If you have been the victim of a bus crash caused by the negligence of another party, contact our experienced California bus accident lawyers for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation, including wrongful death, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
The experienced trial lawyers of Bisnar Chase have taken on some of the most complex cases, including bus crash injury claims. We have been in business for more than 45 years, developing into a top-quality injury law firm in California. We have a 99% success rate and have recovered more than $750 million for our clients.
A bus accident could result in severe injuries if you were a bus passenger, another driver on the road, or a pedestrian. Make sure you get fair compensation by speaking to the right bus crash attorney today. Do not be intimidated by taking on large insurance companies.
With Bisnar Chase behind you, we can secure the right result. Call 949-203-3814 now for a free consultation if you have been injured in a bus accident in California.
California Bus Accident
California Bus Accident Cases Require Crucial Evidence
Dealing with a bus company and its legal defense teams can be traumatic, especially if you have just been in an accident and are trying to recover from your injuries. The experienced California bus accident lawyers at Bisnar Chase have a successful track record of representing injured plaintiffs and recovering maximum compensation for their losses.
In bus accident cases, we have obtained crucial evidence such as hours-of-service logs, maintenance records, and cell phone records to help prove fault and liability. We will put our decades of experience and the skill and expertise of our California injury lawyers to work for you.
The cases we handle vary in severity. Some bus accident cases can be particularly serious in nature, with catastrophic injuries. Different types of bus accidents include MTA, transit, public transport, school bus, and commercial transport (casino, school, etc.).
If you or someone you love has been injured in a bus accident, please get in touch with our California personal injury lawyers at 949-203-3814 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.
Protecting Your Rights in California Bus Crashes
Bus accidents are relatively rare when compared to other traffic accidents. However, they can happen at any moment and the resulting injuries can be life-changing. It is important for anyone involved in a California bus accident to learn how common carrier crashes are different than regular traffic collisions.
It can be challenging to get fair compensation following a bus accident. Many victims of these crashes end up getting inadequate support for medical bills, lost wages, and other related damages.
This is where Bisnar Chase comes in. It can be challenging to go up against a large bus company and demand fair compensation. We believe that all injured crash victims should seek the advice of a California bus accident lawyer to make sure they are fairly treated.
Tour Bus Accidents in California
Tour buses are considered one of the most prevalent common carriers. Some tour buses are tasked with driving slowly and making frequent stops as part of their routes, increasing the chances of a crash occurring.
Liability can be challenging to determine in accidents involving a shuttle or tour bus crash. Your injury attorney will likely hold two parties accountable for the bus crash; the tour company or the bus company.
Tour companies usually do not own the buses themselves but have contracts with bus companies. The tour organization must ensure that the buses are well-maintained and the drivers are well-trained. The bus company would be liable in a crash if the buses are not perfectly up-kept or the drivers are not licensed, and these conditions contribute to the accident.
Even if the requirements are met, a bus company is still held accountable if the bus driver is careless. The attorneys at Bisnar Chase have years of experience in holding companies accountable for negligent behavior.
California School Bus Accidents
A school transportation-related accident involves a school bus transporting children to and from school or to related events. Based on data from Fatality Analysis Reporting System, FARS, 1,282 people were killed in school-related transportation crashes between 2007 and 2016.
FARS also reported that among pedestrians killed in school bus-related crashes from 2007 to 2016, 163 were hit by school buses. 281 children died in that same amount of time. To see all statistics reported, please see our school bus accident infographic.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average of 19 school-age children die in school transportation-related accidents each year. Only five victims are occupants of school transportation vehicles, while the other 14 young victims are pedestrians.
Many of these bus-on-pedestrian accidents occur in California, where traffic congestion has been a problem for years 1998 and 2008, and 1,564 people were killed in school transportation-related crashes.
About 72 percent of those victims were occupants of other vehicles. Non-occupants such as pedestrians accounted for 20 percent of the deaths, and occupants of school transportation vehicles accounted for the remaining 8 percent.
Bus and Commercial Truck Crashes
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 4,989 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes in 2019. When you have inner-city buses, school buses, and commercial trucks all sharing the road, along with other traffic, it can be a recipe for disaster.
The weight of these vehicles alone can cause catastrophic and fatal injuries. Companies and schools are responsible for being as safe as possible to protect the public. They must carry serious insurance policies to protect all parties adequately in case of an accident.
