Students aren’t the only people that use buses in California. A good number of people commute to work daily. While it is an efficient means of transport, it comes with risks such as accidents and bodily injuries.
Insurers are usually expected to compensate passengers, but it is not always straightforward. The process is complicated and is dependent on the facts of the incident. Pasadena personal injury attorneys represent victims seeking to recover medical costs.
What is the Minimum Health Insurance Coverage in Pasadena?
Every driver in Pasadena is required to have insurance with a certain minimum coverage. This sets the lower limit of how much a person can receive or what can be allocated for the entire accident.
While the property damage liability (PD) covers damage to property, the bodily injury liability (BI) takes care of medical bills.
The minimum coverage in California is:
- $15,000 if one person dies or is injured
- $30,000 if more than one person dies or is injured
Note that you can claim this from the bus driver’s insurance if you were injured as a passenger. So, make sure that you gather their insurance details before leaving the accident scene. But if your injuries are too severe, your Pasadena public transportation accident lawyers can gather it later.
Can I Get Coverage From My Driver’s Insurance?
Sometimes, the other bus driver’s minimum coverage might not be enough to cater to your medical bills. You might want to explore the insurance coverage of the car you were in when you collided with the bus. Whether the car’s driver was at fault or not, you can explore their insurance coverage.
They might have additional coverage attached to their automobile policy. MedPay offers first-party benefits to all passengers in a vehicle, regardless of fault. However, if the driver was at fault, their insurance rates might increase. Some drivers would rather reimburse you the difference out of their own pocket.
Can I Use My Own Health or Car Insurance Following A Bus Accident?
Many people don’t know that they can actually file a claim through their own insurance company. You might think that it is impossible to use your car insurance since you weren’t driving. But if you have MedPay, you could use it to cater for the medical bills from the bus accident.
However, note that MedPay also has limits. If the medical costs involved in the bus accident are too high, the insurance might not cover all the expenses wholesomely. But the good thing is that it could be enough to cover the immediate medical bills. MedPay also doesn’t cover lost wages or psychological counseling.
What Happens if the Bus Driver is Uninsured?
If you establish that the bus driver or the driver of the car you were in is uninsured, it is still possible to get coverage for your medical bills. This avenue is worth exploring, especially when you have no PIP or MedPay attached to your auto insurance.
Uninsured motorist insurance could be available to you if the other motorist were at fault. You can apply through your own insurance company. Pasadena public transportation accident lawyers can assist you in claiming the medical benefits attached to this alternative.
Can I Sue the Bus’s Insurance Company for Damages?
Lawsuits involving cars are pretty simple because you only need to prove fault to receive compensation. On the other hand, bus compensation cases are more complex because the process depends on the bus’s ownership.
Suing a private bus company is different from filing a claim against a public bus company. Your liability might be against the state if you get injured in a transit bus within the city limits. Most charter buses, shuttles, and motor coaches are privately-owned. A knowledgeable Pasadena public transport accident attorney can advise on who to sue for your medical bills.
How Do Attorneys Help in Bus Accident Compensations?
Some well-known bus companies carry multimillion-dollar insurance policies. You might think that the bus companies will compel their insurance companies to pay the maximum possible compensation. But this is never the case because insurance companies often want to give the least possible amount.
This rarely happens if skilled Pasadena public transportation accident lawyers represent you in court or negotiations with the insurers. They will ensure that you receive enough money to cater for all past and future medical expenses. The lawyers will make the process shorter and seamless for you.
How Different are the Logistics When the Government is Involved?
Unlike the prolonged statute of limitation for privately-owned buses, the period for public buses is shorter. Victims have to file a notice of the claim within six months if the bus belongs to California’s regional authority, state, county, or city.
You might be unable to recover the money used for medical expenses if you fail to notify the government institution on time. A successful personal injury suit can help you recover medical damages for:
- Amputation
- Abrasions, contusions, and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Concussions or traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal and neck injuries
How Long Can I Take to See a Doctor After a Commuter Bus Accident?
You might feel okay after a bus accident, but it is important to go to the hospital. Even if you have no outward injuries, it is safer to go to a hospital for a medical check-up within 72 hours to assess less visible injuries.
Besides, there is no other way to relate your injuries to an accident without a timely medical report. Additionally, the cost of the check-up might be covered by auto insurance. After that, you can contact your bus accident attorney to get advice on the way forward.
Injury Lawyers Fighting for Bus Accident Victims
The logistics of health insurance can be quite complex for a layperson. Sometimes, the coverage of an insurance policy is not enough to cover all your expenses. But with the assistance of an experienced Pasadena accident attorney, you can draft a plan that can safeguard your interests.
Our legal experts have been handling these types of cases for more than 35 years. Speak to us today to discuss ways of getting the best possible outcome for your California personal injury case.
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