Bus accidents create complicated cases. When a bus crashes there can be many victims, and people traveling in other vehicles are usually hurt much worse than the bus occupants. Bus accidents are often pedestrian accidents. Bus riders are in the most danger when they are boarding and exiting the bus, not while it is traveling. If you have been injured in a bus accident our experienced Los Angeles bus accident attorneys can help you and your family.
Bus Accident Causes
The first thing that we need to do is figure out what caused your accident. Determining the cause of your accident is an important part of determining who was responsible. Common causes of bus accidents include:
- Inadequately trained bus driver
- Inexperienced bus driver
- Intoxicated bus driver
- Negligence on the part of other drivers
- Failure to yield to buses
- Unrealistic schedule
- Excessive speed
- Blind spots
- Poor bus maintenance
- Defective bus
- Hazardous weather
- Defective roadways
Types of Buses
We also need to know what type of bus was involved in your accident. This is another part of determining responsibility for your accident. Common types of buses include:
- Buses used for interstate transportation
- Buses used for local public transportation
- Chartered buses
- Public school buses
- Private school buses
- Prison buses
Responsible Parties in Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can have more than one responsible party. In many cases, if the bus driver caused the accident the bus driver’s employer will be held responsible. Many buses are the responsibility of a government agency. The laws and procedures for a lawsuit against a government entity are very different from those against individuals and businesses. Responsible parties in a bus accident can include:
- Bus driver
- Other drivers
- Bus company
- Mass transit systems
- Local government agencies
- School district
- Private transportation provider
- Bus maintenance provider
- Bus manufacturer
- City, county, and state agencies responsible for maintaining roads
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a bus accident, please call our Los Angeles, California accident attorneys 1-877 LOSS RECOVER (1-877-567-7732) or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with our personal injury lawyers is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, in most cases we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.