Immediate Steps to Take After a Bus Crash
If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, immediately seek a Newport Beach bus accident lawyer at Bisnar Chase today for a free consultation and to preserve your right to compensation. Collect all the evidence from the crash, including CCTV, dashcam footage, and witness statements, and file a police report.
Bus crashes often involve major collisions and result in serious and sometimes catastrophic injuries. When an accident causes physical injuries, you need an attorney on your side who will secure the compensation you deserve.
Best Newport Beach Bus Accident Attorneys Near You
You can trust our team at Bisnar Chase to maximize the value of your case.
- We have a 99% success rate with thousands of satisfied clients.
- Our firm has been in business since 1978, with decades of experience and success.
- More than $1B recovered in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
- We are a local firm based in Newport Beach, with an in-depth understanding of the Orange County courts.
- We have extensive experience handling public transportation accidents and government claims.
- We offer a free consultation with no obligations and a no win, no fee promise. We advance all costs so you are never left out of pocket.
Get the justice and compensation you deserve by contacting our team at Bisnar Chase, a top-rated personal injury law firm based in Newport Beach. We are proud to provide the guidance and legal expertise that you need. Call (949) 203-3814 or contact us through our website today for a free, no-obligation case review.
Bus Accident Lawyers in Newport Beach
Why Do I Need a Newport Beach Bus Crash Attorney?
Simply put, working with the right personal injury attorney will give you the best chance of maximizing the amount of money you receive in compensation. We never settle your case just to be done with it; we work to ensure you get the maximum recovery for your injuries.
Taking on Insurance Companies and Defense Lawyers
Legal cases are challenging. Even negotiating with an insurance company can be an uphill battle, because they do everything possible to avoid paying you. And if the claim enters litigation, things become much more complex, often requiring extensive legal knowledge and resources to navigate the court system effectively. Meanwhile, serious injuries sustained in a bus accident can cause you to miss work and face hefty medical expenses.
The right injury lawyer will take care of everything while you focus on your recovery. That includes:
- Investigating your accident and compiling evidence.
- Handling settlement negotiations.
- Filing all paperwork according to strict court deadlines.
- We conduct depositions, secure witness statements, and obtain expert testimonies as needed.
- Advancing costs.
- When necessary, we will take your case to trial.
Above all, the right attorney will take the pressure off your shoulders. We will handle the legal minefield and maximize our compensation. Even accounting for attorney fees, statistics show that injury victims receive much greater compensation when represented by a legal professional.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a bus or another form of public transportation, you need a top-rated Newport Beach bus accident lawyer near you. We’re here to help.
Why Should You Contact Bisnar Chase?
Our numbers speak for themselves. We have a 99% success rate, with nearly $1 billion recovered for our clients. Just as importantly, we take pride in our staff’s dedication and compassionate approach, ensuring our clients receive personalized attention and support throughout the recovery process. We offer the support you need when you need it most.
We encourage prospective clients to verify our awards and reviews to build confidence in hiring our firm. We have an outstanding track record, and we take pride in providing top-tier legal representation.
At Bisnar Chase, we are passionate about winning your bus accident case. We look at every possible angle to get you every penny of the compensation you deserve, including gathering evidence, consulting experts, and negotiating with insurance companies.
Free Consultation
Call (949) 203-3814 for a free consultation! We are available 24/7 to help, providing the legal support and guidance that you need.
Address: 1301 Dove St. STE 120, Newport Beach, 92660
Types of Bus Accident Cases We Handle
There are several different types of buses on the roads around Southern California. In Orange County, you are likely to see everything from bright yellow school buses to city-run local public transport vehicles.
The bus accident cases we handle include:
- School buses
- Public transportation and commuter buses (Metro)
- Private commuter buses
- Party bus accidents
- Long-distance transport buses
- Church buses
- Tourist tour buses
If you were a driver in a car accident caused by a bus or a cyclist who was hit, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Newport Beach for expert help. If you are not sure whether your crash qualifies for a personal injury claim, call Bisnar Chase now and speak with a top-rated Newport Beach bus accident lawyer.
Who is Responsible (and Legally Liable) for a Bus Accident?
All crashes are different, and various people and parties can be at fault in causing a bus accident. The following are the most common at-fault parties who could share responsibility for a crash.
- The bus driver’s negligence can cause a bus accident. Negligent bus driver behavior, which can result in an injury, could include driving while fatigued or intoxicated. Bus drivers must undergo the necessary training to operate large, specialist vehicles.
- Third-Party Drivers: Often, the dangerous or reckless driving of other road users causes bus accidents.
- Bus Operating Company: In some cases, the bus service company may be liable. This might be the case if they knowingly used a subpar driver, failed to perform proper maintenance on the vehicle, or failed to provide the correct equipment.
- Bus Manufacturer/Maintenance Workers: Accidents can result from technical or mechanical faults due to manufacturer error. Failure to properly maintain vehicles can also lead to problems.
- Passenger Behavior: In rare cases, passenger behavior on a bus can distract the driver and result in a bus accident.
Legal Liability in Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can involve anything from a vehicle striking a pedestrian or cyclist in Newport Beach to a bus colliding with another vehicle or crashing into an obstacle in or alongside the road.
The responsible party is not always the target of a lawsuit. For example, if the bus driver was negligent and caused an accident, the legal claim may still be filed against the employer rather than the individual. You need an experienced attorney to identify the legal liabilities and hold all responsible parties accountable.
Riding on a bus can lead to serious injuries or even wrongful death. Your Newport Beach bus accident lawyer will be able to guide your lawsuit based on the evidence in your case. Call 949-203-3814 for a free consultation.
