If you or somebody you care about sustains an injury or property damage as a result of a bus accident caused by the actions of another party, you need to get to work filing your claim as soon as possible. There are various deadlines in place surrounding these claims that bus accident victims need to be aware of. This includes insurance carrier deadlines as well as the overall personal injury statute of limitations for California.
Statute of Limitations For Bus Accidents in California
In the state of California, the personal injury statute of limitations, which applies to injuries caused by a bus accident, says that all lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date the injury occurs.
In the event a bus accident victim fails to file their claim in civil court within this two-year time frame, they will not be able to recover compensation because their case will be dismissed by the court.
This statute of limitations may seem like a long time, but we strongly encourage individuals to file a lawsuit as soon as possible if they know they have a viable bus accident claim. Crash victims should speak to a skilled bus accident lawyer who has experience handling these claims so they can understand the importance of filing the claim on time and properly.
The Best Time To File Your Bus Accident Claim
Just because the statute of limitations allows for two years to file a claim does not mean that individual crash victims should wait that long. In fact, there are likely other deadlines in place. Insurance carriers involved in the case, whether it be the bus company insurance carrier or individual auto insurance carriers, also have their own deadlines. Usually, these deadlines come to play within a few days after the incident occurs.
Bus crash victims should file a claim with these insurance carriers as soon as possible in order to ensure the claim is not rejected or denied just because the deadline was missed.
Another important factor when considering filing a bus accident claim is the fact that evidence tends to disappear or get discarded or destroyed the longer it takes for a claim to be filed. Even though those involved in an incident of this severity are typically required to maintain the integrity of the evidence, that is not always the case. Additionally, memories of those involved, including eyewitnesses, will tend to fade over time and become less reliable the longer it takes for the case to make it to any kind of testimonial evidence.
How a Bus Accident Attorney Will Help
A Santa Ana bus accident attorney will be able to help as soon as you call Callahan & Blaine. Most attorneys offer free consultations, and they will be able to let you know right away whether or not your claim is viable. A lawyer can use their resources to get involved and obtain and protect evidence quickly. They will handle all communications with other parties involved. This will include filing the insurance claims on your behalf as well as any civil personal injury lawsuit needed to ensure that you recover maximum compensation. Getting legal representation from an experienced Santa Ana personal injury lawyer will significantly help you secure financial compensation with your injury claim.
