California Bus Accident Lawyers

If you suffered injuries in a California bus accident, Silva Injury Law is here to help. We’ll help identify all responsible parties and work to see you receive just compensation for your damages. Contact our experienced California bus accident lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation. Let us evaluate your case and help you decide on the best course of legal action. Bus accidents typically involve complex legal issues. You need a legal advocate who protects your rights and ensures the defendants’ insurance companies and lawyers don’t take advantage of you.

Common Causes Of Bus Accidents In California

One of the first things to understand is what caused the accident. Human error and mechanical defects are two of the most common factors in bus accidents. Multiple factors can contribute to a bus collision, such as:

  • Distracted driving,
  • Fatigue,
  • Violating traffic rules and regulations,
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
  • Road rage and other aggressive behavior behind the wheel,
  • Adverse weather and road hazards,
  • Mechanical malfunctions, and
  • A defective part on the vehicle or bus.

When you hire our California bus accident lawyers, we will help determine the circumstances surrounding the accident so you know who to sue.

Common Bus Accident Injuries

While buses are relatively safe modes of transportation, there’s a risk of severe injuries when an accident occurs. Part of this can be attributed to some buses’ lack of safety restraints. The following are some of the more common injuries we represent clients for in serious bus accident claims.

Broken or Fractured Bones

Passengers on the bus or any pedestrians involved in the accident often have broken or fractured bones. These injuries might require surgical intervention, and victims could lose significant time from work.

Head Injuries

Bus accidents can lead to several different head injuries, including post-concussion syndrome or traumatic brain injuries. You should take any head injury seriously. Even if you think it’s a mild concussion, you must see a doctor to get checked out.

Sprains and Strains

Passengers can sustain soft tissue injuries such as strains and sprains, even in a minor collision. Whiplash is a soft tissue injury in a crash when your head moves back and forth, hyperextending the neck.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Your spinal cord is very delicate, and the force of a collision can result in serious injuries. Spinal cord injuries are typically permanent and involve paralysis from below the accident site. That means a spinal cord injury in the back could result in paralysis from the waist down. Spinal cord injuries in the neck could result in permanent paralysis where the victim cannot move their arms or legs.

Amputations

With a severe injury, it’s possible that passengers could be trapped or thrown around, especially if the bus rolls. This type of situation could lead to limbs being crushed or severed. Depending on the damage, it’s possible a victim could need surgery to amputate a limb.

Burn Injuries

Buses carry a lot of fuel and can catch fire during an accident. If passengers cannot get out in time, they could sustain burn injuries or suffer from smoke inhalation. Burn injuries are excruciating and typically leave significant scarring, requiring subsequent scar revision surgery.

California Bus Laws

The law classifies buses as common carriers, which means they are hired to transport people from one destination to another. The companies that own these buses are legally responsible for accidents involving one of their drivers. Bus companies must carry liability insurance to cover any damage and injuries caused by the bus driver’s negligence.

If you plan to file a claim against the bus company, you must resolve it within a certain amount of time. Otherwise, you must file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. Usually, you have up to two years from the accident date to file. However, this deadline changes if the city or county owns the bus. You might have as short as six months to file. That’s one of the reasons we suggest you contact an attorney immediately.

Who Is Liable For A Bus Accident In California?

Determining who is responsible for your injuries in a bus accident is complicated. It’s not always the bus company or driver who should be responsible for compensating you for your injuries. If another vehicle caused the collision, their insurance company should be the one to reimburse victims for their damages. It’s common to have multiple parties responsible, especially when multiple cars are involved in the accident along with the bus.

To identify who’s liable for your injuries, you must show proof of the following four elements:

  • The defendant owed you a duty of care;
  • The defendant breached that duty of care;
  • The defendant’s breach is what caused your injuries; and
  • You suffered damages.

While this sounds straightforward, there are a lot of variables in these types of collisions. The bus driver can share liability with one or more other drivers. You might also have other contributing factors, such as heavy rain or fog.

Pure comparative negligence rules apply in California when determining liability. What that means for your case is that multiple people could share legal responsibility for your injuries. It also means that you could be partially responsible for your injuries and still receive some compensation. If you’re a passenger on the bus, you typically won’t have any fault in the accident.

PROMOTING HEALING THROUGH
COMPASSIONATE ADVOCACY
We believe that our duty goes beyond achieving large monetary awards for our clients. We strive first to be decent human beings who seek not to stir up fights, but to solve problems.
AS A PEACEMAKER, THE LAWYER HAS A SUPERIOR OPPORTUNITY OF BEING A GOOD MAN. THERE WILL STILL BE ENOUGH BUSINESS.
– Abraham Lincoln

WHY HIRE OUR CALIFORNIA BUS ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS?

You have many choices in hiring a law firm, so you might wonder what sets Silva Injury Law apart. For one, we are very passionate about getting justice for our clients. Some personal injury firms care only about settling a case quickly and closing the file so they can move on to the next. When you hire Silva Injury Law, rest assured you’ll get the personalized care you need. If we need to take your case to trial, we’re ready. Our California bus accident attorneys have the skills and resources to see your case through to a jury trial.

Attorney Michael Joe Silva also has experience working as a deputy district attorney in California. He knows what it takes to build a successful case and prevail in a jury trial. We’ll be there every step of the way for you and help you fight to hold all responsible parties legally liable for your injuries. Contact Silva Injury Law today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you after a California bus accident.

Our highly-skilled legal team also handles other cases, such as: