Los Angeles Bus Accident Attorneys

Representing Victims of Catastrophic Bus Accidents

California is an exciting tourist destination, but when tourists fly into our beautiful state, they usually don’t bring vehicles. This means that they either have to rent a car — which is prohibitively expensive — or they navigate the use of public and private bus transportation. It is very common to see large private tour buses loaded with tour groups and visitors.

In most cases, private and public buses are a very safe means of transportation. However, unsafe drivers, negligent drivers bad maintenance, dangerous road conditions, and defective parts can cause these giant vehicles to get into injurious and deadly accidents just like any other vehicle on the road.

In some situations, accidents and associated deaths and injuries are the direct fault of the company or authority in charge of the bus. In other situations, they are the direct fault of a bus or motor vehicle part manufacturer, or the fault of another driver on the road. It may be difficult to pinpoint who exactly was at fault — and it could be that multiple parties were at fault — in a bus accident, but one thing is certain. The crash will not be the fault of injured or deceased bus passengers.

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we are passionate advocates for any person who has been hurt — and for the family members of people who have been killed — due to the negligence or unlawful activity of others. If you believe you have a potential lawsuit regarding an injury or death, we are available to review the facts of your case and advise you of your legal rights and options.

Our bus accident lawyers in Los Angeles are dedicated to protecting the rights of those who have suffered life-altering injuries or lost loved ones in bus accidents. Call us today at (866) 634-4525or send us a message onlineto arrange a free consultation. We're available 24/7.

Common Catastrophic Injuries from Bus Accidents

Bus accidents can change your life in an instant. Due to the sheer size and weight of a bus, such collisions often cause extremely serious injuries and fatalities.

Sadly, victims often face an uphill battle when seeking legal recovery. 

Bus accidents pose complex legal issues because many different factors may contribute to an accident. For instance, multiple parties may be liable, including municipalities or other governmental entities that have immunity, and the victims’ losses are often extensive.

Catastrophic injuries often incurred in these accidents include:

These types of injuries require emergency medical care and often months or years in the hospital. Those victims who are fortunate enough to survive face a lifetime of permanent disabilities, impairments, and disfigurement. 

Losses associated with such catastrophic injuries include ongoing medical treatments, rehabilitation, and lifetime living assistance. Such expenses quickly climb into the millions and keep climbing, placing massive financial burdens on victims and their families on top of the other devastating losses and challenges they face.

Holding Bus Companies Accountable

Buses are commercial vehicles that must adhere to the numerous FMCSA and California state regulations that apply to the commercial transportation industry. Buses are also “common carriers,” as they transport passengers for hire. California law holds common carriers to higher standards of care than other drivers. 

While most drivers must use reasonable care while operating their vehicles, common carrier drivers must use “the utmost care and diligence” for the safety of passengers. They must also exercise a “reasonable degree of skill.”

Bus companies are responsible to meet the following regulations:

• Licensing and training requirements for commercial bus drivers
• Restrictions on the hours a bus driver can work to prevent fatigued driving
• Strict limits on blood alcohol levels and random drug testing
• Regular inspections and proper maintenance of buses

Unfortunately, both bus companies and bus drivers often violate these regulations, creating unnecessary risks of harm for bus passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, and anyone else on the road. 

Our bus accident attorneys in Los Angeles hold bus drivers and bus companies to these higher standards—by holding them fully liable when breaching this duty causes devastating injuries to our clients. 

Identifying All Liable Parties

Bus accident cases pose unique legal complexities that set them apart from other types of motor vehicle accident cases. 

Depending on the type of bus involved, the liable parties may include: 

• A private company that owned the bus;
• A municipality that operates public buses;
• A school district that owns school buses; or
• Another party altogether.

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, our Los Angeles-based legal team has an extensive track record of identifying and holding negligent parties responsible for catastrophic bus accidents.

Bus Accident Cases We Handle

We can bring suit against the appropriate entities for catastrophic accidents in Southern California involving:

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Bus Accident Claim?

Seeking compensation from municipal entities that operate buses involves significantly different time frames and procedures than taking action against a private bus company. Specifically, the California Tort Claims Act sets out incredibly strict and short deadlines to file claims against a governmental entity. 

If you have suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one in an accident involving a public or city bus, do not delay in contacting our office as soon as possible to ensure you comply with these deadlines.

Investigating Bus Accident Claims

Proper investigation is essential to recover compensation for injury-related losses because the law requires victims to sufficiently prove that another party’s negligence caused the accident. In bus accident cases, often the bus driver or the bus company itself acted negligently.

Examples of negligence that can lead to a bus crash:

To best identify negligence and liability in a bus accident, our lawyers have a thorough understanding of commercial vehicle laws, bus company practices and policies, and the potential for negligence involving bus operations. 

We know how to obtain and analyze bus company records and documents, data from a bus electronic control module (“black box”), GPS reports, and more to build evidence to support our clients’ cases. Our Los Angeles firm also has access to a warehouse for testing vehicles for defects, as well as accident reconstructions and simulations.

Leading Advocates for Safer Bus Transportation

The large settlements and awards obtained by our firm not only bring our clients justice and financial recovery, but also serve to make the community safer. 

These cases bring attention to regulatory violations that put both California residents and visitors at risk. They also can act as a significant deterrent for companies and municipalities who might otherwise violate safety regulations and encourage enforcement of policies and practices that keep everyone on the roads safe.

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, our attorneys are dedicated to making our roads safer and preventing needless deaths and traumatic injuries from bus accidents. 

Our successes total more than $100 million in compensation for clients who suffered devastating injuries or lost loved ones in bus accidents. We help our clients and their families rebuild their lives by obtaining justice and the compensation that the victims of these traumatic accidents deserve.

Call a Los Angeles bus accident lawyer today by calling (866) 634-4525or contacting us online.