If you have been involved in a bus accident, you’re owed fair treatment. It’s “part of the deal” we make with insurance companies: we pay our premiums on time, and they take care of us when we need them to.
Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. Insurance companies are corporations with a singular agenda: reduce payouts, increase profit.
Insurance adjusters, the people whose job it is to assess and pay your claim are well trained in all manner of underhanded tactics designed to devalue your case.
This guide will guide you through the dirty tricks insurance adjusters play when handling bus accident injury claims and how you can go about defending your rights.
Reasons Why Injury Claims from Bus Accidents are Unique
Bus accident cases are frequently more complex than standard auto accidents. That’s because: There could be multiple potentially responsible parties (the bus driver, the transit authority, a private company, or perhaps even a school district).
There could be other governmental players complicating the legal landscape. Victims tend to sustain more severe injuries because buses are not equipped with seatbelts and they are larger vehicles.
These are the complexities that allow adjusters to take advantage of gray areas or to drag their feet, or to deny responsibility all together.
Devious Tactics That Insurance Adjusters Use to Make You Less of a Claimant
Asking for a Recorded Statement (And Then Using It Against You)
Adjusters will frequently call you early on and request a “quick recorded statement” which sounds so routine and harmless. In actuality, they are seeking inconsistencies or statements that can be used to discount or discredit your allegation.
How to Protect Yourself:
You don’t have a legal obligation to provide a recorded statement You
Decline politely or tell them to contact your lawyer
If you feel you have to comment, stick to facts and don’t speculate
OUR CLIENTS ALWAYS COME FIRST
OUR CLIENTS ALWAYS COME FIRST
Pretending to Get You a Quick Lowball Settlement
Insurance companies may push for fast, small settlements before the full extent of your injuries are known. If you do that, you generally waive any claim to future compensation.
How to Protect Yourself:
Always try to prolong negotiations until the courtroom doors slam behind you but if you do settle, don’t settle on the first offer, no matter how pressing they insist it is.
Never accept a settlement without consulting with a bus accident attorney.
Wait until your treatment is over when you totally understand how you have been injured.
Blaming You or Shifting Liability
Adjusters often attempt to lay the blame on you by making the following arguments:
You were not wearing a seatbelt (if the bus even had one)
If you were standing or walking in an “unsafe” position
Another car or person was more to blame. This is an attempt to lower the payout under comparative negligence laws.
How to Protect Yourself:
Obtain witness statements and police reports.
Obtain any surveillance footage or dash cam video.
Retain an attorney to undertake an appropriate liability investigation.
We offer free consultations
We offer free consultations
Lying About the Law or Your Rights. Adjusters might:
That you need to hurry up and get things figured out
Tell your insurance that pain and suffering isn’t compensable
Misreport how much money you are due under the law
They’re not just playing the good guys they’re trying to mitigate their liability.
How to Protect Yourself:
Learn about your rights under California personal injury law (or your state’s laws).
Discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer before you put your name on the line.
Don’t presume that the adjuster is looking out for you.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
FOUNDER & TRIAL ATTORNEY
Meet Shawn Mangoli
“Shawn Mangoli, the founder of Beverly Hills Injury Firm, is a distinguished trial attorney specializing in personal injury law. With a decade of experience in civil litigation, Shawn has successfully championed the rights of those injured due to negligence, securing numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Recognized consistently by Super Lawyers and a respected member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and American Attorneys for Justice, Shawn’s commitment to justice is profound and unwavering.”
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California Personal Injury Firm committed to getting maximum compensation.
Don’t settle for less.
Contact
Quick Links
Follow Us