Bus Accident Lawyer Thousand Oaks

Getting injured in a bus accident is painful whether you are a passenger on the bus or in a vehicle hit by the bus. You might have to deal with multiple doctor’s appointments, possible surgery, and plenty of physical therapy. You may have missed a lot of time away from your job, which can cost you thousands of dollars in lost income.

The Maki Law Firm can help you get an insurance settlement to reimburse you for all of your medical expenses. If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury or any other serious injury, we can help you get compensation for your pain and suffering. There are a few things you should understand about bus accidents – insurance laws in California and what to do after you have been in an accident.

Bus Accidents Statistics 

There are about 60,000 bus accidents in the United States each year. There were 100,828 registered passenger buses in California in 2020, making it the state with the most passenger buses.

There have been several collisions between shuttle buses and airplanes on runways in the last year. One collision in Los Angeles injured five people and took one life. Drivers of vehicles that carry more than eight passengers for money and that cross state lines are subject to the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The driver must possess a commercial driver’s license. 

A bus company must do a full background check on a driver and check all of their professional references and must perform an annual review of the driver’s records. The driver must take an FMCSA-approved physical. Certain medical conditions preclude a person from becoming a bus or truck driver and there are certain medications that bus and truck drivers should not take.

If a professional bus driver violates FMCSA rules and causes serious injury or takes the life of a loved one, you can get compensation and even sue the bus company.

A bus is a very large vehicle containing lots of passengers. Hence, accidents involving buses tend to have more injuries, which tend to be more severe than injuries in a crash between two regular passenger vehicles.

What Causes Bus Accidents in Thousand Oaks?

One of the most common causes of bus accidents is drowsy driving. Drivers work long hours, and are often fatigued. In some cases, a bus driver may not get enough sleep. In some cases, a bus company will overwork its drivers. The FMCSA limits the number of hours a bus driver can be on the road to 11.

Distracted driving is a major cause of all accidents on the road. Texting while driving is illegal in California, as it is in most states, but that does not stop it from being a constant problem.

Speeding is also a major cause of bus accidents. In some cases, bus drivers rush to their destination to make up time if they are behind schedule. A speeding accident can be especially severe since passengers on the bus are unlikely to be wearing seat belts.

A bus should be inspected every time it is driven. In many cases, bus companies do not maintain their vehicles the way they should. Brake malfunctions and balding tires cause many accidents on the highway every year.

Public and Private Bus Companies

A bus accident claim may be affected by who owns the bus. Personal injury cases in court may be affected by this as well. If a government entity such as Amtrak owned the bus, you will file your claim under the California Tort Claims Act. If you need to sue over the accident, there is a two-year statute of limitations for private companies and a six-month statute of limitations for government-owned entities. 

Insurance Law in California

California is a tort state, meaning that the individual who causes a collision is responsible for its related bills. If you share responsibility for an accident, you will each be expected to pay for the percentage of the accident you caused. If you are injured due to another driver’s negligence, it is very important to collect evidence of the accident as well as documentation of your bills.

What to Do if You Are in a Thousand Oaks Bus Accident

Whenever you have a traffic accident, you must contact the police and wait for them to arrive. You should gather the names and telephone numbers of witnesses who may have seen the accident and get the name and insurance information of the other driver. You should also get the name of the bus company for which a driver works. Take pictures if you can.

Never refuse treatment from an EMT and go to the hospital with them if you need to. You should always see a doctor after an accident, even if you feel okay. Some kinds of injuries are not immediately apparent.

Save a copy of any bill you get that is related to your accident. Have your doctor write you a note about your injuries and what kind of treatment you will need in the future. If you have missed time off work, be sure to document that as well.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Bus Accident?

When you have collected all your documentation, you will contact the bus company’s insurance company and your case will be assigned to an adjuster. The adjuster will look at all the evidence and decide if it proves your claim. If they approve of the claim they will make you a settlement offer. You must speak with a bus accident lawyer before accepting that offer.

Insurance companies rarely offer the money you deserve right away. A personal injury attorney will know how to negotiate with an insurance company. If an accident lawyer is unable to get you compensation through negotiations, you can always discuss a personal injury lawsuit against the bus company’s insurer. If you have lost a loved one to a bus accident, you can sue the bus company for wrongful death.

Maki Law Firm is staffed with a highly trained legal team who can help you. In addition to handling a bus accident, we can also help you with motorcycle accidents or car accidents. Call our bus accident victims law office for a free consultation and a free case evaluation.