Bus Accident Attorneys

Bus accidents could cause very severe injuries. If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident, contact our experienced accident attorneys today.

Buses are considered to be one of the safest ways to travel. Bus accidents are not very common, however when they do occur, they result in very severe injuries. One of the most common reasons why severe injuries may result is because several passengers stand in buses with no seat belt support. An abrupt collision could cause passengers to roll forward.

Whether you have been hit by a bus or involved in a collision while riding as a passenger on the bus, it is very important that you get legal assistance immediately. There are several statutes in place that could limit the amount of time you have to file your bus accident injury claim. For example, in California, a person who is injured in a bus accident has two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Filing the claim after those two years could result in losing your entire right to compensation.

How common are bus accidents?

Bus usage is very common in congested cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Several people use the bus every day to get to and from work and to and from school. around seven hundred million people in the United States travel by bus every day. There are around 60,000 bus accidents every year in the United States. In the year 2019, there were around 230 fatal bus accidents that occurred. Although this number has been on a steady decline with the several safety measures in place, bus accidents can still cause very severe injuries to this day.

Top News: San Diego Bus Fatality

On February 22, 2020, there was a fatal bus accident that occurred on Interstate 15 in San Diego County. 18 people were injured, and three people were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board conducted an investigation that showed the bus had worn out rear tires. The tire tread was in very poor condition, making the bus almost unable to be properly driven. The tires needed to have been changed immediately. Although there has been a decrease in bus accidents throughout the years, it is still very common to this day.

Common Bus Accident Damages

Property damage: property damage is one of the most common injuries associated with bus accidents. Several vehicle owner’s seek compensation for damage done to their vehicles by another person’s negligence.
Medical bills: this refers to the hospital bills and treatment associated with the injuries suffered from the accident.
Future lost earning capacity: if the bus accident injuries are very severe enough to prevent the injured party from returning to work, they will be able to recover future lost earnings from the negligent party.
Past lost income: this refers to the income lost out on by the injured victim as they were in the hospital recovering from their injuries.
Pain and suffering: this is the emotional trauma that the injured party had to endure from the bus accident.
Punitive damages: although rarely awarded in California, if the defendant was substantially reckless, the plaintiff will be able to recover punitive damages.

What are the different types of buses?

California has several different types of buses on the roads. This includes:

Double decker buses
School buses
Passenger buses
Minibus
Electric bus
Transit bus
Shuttles
Trolleys

Are bus drivers liable for accidents?

There are several different parties that could be liable in a bus accident. In certain circumstances, bus drivers could be held liable if they have been driving negligently and violating traffic laws. Other examples of negligence include driving under the Influence or fatigued driving. Other parties that could also be held liable for bus accidents include:

Bus owner: the bus owner responsible for employing the bus driver could be held liable under a vicarious liability legal theory. If the bus owner also failed to properly train the bus driver, they could be independently held liable under negligent employee training.
Government entities: government entities could also be held liable if the road conditions caused the accident. For example, if the bus accident was caused by a very deep pothole the bus ran over, then the injured victims may have a claim against the government entity responsible for maintaining the roads. To file a lawsuit against any government entity, it must be filed within the first six months of the accident. In order to determine if the government entity could be held liable in your accident, contact our top-rated personal injury attorneys today for a free no risk case evaluation.
Construction workers: construction workers who leave objects on the road and fail to properly create a barrier around their work area could be held liable. Construction workers have a duty to make sure that they act in a reasonably safe manner.
Other vehicle drivers: other drivers may also cause bus accidents when they fail to properly drive in a reasonably safe manner. For example, if a car were to run a red light and crash into the bus, the injured passengers in the bus could hold the other vehicle driver liable.
School: if the bus belongs to a public school, then the school will be held liable for failing to properly train the bus driver.
Bus manufacturer: if a defective bus part caused the accident, the injured victims have a claim against the product manufacturer and retailer under a products liability claim.

There are also several parties that could be held liable that are not listed above. To determine what parties are liable in your specific bus accident claim, contact our attorneys today for a free no obligation consultation.

How much do our attorneys at Megeredchian Law cost?

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients do not pay for our attorneys upfront until we win a settlement or judgment in their favor. This provides our clients with a peace of mind to focus on their injuries while we focus on litigating their claims and taking on all the costs involved with their legal claim in court.

What should I do if I have been involved in a bus accident?

Call 911 immediately: if possible, check to see if any other people on the bus are injured. We always advise passengers to call 911 if you have been involved in a bus accident because there may be other members severely injured that are unable to call.
Call the police department immediately: police officers will write up a police report regarding the accident, and the different parties involved.
Gather evidence: take pictures of the accident scene, along with any pictures of property damage.
Take the names of potential witnesses and parties involved in the accident
Keep a journal and document your injuries and daily activities that seem to be difficult.

Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Today

Our accident attorneys will work with insurance companies and adjusters to make sure that you get the maximum compensation you deserve. Insurance adjusters will almost always try to downplay their liability and find other doctors to blame. Our accident attorneys will communicate and negotiate with insurance companies so you don’t have to.

Our top-rated bus accident attorneys work to make sure that no person is taken advantage of by another party. We work to restore justice for our clients. Call us for a free consultation today.

No one expects a bus accident to occur, however when one does occur you want to make sure that you have a trusted accident attorney on your side. We are here for you every step of the way, and are here to navigate through the legal process for you to make sure that you get the help you deserve. We have offices located in convenient cities such as Glendale, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Stockton, San Bernardino, Riverside, Bakersfield, San Diego, Fresno, and Anaheim.

Bus Accident Attorneys

Bus Accident Attorneys