If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, or similar, do not be anticipated it. Our bus accident attorneys will handle every step of negotiations with the insurers to ensure you only have to focus on recovery.
Causes of Bus Accidents in California
Buses carry more weight and are harder to maneuver when turning than most other road vehicles. This means that it often takes less to cause a bus to crash than it would for other road users.
For example, adverse weather conditions can be particularly dangerous for buses. While we do not often get rain in California and only see snow in specific locations, bus drivers must be trained to handle their vehicle in all conditions to prevent accidents.
Motorcycles are also a potential problem for bus drivers due to their inability to stop immediately when they’re cut off. A bus can cause catastrophic injuries in a motorcycle accident. Motorhomes present another danger because of the sheer size of a bus and RV trying to share the road in narrow lanes.
A vital part of the claims process is determining liability, and it is the job of your California bus accident attorney and their team to determine the cause of an accident and show that negligence was involved.
Common causes of many California bus accidents include:
- Bus driver fatigue: A tired bus driver can lose focus or fall asleep while driving. Drivers suffering from accumulated sleep deficit, sleep apnea, or insomnia should not be behind the wheel. All bus companies must also ensure that their drivers adhere to federal regulations regarding the time they can drive without rest.
- Aggressive driving: Bus driving can be extremely stressful and challenging. If a bus driver is overworked or stressed, he or she may behave carelessly or recklessly. Federal hours-of-service regulations exist for a reason. Bus drivers and bus companies should ensure that drivers do not break these hours-of-service rules. Bus drivers are required to maintain logs of their work and rest hours.
- Speed: All bus drivers must travel at a speed relative to the weather and traffic conditions. Excessive speed or driving at an unsafe speed can result in devastating bus accidents.
- The poor condition of vehicles: Bus companies that cut corners by avoiding necessary safety inspections and repairs can be held accountable for their wrongdoing. Under federal law, bus companies must also have vehicle maintenance logs. When an accident occurs due to brake or tire failure, for example, caused by poor vehicle maintenance, the bus company can be held liable for injuries and damages caused.
- Distracted driving: Under no circumstances should bus drivers use cell phones, computers, or other electronic devices while driving. Other distractions, including eating, drinking, looking at a GPS monitor, or talking to passengers, can also increase the likelihood of a crash.
- Driving under the influence: Drivers are prohibited from operating a bus under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. For commercial drivers, California law states that the maximum blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is 0.08%. For drivers of commercial vehicles, such as some bus drivers, that limit is set at 0.04%. When a drunk bus driver causes an accident, the bus driver and his or her employer can be held accountable. Bus companies are legally obligated to check their drivers’ criminal and driving history before hiring.
Duty of Care to California Bus Passengers
In a personal injury case involving a bus accident, the negligent party – whether the driver, bus company, manufacturers, or others – owes a duty of care to those around them. That means they must take all reasonable care to keep them from harm.
Once on board a bus, passengers have little control over their own well-being. The common carrier is required to exercise the utmost level of care. With such a high duty of care, common carriers (public or private), such as bus companies, can be held liable for any injury or harm to passengers.
Choosing a Bus Crash Attorney in California
Hiring a well-qualified bus collision attorney is crucial when seeking compensation for your losses. Your attorney should thoroughly investigate what occurred at the time and scene of the crash and whether any laws, regulations, or basic safety expectations were violated.
The accident attorneys of Bisnar Chase have more than four decades in business with a 99% success rate. Our superior representation has won our clients millions of dollars in compensation to pay for expenses such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our mission statement is “To provide superior client representation compassionately and professionally while making our world a safer place.”
Brian Chase shares how Bisnar Chase has made the world a safer place.
Contact Our California Bus Accident Attorneys
With over 45 years of serving clients across California, our personal injury team has the experience and resources to win significant cases. You may be entitled to compensation above and beyond what you think you can expect to receive.
Our legal team works to the highest standard. Staff members treat every case as their top priority, putting a premium on compassion and support with a personal touch.
Work with the California bus accident lawyers of Binsar Chase to maximize your claim’s value and ensure that you are treated fairly by the negligent parties. Let us fight for you; contact us now by calling (800) 561-4887 for a free consultation.
