An accident involving a bus can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries. A passenger on a bus may be hurt since buses often lack seatbelts and air bags that are standard safety features in other types of vehicles. A driver or passenger in a car may be injured in a collision with a bus, even a slow-moving one, due to its size and weight. A pedestrian or cyclist who is struck by a bus may suffer catastrophic injuries.
Victims of bus accidents may experience broken bones, head trauma, whiplash, serious cuts, lost limbs, and paralysis. The medical costs to treat injuries from a bus accident can be staggering. In addition to treatment in an emergency room, patients often need surgery, physical or occupational therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and medication.
Even after receiving medical care, a victim of a bus accident may continue to experience severe and chronic pain. Limited mobility may make it difficult or impossible to work and to perform routine household tasks. A wheelchair ramp may need to be installed and doorways and hallways may need to be widened to make it possible to get around at home.
If you were hurt in a collision with a bus, a Sacramento bus accident lawyer may be able to help you seek financial compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-921-7227 to speak to a member of our staff about how we may be able to assist you.
When Might a Bus Driver Be Liable for an Accident?
A common carrier, such as a bus company, is an entity that transports people or goods in exchange for compensation. If you were injured while you were a passenger on a bus, whether it was publicly or privately owned, you were owed a high duty of care since a bus is designated as a common carrier.
A driver who works for a common carrier has a responsibility to exercise the utmost caution. If a bus driver was speeding, talking or texting on a cellphone, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if the driver allowed too many passengers on the bus at one time and created a safety hazard, the driver’s employer may be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. An injured person may seek compensation under 47 U.S. Code section 206.
For a free legal consultation with a bus accidents lawyer serving Sacramento, call 800-921-7227
How Could a Sacramento Bus Accident Lawyer Hold a Bus Owner/Operator Accountable?
If the accident involved a bus owned by a private company, such as a tour operator, or a transportation company that contracted with another business, the company that owned the bus and provided a driver may be held liable if it did not properly care for the vehicle or if it hired or continued to employ a negligent driver. The company that contracted with the bus company may also be held liable.
City buses and school buses are owned by local governments. If you were hurt in an accident in which the driver was negligent and the bus was owned and operated by a government entity, we may be able to seek compensation for your injuries from the government.
Under the California Tort Claims Act, a government agency or entity can be held liable if an employee behaves negligently while acting in the scope of employment and/or carrying out a government function. A person who was injured as a result of an employee’s actions may file a claim with the relevant government agency or entity and may not file a claim against the employee directly. A claim must be filed within six months of the date of injury.
The government may accept the claim and agree to a financial settlement to compensate you for your injuries, or it may reject the claim in whole or in part. If that happens, we may then file a personal injury lawsuit and take the government entity to court, if necessary, to obtain compensation on your behalf.
Sacramento Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-921-7227
When Might Another Party Be Liable for a Bus Accident?
A different driver may have been responsible for the collision that caused your injuries. For example, a driver may have failed to stop at a red light or a stop sign, may have been speeding or using a cellphone, or may have been intoxicated. If another driver hit the bus in which you were riding as a passenger, or if you were in another vehicle and the bus hit your car because of a third party’s reckless or negligent actions, we may be able to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit against the driver of the car or that individual’s insurer to seek compensation for your injuries.
If the accident occurred because the bus or another vehicle that struck the bus had a manufacturer’s defect, the vehicle manufacturer may be held liable for your injuries. If a part that was used to repair a vehicle was defective or was installed incorrectly, the part manufacturer or the mechanic who installed the component may be held responsible for the crash.
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Get Help from a Sacramento Bus Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a collision involving a bus, Ben Crump Law, PLLC may be able to help you seek a financial award to compensate you for your injuries. Our team can investigate to identify any factors that may have caused the accident so we can figure out who was responsible and work to hold that party accountable.
People who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents sometimes do not pursue financial compensation because they cannot afford to hire an attorney. You do not have to worry about the cost since Ben Crump Law, PLLC operates on a contingency model. You will not have to pay us any money out of pocket to represent you. We will only be paid if we succeed in obtaining a financial award on your behalf. You have a limited amount of time to seek compensation, so contact us today at 800-921-7227 to get the process started. The call is free and there is no obligation.
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