Why Bus Accident Victims Should Treat Their Case Like a Personal Injury Claim
Bus accident injuries often involve more than cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Given the speed and force of impact, bus accident victims can suffer serious injuries. These injuries can have long-term health consequences, causing a family to experience financial hardship. This is in addition to the physical and emotional suffering that the victim endures.
At Fanelli, Evans & Patel, our Reading personal injury lawyers are committed to helping bus accident victims recover the full value of their medical bills, lost wages, and other injury-related expenses. Below, we discuss the commonalities between a bus accident and a personal injury claim.
Bus Accident Victims May Experience Serious Injuries
A bus accident can result in injuries that cause long-term impairments and lifelong disabilities. Severe injuries can limit mobility and basic bodily functions, and may prevent a person from returning to work. A person may need ‘round-the-clock care’ to live the semblance of a normal life.
Serious injuries that may occur in a bus accident include the following:
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a tubular structure composed of nerves and nerve fibers that runs from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The spinal cord is responsible for communication between the brain and the rest of the body. A spinal cord injury can result when there is any damage to the cord. Symptoms may include tingling, numbness, difficulty moving, spasms, or severe back pain. If you suffer a cervical spine injury, you may have difficulty breathing, trouble with bladder/bowel control, or an inability to regulate body temperature.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Any strike or blow to the head can disrupt brain function, causing a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. A TBI can be mild to severe, with symptoms including vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, and a comatose state. While receiving immediate medical attention can reduce your chances of impairment, long-term effects cannot always be avoided. Sadly, TBI survivors are more likely to experience seizures and contract pneumonia during their lifetime. Among persons who experience a moderate to severe TBI, 55% of these individuals are unemployed five years post-injury.
Internal Bleeding
A bus crash can cause blood to pool in the abdomen, chest, digestive tract, or other parts of the body. Coined the term “silent killer,” the symptoms of internal bleeding may go unnoticed. Signs of an internal bleed often include disorientation, dizziness or lightheadedness, fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. As the condition progresses, vomiting blood, tarry stool, and low blood pressure may present. Internal bleeding is a medical emergency, requiring that you seek prompt treatment even if you experience subtle symptoms.
Bus Accident Victims May Experience Ongoing Medical Costs
As we age, our physical health declines. If you sustained a catastrophic injury, you should anticipate ongoing medical costs to manage your condition. Unfortunately, state law does not provide much time to pursue legal action after a bus accident; 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 permits personal injury victims in Pennsylvania only two years to file suit.
However, your medical bills will likely continue for your entire life, especially if you sustained catastrophic injuries. Ongoing medical costs may include revision surgeries, physical therapy, and home modifications as your condition worsens. These ongoing medical costs can be accounted for when you seek damages. Still, you will want to work with a personal injury attorney who can help you determine an appropriate amount.
Bus Accident Victims Often Experience PTSD
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is associated with distressing thoughts following a traumatic event. PTSD is recognized as a mental health condition that often requires cognitive therapy and medication to manage. PTSD commonly develops after bus accidents, especially if you witnessed the crash (as opposed to looking down at your cell phone or elsewhere). Common symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, anxiety/depression, and trouble sleeping.
Contact a Reading Personal Injury Attorney Today
As a bus passenger, you were not involved in the accident, and your checkbook should not be involved either. At Fanelli, Evans & Patel, we want to ensure that the bus driver and any other parties are held legally and financially responsible for your injuries. If you are currently dealing with a looming stack of medical bills, now is the time to speak with our Reading personal injury lawyers. To arrange your free consultation, contact us online or call (484) 869-2113 today.