I’ve been in a few accidents before. They were pretty much minor ones. During Christmas, a lad rear end me at Publix on Christmas Eve as were were leaving the parking lot to go out on the main road. After I got out and circled around to look at the damages for my fairly new car, I remember being so upset. But being that it was Christmas, and since the damages were minor (she as going less than 5 miles I would say) instead of makin a whole scene at the store, and waiting and calling the cops, I just told her "Merry Christmas" and drove off. And didn’t even file a police report, even though she was totally at fault.
Another time in college, my friends and I were heading home from school an I accidentally drove off the road late at night. My dad told me I probably “overrode my headlights.” Trust that I didn’t make that mistake again. When the car stopped, I maybe a few yards away from a tree. Thank Almighty GOD!
But nothing prepared me for what happened with the school bus hit. I was well after college and I had kids by then, who I was taking to preschool and kindergarten at the time.
It was different.
We were just blocks from their school when a super large school bus ran a stop sign and hit the rear side of my SUV. When I go out the car, the bus driver totally admitted fault and said he was distracted by the out-of-control students on board. And as we stood there waiting for the police, they kids got even more rowdy, so I totally feel he was not looking an missed stop sign when he hit me. He even mentioned that he never saw the stop sign, so he was going about 35 miles per hour, unfortunately for me.
My children were sitting in the middle row and not the rear, because it they were, this could have had a completely different story.
The damage to my SUV was mostly in the back, where the third row seating was and it was driveable, so after we both gave out accounts, I was a bit shaken but I drove them to school and went to wok anyway. Since I felt pretty ok, may adrenaline, after I got to work I arranged a rental car.
This was about two years after the great recession and I was laid off at that time, and FINALLY got a position to be stable financially again and I didn’t want to call in and miss a day at my new job.
Yes, I was sore and shaken, but I figured I’d be fine.
BUT THE NEXT DAY— I finally understood what people ment when they said, it "feels like I have been hit by a bus."
I could barely move.
I had no choice, I called in. The pain in my body went from top to bottom.
Since my insurance did not kick in, I still did not go to the ER (since nothing was broken or bleeding) or get any additional medical help (I didn't know that my car insurance would cover it or that I could just tell them a school but hit me and this payment could be resolved later) and it was almost a month before I sought more medical help because I was not getting better and started to have serious headaches.
I didn’t file a claim right away. I didn’t get a lawyer until months later until taking this over with a friend and when the pain wouldn’t go away.
But, after getting the advice and seeing the lawyer - I was sent to a chiropractor the next day and eventually brought my kids too.
They bounced back. I didn’t.
Even now, years later, I still deal with the effects. And yet, I walked away from that case with far less than I could have—because I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
I didn’t understand how quickly I needed to report injuries.
I didn’t understand how court worked or what my rights were.
I didn’t understand the long-term value of my case—because I just wanted it to be over.
I trusted the process, and I paid the price
Truck Accident Guide isn’t just for people hit by 18-wheelers. It’s for anyone involved in a crash with a large vehicle—like a truck, bus, or commercial van—who doesn’t know what to do next. Especially if you’re busy, tired, overwhelmed, or just trying to “be fine.”
I created this site so you:
I’m not a lawyer. I’m a mom. A survivor. Someone who went through it the hard way and wants to make it easier for you.
If I had known what I know now, my recovery—physically and financially—could have looked very different. This site is my way of sharing everything I wish someone had told me.
You don’t have to feel lost.
You don’t have to settle for less and miss out because it will take too long and you will miss to much time at work.
You don’t have to go through this alone, people and resources are available for you. (After all, this is not a new issue - it was just new to me at the time)
And thanks for being here.
— Jurene
Founder, Truck Accident Guide