Long Beach Bus Accident Attorney

Bus accidents are usually mass injury events, with dozens of people injured when the bus goes off the road or collides with another vehicle. At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, we have jumped in to help badly injured men, women, and children who struggle with painful injuries after a crash.

Each bus accident is different. Some involve public buses, while others take place on charter or private buses. Consequently, the steps for obtaining compensation are different, depending on the facts of the case.

Call our firm to speak with a Long Beach bus accident attorney, at (213) 985-1120. Our firm can handle the full variety of bus accident cases, and we are eager to tell you more about our firm in a free consultation.

Who is At Fault for Your Bus Accident?

We have represented passengers and motorists struck by a bus. In these cases, our clients point the finger at the bus driver, usually, for failing to drive carefully. Bus drivers have stressful jobs, and they might get into a collision because of:

• Speeding
• Following too closely
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Running a red light

Pressed for time, bus drivers take these dangerous actions and cause accidents. They bear legal liability when that happens.

Other collisions stem from a driver taking unnecessary risks. A bus driver could be chemically impaired, fatigued, or distracted. They crash into someone because they are not fully focused on their job. In these cases, they are also liable for any crash.

Who is to Blame for Your Accident as a Bus Passenger?

When passengers are hurt, the legal analysis shifts. Your driver could be at fault. Under California Civil Code § 2100, buses are common carriers, which means they owe passengers a duty to use the “utmost” care. Unfortunately, many bus drivers violate that duty for reasons spelled out above—they make an error behind the wheel which causes an accident.

However, a different motorist on the road might share fault. For example, a driver could have cut your bus off, causing the driver to crash. In those situations, passengers will probably sue the driver and make a claim on their insurance.

The Importance of a Bus Accident Investigation

Accidents are often a blur. You were probably minding your own business when the bus crashed or flipped onto its side. Our clients often suffer horrifying injuries in these wrecks, and they don’t know who is to blame.

Let us investigate. We can thoroughly go through all the evidence found to determine fault. We might:

• Interview you and other passengers to find out what you remember
• Inspect the bus and any vehicles involved, looking for damage or defects which help us recreate the accident
• Visit the accident scene and search for evidence
• Search for video of the crash, such as video from the bus or a nearby business

Evidence of this sort is critical for bringing a successful claim. It’s not enough to point out you were hurt in a bus accident. Your lawyer also needs to identify fault.

If you were a motorist hit by a bus, you’ll also need to defend against allegations of comparative negligence. For example, you might have driven while distracted, which means you didn’t see the bus up ahead. A defendant could argue you deserve less compensation for this reason. In California, a plaintiff’s comparative negligence will reduce their compensation in an amount proportionate to their fault.

We Handle All Types of Bus Accidents

Please reach out to El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers if you were hurt in a crash involving any type of bus:

• School buses
• Charter buses
• Greyhound buses
• Shuttle buses
• Public buses (Long Beach transit)

The type of bus involved matters when it comes to negotiating a settlement. For example, if you were hurt on a Long Beach transit bus, you might end up suing the government. Under the California Government Claims Act, you will need to file a written claim within six months of the accident. That is a very short deadline.

By contrast, if you are suing a private bus company, you could go to court without filing a written claim first. Further, you get two years from the date of the accident when suing a private company.

Anyone injured on public transit should hire an experienced lawyer. We know the correct steps to take and how to negotiate with the government.

Why the Deck is Stacked Against You

It’s hard to win these cases. Most transportation companies have powerful insurers defending them. These insurance adjusters work night and day to fend off claims and ensure injured victims receive as little compensation as possible. Transportation companies also have private investigators and large law firms at their disposal.

Never expect a bus driver or bus company to accept liability. Instead, they might point the finger at someone else—maybe even you, if you were driving a car hit by a bus. For this reason, you need a lawyer who can patiently develop a case for compensation. Evidence matters—and we need as much high-quality evidence as possible.

And if an insurer does offer compensation, you can bet it is much too little. You deserve a fair settlement, and you only get one shot to win it. If you accept a settlement, you’ll give up the ability to sue later, so it’s best to have a seasoned lawyer review any settlement offer.

How We Increase Compensation for Our Clients

Imagine you are a bus passenger injured in a crash. There are dozens of injured passengers just like you. The bus company is blaming a different driver who they claim cut off the bus. However, if you sue this driver, they might have only the minimum insurance in California. That’s basically $30,000 divided by 20 or 30 victims. You will get very little.

If you can sue the bus driver, by contrast, then the busing company’s insurance comes into play. They should have a much larger policy limit. For this reason, we don’t simply accept the bus company’s story that their driver is blameless. It’s usually not that simple.

We strive to obtain compensation for our clients:

• Medical bills to treat bodily and psychological injuries suffered in the crash
• Ongoing medical treatment, such as extended physical therapy
• Property damage, including repairs for your vehicle
• Pain and suffering is a term used to describe pain, mental distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages

Depending on the case, we might also seek punitive damages as a form of punishment if the bus driver or company was reckless.

Our Long Beach Bus Accident Lawyers Are Worth Every Penny

Bus accidents can leave victims with disabling bodily injuries. Because buses don’t have seatbelts, it’s easy to get tossed around the bus during a high-speed collision. Many passengers suffer serious injuries, including contusions, neck sprains, fractures, and back injuries. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries are also common.

The pain is often so great that many victims can’t move. As a result, they cannot find evidence to use in their case. There’s a real risk they will end up without any compensation because you were too hurt to obtain evidence.

Let us help. El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers can step in to protect your legal rights. Our firm will find the right types of evidence to allow us to reconstruct the crash. We can paint a vivid picture of what happened, which will clear up any confusion about who is to blame for your injuries.

Steps in a Bus Accident Case

Here is an overview of what to expect if you were hurt in a bus accident. Each case is slightly different, but most cases follow this path:

1. Investigation. Bus accidents are dramatic. The police should come out to investigate, as should the bus company. Ambulances might whisk away victims to the nearest hospital. Remember to prioritize your own physical health.
2. Medical treatment. Our clients should receive all necessary medical care to stabilize their condition. We can seek compensation for medical bills in a settlement. For serious injuries, you might need years of treatment.
3. Filing a notice. This step is required if you are hurt by a city bus. A notice gives the city an opportunity to investigate and possibly settle.
4. Assigning fault. The insurance companies involved will try to assign liability. You should hire a lawyer to represent you. Assigning fault can matter significantly for how much compensation you receive.
5. Negotiation. Our firm will negotiate with the defendant for an agreeable settlement. This is a critical step. Someone without a lawyer could grab at the first settlement offer, permanently depriving themselves of compensation.
6. Litigation. We might file a lawsuit just to get in under the statute of limitations. Although most of our cases settle, we nonetheless reserve the right to sue when the defendant denies fault.

Speak with a Long Beach Bus Accident Attorney at Our Firm!

Were you hurt in a bus accident as a passenger or driver? Call our law firm today. We want to hear what happened, so we can better determine if we can be of service. Call us today at (213) 985-1120 or fill out our free initial consultation form and join our 99% success rate, built on commitment, passion, and justice.