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ACCIDENTS ON A BUS

AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYER IN SACRAMENTO

Auto Accident Lawyer in Sacramento

Injuries Occurring From Bus Accidents

When using a bus for transportation, we trust many others with our lives. We entrust the driver to operate the bus responsibly, we entrust the mechanic to perform all the necessary repairs, we entrust the bus company to create an environment that promotes safe travel, and so on. No one anticipates they will be involved in an accident when they step onto the bus but if you have experienced such an event, speak to your local auto accident lawyer in Sacramento for legal assistance.

Bus accidents are rarer than normal vehicle accidents, but the consequences can be much more devastating. With the size of a bus comes great power, which is difficult to stop at high speeds and can result in significant damage. As buses are meant to carry many people, the number of injuries or fatalities in a bus accident may greatly exceed that of the average car accident.

What to do

Most people do not plan ahead for how to act when they experience a bus accident. It’s important to think about these things before an accident occurs in order to be prepared and have some idea of what to do in such a stressful situation.

The most important thing to do first is check to see if anyone has incurred an injury. If anyone is seriously hurt or has any head trauma that may worsen, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible. As most buses are commercial carriers, their employees will usually call for medical assistance should anyone need it. If they can not be located or are themselves injured, it will be the responsibility of passengers to seek medical help. Be sure to get a full medical evaluation if there is any sign of injury. Some injuries are not immediately obvious, especially when someone is in shock. This is especially true of head, neck, and spine injuries.

Contact a Sacramento auto accident lawyer who have experience handling bus accident cases. Bus companies and the insurance groups that represent them have access to very powerful resources and are more focused on their bottom line than paying out for injuries. Good personal injury lawyers will know how to handle the process of litigation and won’t allow a bus company to hijack the investigation process. There are established statutes of limitation for claims following a bus accident. This becomes more complicated if a government entity is involved.

What qualifies as a bus?

The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards has set specific definitions for each category of vehicles. They qualify a bus as a motorized vehicle capable of carrying more than ten passengers. This may include:

  • Airport shuttles
  • School buses
  • Church buses
  • Large vans for public transport
  • Municipal buses
  • Tour buses
  • Trolleys
  • Common carriers

Common Carriers

Public transportation carriers such as Greyhound buses or casino shuttles are considered “common carriers” under the law. This means they are subject to state and federal licensing requirements as well as other regulations. Though they are required to follow federal law, their liability in compensating injured passengers depends on the state. In California, there is a 6 month time limit for individuals injured on common carriers owned by public entities, such as the government, to file a claim. There is the option to toll this time limit, which means an individual can postpone it under certain circumstances.

Circumstances that may allow someone to toll their deadline include:

  • Mental or physical incapacity
  • Minor status of the victim (under the age of 18)
  • A delayed injury manifestation

Causes

When determining fault in a bus accident, one major aspect is to figure out the exact cause of the crash. The most common causes of California bus accidents include:

  • Driver fatigue – a tired bus driver is extremely dangerous. Many people have heard the comparison of sleepy driving to drunk driving and a parallel can be drawn. This often is a problem with company policy not providing enough break time for drivers.
  • Aggressive driving – bus drivers have a very stressful job – they must navigate traffic and deal with many people throughout the day or night. An overworked, underappreciated driver may exhibit excess stress, leading to careless or erratic behavior. There are federally regulated hours of service for bus drivers that must be adhered to. Bus drivers are required to maintain logs of their work and rest hours. These logs may be useful in court. Bus drivers on a tight schedule may feel pressure to travel at faster speeds than is wise. This is especially dangerous in bad weather or in combination with fatigue.
  • Poor vehicle condition – sometimes bus companies try to cut costs by neglecting to repair their buses or to use subpar mechanics. Federal law requires bus companies to keep maintenance logs, which may help determine the cause of an accident.
  • Driving under the influence – unfortunately, some drivers do use alcohol or other drugs while operating their vehicles. Perhaps it is the stress of the job, but under any circumstance it is unacceptable. Bus companies have a legal obligation to investigate the background of their employees when hiring.

Legal Action

If you or a loved one has been involved in a bus accident, one of the best things you can do is to seek legal advice from trusted auto accident lawyer in Sacramento. An experienced law firm can provide a knowledgeable attorney who will guide you through a difficult and complicated process and work on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve!

Call auto accident lawyer in Sacramento For Help

If you have been injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another, regardless of the nature of the underlying accident, it is important to contact an experienced auto accident lawyer in Sacramento to discuss your legal options. We have offices in Sacramento & Fairfield, CA for your convenience and have the resources and expertise to aggressively litigate your case in court, fighting to get you just compensation for your injury.
 
Call (916) 306-0636 today for a free consultation with our auto accident lawyer in Sacramento regarding your auto accident injury case.

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      “This is my second time using Mr. Choyce, and I would choose no one other than him. Both times that I hired him, it was for my son, and they were very serious cases. Mr. Choyce is smart, professional, practical, and relatable. He is a serious person, who listens, speaks in laymens terms, so that you understand what is going on. Not like some that I have experience, who talk over you, and dont take the time to really answer your questions.The second case got very close to going to trial, however, I was confident that I had the best of the best representing my son. Thank God that after willing to go to trial, we got a deal that, I think was a win win.I would definitely, without a question, hire Mr. Choyce again!”

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