an accident of this type. You will be very glad that you have this information if you find yourself in an accident of this nature. Therefore, continue reading this article because you may learn some things that you did not know in the past.

First of all, it would be really great to fully understand what you need to do if you have been in a motorcycle accident. Of course, many individuals know that they need to contact the authorities but they might not know when. The bottom line is this. You need to call the police as soon as the accident takes place. This is always the first thing that you should do and it will help you with your case later on down the road.

Next, motorcycle accident attorneys will want to know that you have actually taken the time to learn about the individuals that were involved in the accident. So, after you have contacted the authorities, you will want to make sure that you have taken the time to gather all of the information that you need from the other parties that were involved in the accident. You will need their insurance information, their address, and their phone number if possible. If you are not able to get this information, you will want to take the time to contact the authorities after the fact. That way you will be able to get the police report. It may have the information that your motorcycle accident attorney needs in order to begin working on your case.

Finally, a lot of individuals do not realize that there is actually a time limit that must be met when it comes to filing a claim. Motorcycle accident attorneys will tell you that you only have two years to file a claim if you want to be compensated for any damages that had taken place. This is something that is really important and it needs to be taken into consideration at all times if you are serious about working with an attorney and you want to win your case. This will also help ensure that all of the facts can be obtained and gathered before they are no longer able to be obtained.

Filed Under: Accident, Moving Violations Tagged With: , , ,

Filing For A Car Accident Settlement On Your Own

Filed Under: Accident, Moving Violations, Settlements

There may come a time in your life when you may need to file for a car accident settlement. While some individuals think that this will be very easy for them, they need to realize that it can actually be very difficult. It can be very hard to work with insurance companies on your own. That is why many individuals will often hire an attorney in order to do this. However, there are some individuals that want to complete this work on their own. If you find yourself in this category, you may find this information very helpful.

One of the main things that you will want to remember is that you will need to gather all of the information that you need in order to determine the amount of money that you believe you are owe from your car accident settlement. This can be a very tedious process and it can be very complicated as well. So, if you have made the decision to do this, you will want to make sure that you have at least taken the time to consult with an attorney in order to determine if the amount of money you are asking for is accurate and reasonable. You may have to pay at attorney to look through all of the facts that you have accumulated.

If you find yourself continually battling with the claims adjuster, you may want to ask to speak with the supervisor. You need to remember that everyone reports to someone. Because of that, you will want to speak with someone that makes the final decisions. This may be the best thing that you can do for yourself. It may actually help you achieve results that you did not expect to receive. You may actually end up kicking yourself because you may be wondering why you did not contact the supervisor sooner.

If you have received the final statement related to your settlement and you are not happy with what you are getting, you will want to make sure that you ask for the dispute resolution process. This is the best thing that you can do if you are not satisfied with what you are receiving. Most of the time there will be a process related to what you can do in order to fight the outcome. This may take time and it may also become very involved and complicated. Therefore, if you find yourself ready to open a dispute in relation to a car accident settlement you may want to consider hiring an attorney that can help you. Just remember that you completed the process on your own once and you are not satisfied with the end result. Because of that, it may be best to seek assistance in the future so that you will be more likely to get different results. This may cost you money in the end, but it may also make you money as well. That is definitely something that you need to think about if you are serious about your settlement.

Filed Under: Accident, Moving Violations, Settlements Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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