California is well-known for its crowded freeways and stop-and-go rush hour driving. These conditions make car accidents an all-too-frequent reality for many drivers, ranging from fender benders to deadly crashes. Children can be seriously injured in car accidents even when properly secured in child safety seats. Choosing public transportation over driving in a car is no guarantee of safety. Without safety belts, your child can be critically injured if the city or school bus is involved in an accident.
If your child was injured in a car or bus accident, contact Woods Williford, P.C. for a free consultation.
Causes of Car and Bus Accidents in California
If your child is injured in a car or bus accident, an experienced attorney can determine who is responsible for your child's injuries based on the circumstances of the accident and seek just compensation for them.
Car accidents can occur when drivers:
- operate vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- fail to adhere to traffic signals and signs;
- text while driving; or
- speed, among other reasons.
Weather conditions can affect drivers' abilities to safely operate their vehicles, leading to more accidents in inclement weather.
Buses, especially school buses, are safer than passenger vehicles, but injuries and deaths still occur in accidents. Most bus accidents happen when the bus collides with another vehicle on the road, and either the bus driver or the other vehicle's driver may be at fault.
Possible causes of bus accidents include:
- improperly trained drivers,
- speeding,
- maintenance issues, or
- overloading.
Steps to Take After Your Child is in a Car or Bus Accident
If your child is injured in a car or bus accident, seek medical care first. Keep all medical records provided by your child's doctor.
If you are involved in the accident with your child, call the police and make a report. If you were not involved, make sure that an adult involved has reported the accident.
Call a child accident injury attorney at Woods Williford, P.C. as soon after the accident as possible to protect your child's rights and to represent your child's interests while negotiating with insurance companies. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is typically two years in California. The deadline for filing, however, may be longer or shorter in cases that involve a child and/or a government entity.
Call your insurance company if your vehicle was involved in the accident, but be cautious with what you say to them. Do not make any recorded statements until you talk to your attorney. Exchange information from the other driver, but let your attorney talk to any adjusters.
Notify the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that your child was injured within 10 days of the accident.
Avoid discussing the accident or your child's injuries online. Any statements you make may hurt your attorney's negotiations with the insurance companies or any potential lawsuits.
Contact a California Child Accident Injury Attorney
If your child was injured in a car or bus accident in California, contact the experienced attorneys at Woods Williford, P.C. Our compassionate lawyers fight for just compensation for your child's injuries. Call us today at (888) 340-2440 or fill out our online form.