Have You Been Hurt in a Bus Crash?
Buses are a common site throughout California. Hundreds of thousands of commuters use buses annually to get from place to place. Some buses provide local transit around a city and service commercial districts, while others use buses as their way 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 citizens are boarding buses in large numbers every year and that is a pattern 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 each year in California bus crashes. Commonly these injuries are very serious, partially because passengers do not wear seat belts while riding on most buses. With a number of bus companies servicing Sherman Oaks and California in its entirety, it may not be surprising that these bus accidents account for many injuries every year and unfortunately some may result in death. If you suffer an injury, make sure to talk to a Sherman Oaks bus crash lawyer ASAP.
What are some of the common causes of bus accidents?
Bus drivers face many of the same challenges as any motorist, plus some other unique problems. Some common reasons for bus accidents involve:
What injuries are prevalent in bus crashes?
As with any type of accident on Sherman Oaks streets, the injuries from a bus accident may 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:
What Legal Rights are Available to a Bus Accident Victim?
As a bus crash victim, the law might provide you several civil cases to pursue. The claims available will depend on the circumstances of a specific crash and who is at fault in the accident.
At Fault Third Parties
If another motorist causes a collision with a bus while you are a passenger on that bus, you may 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 provider or the bus company itself, if there is UM coverage available.
At Fault Bus Driver
On the other hand, if the accident is due to a negligent bus driver and you were either a bus occupant or in another vehicle, you might 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 by actions of any drivers, you might have a claim against the:
Any bus driver that is hurt in a crash 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. Typically the more vehicles involved in the accident, the more complex the case( s). This is a reason that when choosing a bus accident lawyer in Sherman Oaks, you want to choose one with experience prosecuting personal injury cases.
What do I do after I'm involved in a bus crash?
You might be rattled and in a state of shock after being involved in a bus crash. But there are a few important things that you need to do before leaving the scene.
How much can I recoup financially after a bus crash?
The amount of money you may receive after a bus accident will depend a great deal on the extent of your injuries. In general, you might recoup the costs of your:
Families who have lost a loved one in a Sherman Oaks bus accident may also collect for any care their loved one received before passing away as well as compensation for funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship, and various other damages. Talk to a knowledgeable Sherman Oaks bus accident attorney to learn all of your options.
Have you been injured in a Sherman Oaks Bus Accident?
The Sherman Oaks bus crash lawyers at Drake Law Firm will work to help you get the financial recovery that you are entitled to. Bus accident damages might include: medical expenses, disfigurement, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, loss of income, and much more. We additionally look to recover present and future expenses when representing a crash victim.