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Bus Accident Lawyer in Panorama City CA

California Personal Injury Attorney
You are Safe with Drake

Panorama City Bus Accident Lawyer

Have You Been Injured in a Bus Accident?

Buses are a common site throughout California. Hundreds of thousands of passengers use buses each year to get from place to place. Some buses provide local transit around a city and service commercial districts, while others use buses as their means to commute to and from work. Still others decide to ride on a bus as they travel out of state to see family or friends. Whatever the reason, California residents are boarding buses in large numbers every year and that is a trend that is expected to continue in the coming decades.

The majority of these individuals travel safely while aboard these buses but unfortunately, many sustain injuries every year in California bus accidents. Commonly these injuries are very significant, in part because commuters do not wear seat belts while riding on most buses. With many bus companies servicing Panorama City and California as a whole, it might not be surprising that these bus crashes account for many injuries annually and unfortunately some may result in death. If you suffer an injury, be sure to speak with a Panorama City bus crash lawyer ASAP.

What are some of the common reasons for bus accidents?

Bus drivers encounter a lot of the same challenges as any motorist, in addition to a few other unique issues. Some common causes of bus crashes include:

  • Driver distraction-- Motorists that pay more attention to their phones or various other electronic devices are more prone to accidents. Because of the amount of passengers on buses, bus drivers also are more prone to passenger distractions than someone operating a car.
  • Driver fatigue-- Similar to a truck driver, bus drivers have a schedule to meet. This frequently means they work long hours without taking sufficient breaks. The loud environment of a bus can also wear on a driver.
  • Speeding-- To make their scheduled stops, drivers might ignore speed limits or road conditions because of inclement weather.
  • Vehicle maintenance-- A poorly maintained bus can crash due to a failing part.
  • Inadequate training-- Too often, drivers do not have proper training on the safest practices for operating a bus. The absence of training or inadequate training can lead to a driver mistake that can cause a crash.

What injuries are prevalent in bus crashes?

As with any kind of accident on Panorama City roads, the injuries from a bus accident can partially depend on the speed of travel and the size of the other vehicle or vehicles in the collision.

The most common injuries consist of:

  • Fractures (broken bones) that require surgical repair
  • Head and brain injuries
  • Back & neck injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Scars and lacerations
  • Wrongful Death

What legal rights are available to a bus accident victim?

As a bus crash victim, the law may offer you several civil claims to pursue. The cases available will rely on the circumstances of a particular crash and who is at fault in the crash.

At Fault Third Parties

If another driver causes an accident with a bus while you are a passenger on that bus, you might have a claim against the other motorist for your injuries. If the other driver does not have enough insurance coverage available for all of the injuries suffered in the collision or if the other driver has no insurance available at all, you might also have a right to bring an uninsured or underinsured claim against your own insurance company or the bus company itself, if there is UM coverage available.

At Fault Bus Driver

Alternatively, if the crash is because of a negligent bus driver and you were either a bus passenger or in another vehicle, you may have a claim against the bus driver and the bus company. This is true even if the bus owner is a municipality, like a city bus used for public transportation.

Safety Defects on a Bus

Lastly, if the accident is caused by some defect in the bus itself and not through actions of any drivers, you may have a claim against the:

  • manufacturer of the bus
  • seller of the bus
  • owner/operator of the bus
  • anybody who performed negligent maintenance while servicing the bus

Any bus driver that is injured in an accident might also have a claim for worker's compensation for their injuries.

The possibility of so many claims makes a bus accident case complicated and complex. Usually the more vehicles involved in the accident, the more complex the claim( s). This is a reason that when selecting a bus accident attorney in Panorama City, you want to pick one with experience prosecuting personal injury claims.

What do I do after I'm involved in a bus crash?

You may be rattled and in a state of shock after being involved in a bus accident. But there are a few important things that you need to do before leaving the scene.

  • Call 911
  • Get witness information
  • Seek medical care
  • Consult with a bus crash lawyer

How much can I recover financially after a bus crash?

The amount of money you might receive following a bus crash will depend a lot on the seriousness of your injuries. In general, you may recover the costs of your:

  • medical bills
  • lost wages
  • pain and suffering
  • loss of companionship
  • lost earning capacity
  • damages caused by long-term disability or disfigurement

Families who have lost a loved one in a Panorama City bus crash may also collect for any treatment their loved one received before dying along with compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, and various other damages. Talk to an experienced Panorama City bus crash attorney to learn all of your options.

Have you been injured in a Panorama City Bus Crash?

The Panorama City bus crash lawyers at Drake Law Firm will work to help you get the financial recovery that you deserve. Bus crash damages may consist of: medical expenses, disfigurement, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, loss of income, and much more. We also seek to recover present and future costs when defending a crash victim.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients to get the compensation they require to recover. We won't let you accept unfair treatment from other law firms and we will defend you from beginning to end. If you need help with a Bus Accident Lawyer in Panorama City, California, give us a call at (844) 513-7253 for a FREE consultation or visit our website at DrakeLawGroup.com to get started on your case today! 

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