California Bus Accident Attorneys
California Bus Accident Attorneys with Decades of Experience
California has over 100 public transit and bus districts, which serve individual cities, entire counties, or regions with a bus, rail, trolley, or ferry service. In fact, about 5% percent of Californians commute to work by public transit, which means millions of people ride buses each year. The LA Metro, Amtrak Thruway bus, California Rail, or local public bus lines are excellent ways to get around bustling cities.
You don’t have to drive or pay to park, and you can use your time in transit to multitask. You have a right to assume that a bus is safe for transit and that the company and operator are taking due care to protect passengers. Unfortunately, California cities are not exempt from traumatic bus accidents and car crashes.
If you or a loved one have been recently involved in a bus accident anywhere in California, reach out to our bus accident law firm. We want to help you defend your rights as an injured victim. We’re always available at (888) 488-1391.
Public Transit Laws and Liability in California
Taking a school bus, tour bus, public bus or metro train should not mean risking your life. The rise of cheap transportation options, however, often results in broken rules and ignored safety standards. Public transport drivers should undergo significant training before taking passengers. Sadly, passengers often entrust their lives to drivers who are poorly trained, incompetent, or negligent.
One driver error can result in dozens of lives ruined or taken in a matter of seconds. Bus accidents typically involve lots of people and result in multiple injuries or fatalities. There are a few different parties that may be liable for your injuries after a public transit accident.
If a negligent bus driver caused your crash, he or she may be personally responsible for your damages. If the driver is an employee of a bus company, however, the company itself may be liable. This is also the case if the bus accident stemmed from negligence on the company’s part, such as failing to keep up its fleet vehicles or repair known hazards such as a faulty seatbelt. In some situations, victims can bring claims against the driver and the bus company in California.
In cases where the government owns the bus, your claim would have to follow the rules of claims against government bodies. In California, you must notify the defendant of your claim within six months of the date of the injury. This is a much shorter time frame than typical accident cases, where victims have two years from the date of the injury to file. Keep this in mind if you’re dealing with a public bus or train system that a municipality owns.
If you’re unsure about the defendant or how/when to file, speak to a reputable injury attorney in California with experience bus accidents.
$700,000.00
Settlement involving a head-on collision – client suffered spinal injuries.– Judd Ross Allen
Your Options After Being Hurt in a Bus Accident in California
Buses must obey certain standards of care, whether they are publicly or privately owned. They are common carriers or vehicles that transport passengers for money. A variety of state and federal laws govern common carriers. These laws include standards for driver hiring and training, vehicle maintenance, and quality of service. Breaking any of these laws, leading to a passenger, bystander, Bicycle Accidents or pedestrian injury, is negligence.
As an injury victim in a bus crash anywhere in California, you have two main options available to you. You could settle your claim with the company’s insurer or file a claim with the courts. If the bus company’s insurer contacts you and offers a settlement, it is within your rights to accept. However, this will often result in lesser compensation than a personal injury claim.
Our California Bus Accident Law Firm Is Rated A+ By The B.B.B
Talk to an experienced bus accident attorney from California for advice concerning your specific case. Each bus accident is different and will have numerous options for victims. These are just general options that most victims have after serious motor vehicle collisions. Arash Khorsandi and his team of attorneys at Arash Law will listen to your case in a free consultation, at our headquarters in Los Angeles or offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Riverside, Sacramento, Orange County, or even over the phone. We can help you take the right steps for you. Call (888) 488-1391 to get in touch today.