The Statute of Limitations for Bus Accident Cases
The statute of limitations is the time limit for a plaintiff to bring a lawsuit after an accident. That amount of time can vary, depending on the type and circumstances of an accident.
In most personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit. However, there are exceptions, and one of those exceptions might apply specifically to a bus crash case.
Many bus services are run by government departments, either at the local or state level. If you are filing a claim against a government entity, the statute of limitations is much stricter. You only have six months to file a government claim in these cases.
We advise contacting one of our attorneys as soon as you can after an accident to ensure you do not miss an important deadline.
Bus Accident Compensation
Whether the accident involves a person injured while riding a bus, a car driver hit by a bus, or a pedestrian or bicycle rider injured in a bus crash, each type of case brings its challenges to the victim and the attorney.
Experienced personal injury attorneys understand the laws regarding bus crash injuries and can help you gain a fair settlement, no matter the circumstances of your accident.
As with any vehicle crash injury, medical costs can soar. However, this is not the only factor that can impact a victim’s compensation in a bus accident claim. Others include:
- The type of injury and the extent of pain and suffering also play a role.
- Medical expenses.
- The injury resulted in lost wages and a diminished capacity to work.
- Property damage.
- The projected future and ongoing medical expenses are significant.
- Compromised quality of life.
- Punitive damages.
An experienced Newport Beach bus accident lawyer will be able to maximize your compensation by assessing all of these aspects and more. Our attorneys have extensive experience negotiating with bus and insurance companies on behalf of our clients.
If a case cannot be resolved through settlement, our accident lawyers can also provide top-quality courtroom representation, taking your case before a jury. Call (949) 203-3814.
Common Bus Accident Injuries
When a bus crash happens, it often has dire consequences for the victims. The following are common injuries that bus crash victims suffer from.
- Cuts and bruises.
- Broken bones.
- Whiplash.
- Head and neck injuries.
- Internal injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Severe back injuries
- Fatal injuries.
Whiplash: A person suffering from minor or extreme neck pain after a bus incident may have whiplash. This is when a strong impact forces the neck to move back and forth. Symptoms can include extreme pain in the neck and jaw, ringing ears, or feeling stiffness in the shoulder, and can last for months.
Internal Injuries and Head Injuries: The force of a bus accident can result in severe internal injuries. In addition, many buses do not have seatbelts. This means that a serious collision can easily cause a passenger to fall and hit their head.
Spinal Cord Injury: A spinal cord injury can lead to devastating physical and emotional outcomes. Many people who suffer from spinal trauma will be left with a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury.
An incomplete spinal cord fracture is an injury that leaves the accident victim partially paralyzed. This means that the individual loses sensation or movement in a certain part of the body.
A complete spinal cord injury involves a person being completely paralyzed from the point of their injury. If a person has suffered an injury directly to the neck, they may lose sensation and the ability to move any body part from the neck down.
Handling Injuries of All Levels
At Bisnar Chase, we deal with injuries of all types and levels. For our firm to take a case, the victim must have suffered some degree of physical injury. To find out if your case meets our criteria, please give us a call and let us evaluate your case at no charge.
What Evidence Does a Bus Crash Lawyer Need?
You should provide your attorney with as much evidence as possible if you have been involved in a bus accident. The more evidence they have, the better the case they can make on your behalf. Evidence can include:
- Pictures and video footage from the scene helped to support an account of the incident.
- Pictures of your injuries, as well as supporting medical records.
- A police report from the incident.
- Eyewitness statements or witness contact details.
- Proof of medical expenses and lost earnings related to the crash.
Don’t worry if you can’t assemble all of this evidence, and don’t feel like you have to get everything lined up before contacting an attorney. Get in touch with Bisnar Chase, and our team will guide you on what you should try to source. Our team will handle much of the evidence retrieval for you.
If you are unsure if you have a case to bring, contact a Newport Beach bus accident lawyer to have us review your evidence and determine if you are entitled to compensation. Call (949) 203-3814.
Bus Accident Statistics
There are far fewer bus crashes than car accidents across the U.S. every year, thanks mainly to far fewer buses than cars on the roads.
However, bus accidents will likely result in more severe damage and injuries. Buses are extremely large and heavy vehicles, so they are tougher to steer and stop quickly. They also have large blind spots.
These are just some statistics showing how dangerous a bus accident can be:
- A standard city bus measures up to 45 feet long.
- School buses can weigh up to about 36,000 lbs – 10x the average weight of a midsize car.
- According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were nearly 5,000 fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses in 2017.
- In 2017, there were 116,000 crashes involving trucks and buses that resulted in injuries.
- Of all recorded bus crashes, 40% involve school buses, and 35% involve transit buses.
Contact a Top-Rated Newport Beach Bus Accident Lawyer Near You
Bisnar Chase is based in the Newport Beach community and has been helping residents for more than four decades. We have successfully helped more than 12,000 clients, collecting more than $1B for them in verdicts and settlements.
Our mission statement is to provide superior representation with a compassionate approach. Moreover, our ‘No Win, No Fee’ guarantee ensures that our services are open to everyone. We only charge a fee if we win your case. Even then, it is taken from the settlement, so you never have to pay anything out of pocket.
Call our Newport Beach bus accident lawyers for immediate help at (949) 203-3814. You can also send us an email or use the live chat feature on our website. We look forward to hearing from you.
Brian Chase
Articles, blogs, and content have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $1B for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College, and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.
Serving California Since 1978
Bisnar Chase is a top-rated personal injury law firm with a national reputation. The firm has been in business since 1978 and has represented thousands of clients. Based in Newport Beach and with offices across California, Bisnar Chase has recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, emphasizing superior client representation above all.
