Public transportation is a safe and reliable means of traveling throughout the city when you don’t have a car. According to a Transit report from Riverside County, passengers have boarded the local bus routes over 10 million times annually and show no signs of stopping anytime. Riverside has 34 bus routes available for everyone in the city and each route is vital for people to get where they need to in their day-to-day lives.
Bus drivers are expected to provide a duty of care once the passengers set foot on the vehicle. This means that the bus driver must follow the rules of the road in order to ensure a safe trip to the next bus stop. However, during these trips, negligent drivers may appear and depending on their actions, they can potentially cause a bus accident injuring everyone inside and nearby.
If you or a loved one was injured in a bus accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your damages. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of Riverside bus accident attorneys are ready to fight for you and serve as your personal legal representative. With over 20 years of legal experience, our talented and compassionate team of attorneys have worked on a variety of accident cases and are confident that they can get you the fair compensation you deserve for your losses.
We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation to our deserving clients and we continue to do our duty and fight for their best interests to ensure they are made whole. Whether you have been involved in a bus accident with multiple parties or a minor bus accident, our experienced team of accident attorneys have seen them all and they are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your case.
We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.
Types of Bus Accidents in Riverside
Every Riverside bus accident case is different and this is largely due to the fact that there are several different types of bus crashes and the liability of each case will differ. For instance, transit buses, school buses, and tour bus accidents are the most prominent cases of bus accidents with varying liability due to their public and private usage among the general population. Should a bus accident occur and you are involved, it is vital that you understand the nuances of each type so you would have a better understanding of your situation.
Transit Bus Accidents
Public transportation has made it more convenient for thousands of pedestrians to not only commute to and from work, but to quickly navigate miles in a short amount of time. Many large counties have a successful transit system, and while the Riverside transit agency is operating at an optimal pace, it does not mean that they are without flaws. If you were injured by a transit vehicle and the cause of the accident was due to either the bus driver or a mechanical failure then the city of Riverside may be liable for damages such as physical injuries, lost wages, and even property damage.
Tour Bus Accidents
California is a vital hub that produces a majority of the country’s entertainment, so it is no surprise that our state is home to a myriad of tour bus companies. Some tour bus companies may force drivers to work for long periods of time, thereby cutting corners when it comes to proper maintenance and driver wellbeing.
If you’ve been in an accident with a tour bus, the tour bus company or the bus owner can be at fault for your damages since they have a duty of care to ensure your safety. However, if you sustained injuries due to the actions of other drivers then you may be able to file your own personal injury claim against them to recover damages.
School Bus Accidents
While school bus accidents are rare, they are mainly caused by drivers who either try to speed pass a school bus while they are in a school zone or lose control while they are committing negligent driving practices such as distracted driving. If your child gets hurt while on a school bus, it is imperative that they seek immediate medical treatment, regardless of how inconsequential the wound may appear. This is because some injuries, such as back and head injuries, may take a while to show symptoms.
Common Injuries Found in a Bus Accident
Due to the lack of general safety measures on buses, a bus accident victim can potentially suffer injuries ranging from the minor to the severe. However, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries are some of the most common injuries sustained in an accident scene, and if you should sustain any of them, it is vital to understand the differences between these types of injuries so you have a good idea of what kind of compensation you can receive.
Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are defined as forceful impacts to the head and depending on the force of the impact, the severity of a head injury can vary from minor injuries such as bumps and bruises to severe injuries like concussions, brain trauma, and brain hemorrhages. Due to the nature of brain injuries, the severity of the injury can drastically affect how much compensation you can receive because the associated medical costs for this type of bus accident injury can range well within the six to seven figure range due to the difficulty of repairing brain trauma.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury is defined as damage to the back and/or to the bundle of nerves to the spine. Due to the nature of spinal cord injuries, there is a fair possibility that accident victims can become paralyzed, however, it is entirely dependent on the severity and the location of the injury. As such, bus accident injuries such as a spinal cord injury can be a traumatic experience and it is important for accident victims to hire a bus accident lawyer well versed in California personal injury law, because the associated medical costs for treating a spinal cord injury is just as high as brain injury.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries are defined as damage to your internal organs and bones in your body. These types of injuries typically occur from a sudden force of impact such as traffic accidents. With that in mind, there are a number of injuries that can occur from internal bleeding to ruptured organs. So if you have been in a bus accident and appear to be fine and unharmed, it is important that you double check your injuries and see a doctor, because some internal injuries may exhibit subtle symptoms and will progressively become worse as time goes on.
Steps to Take After a Bus Accident
If you have been injured in a bus crash, it is vital that you take appropriate steps to not only ensure your safety but to collect and record necessary information for when you file a personal injury lawsuit. In fact, one of the first things you should do is to check to see if you or anyone else needs to seek medical attention. If somebody does, call 911 and have first responders take control of the situation. If nobody is in a critical state then it is recommended to trade contact information with everyone involved and document the accident as much as possible.
Documentation can include photos, videos, witness statements, police reports, and even medical records that were derived from the accident in question. Once you have gathered all of the necessary information, you can consult the details of the accident and your situation to a Riverside bus accident lawyer and they will determine whether your claim has any legal standing.
What Is the Average Payout for a Bus Accident Claim?
Bus accident payouts will vary widely based on the severity of the injury. For example, moderate injuries will average around the five figure range to cover all associated medical expenses for a quick recovery. Meanwhile, severe injuries such as a traumatic brain injury can be valued anywhere within the six to seven figure range to accommodate the victim for all medical treatments and quality of life adjustments.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Bus Accident?
According to section 335.1 of California’s Code of Civil Procedure, bus accident victims have two years to file a claim and any attempt to file suit after that would be immediately dismissed in court. The only exceptions to this rule is unless the victim is either a minor, in jail, legally insane, living out-of-state, or disabled.
Need A Riverside Bus Accident Attorney?
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a Riverside bus accident, you may be able to sue for your damages. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of Riverside bus accident lawyers are ready to serve as your legal representative and fight for you. We are a personal injury law firm with over 20 years of legal experience, and our team of attorneys are confident that they can get the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses.
We have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to do our duty to guide them throughout the legal process and look out for their best interests. Whether you have been involved in a minor bus accident or a bus crash that left you with catastrophic injuries, our team of attorneys will be there every step of the way and answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your case.
We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE legal consultation today, we welcome you to reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by completing our easy online contact form.
