Bus Accident Lawyer

Encino Bus Accident Lawyer

An Encino bus accident lawyer helps people hurt on or by a bus. That includes passengers, drivers, riders, and people on foot. Many buses in the area are run by public agencies such as LA Metro. A claim against a public agency usually must be filed in writing within six months, which is much shorter than the usual two years.

Big Joe Law helps injured people and grieving families in Encino, across the San Fernando Valley, and throughout Los Angeles County. Our Encino bus accident lawyers take on cases with serious injuries and complex medical records. Our trial team builds each case from day one as if a jury will hear it. A fair settlement is welcome. A low one that shortchanges a client is not. To see every type of case the firm handles, visit our Encino personal injury lawyer page.

Were you hurt on a Metro bus on Ventura Boulevard, on the G Line, or by a tour bus or shuttle? A free consultation with Big Joe Law can help you see where your claim stands and which deadline applies.

What should I do after a bus accident in Encino?

After a bus accident in Encino, get medical care first. Report the crash to police and to the bus driver. Write down the bus number, route, time, and stop. Take photos of the scene and your injuries. Get names of witnesses and other riders. Then find out who runs the bus, since a public agency means a six-month deadline.

Bus crashes can be confusing. The bus may drive off after a sudden stop. Riders often leave before police arrive. A few quick notes can make a big difference later.

Steps that help protect a bus accident claim:

• Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine
• Call 911 and ask for the police report number
• Write down the bus number, route number, and direction of travel
• Take photos of the bus, the other vehicles, the scene, and your injuries
• Get names and phone numbers of witnesses and other passengers
• Save your fare receipt, TAP card record, or ticket
• Ask nearby stores about cameras before video is erased
• Do not sign anything or give a recorded statement to the bus company’s insurer

Who is at fault in a California bus accident?

Fault in a California bus accident depends on what caused the crash. The bus driver and the agency or company that runs the bus are often at fault. Other drivers, the bus maker, a repair shop, or a public agency in charge of the road may share the blame. More than one party can be at fault at once.

Parties who may be at fault in a bus crash include:

• The bus driver, for speeding, distraction, fatigue, or unsafe turns
• The transit agency or bus company, for poor training, hiring, or maintenance
• Another driver who cut off or hit the bus
• The bus or parts maker, for faulty brakes, doors, or tires
• A repair shop that did unsafe work on the bus
• A public agency, such as the City of Los Angeles or Caltrans, for a dangerous road

Bus companies are usually responsible for the careless acts of their drivers while on the job. That means the claim often goes against the agency or company, not just the driver.

Do bus companies owe passengers a higher duty of care?

Yes. In California, a bus company that carries the public is called a common carrier. The law requires a common carrier to use the highest care and diligence to keep passengers safe. That is a higher duty than an ordinary driver owes. It can make it easier to prove a passenger’s claim.

This higher duty covers more than driving. It can include how the bus starts and stops, how doors open and close, and how the driver helps riders who use wheelchairs or walkers. It also covers keeping the bus in safe condition.

Common passenger injuries that may involve this duty:

• Falls when the bus starts or stops suddenly
• Injuries from doors closing on a rider
• Falls while getting on or off the bus
• Injuries from a ramp or wheelchair lift that fails
• Injuries from loose seats, handrails, or debris
• Assaults on board when the carrier knew of a risk and failed to act

How do I file a claim against LA Metro or another public bus agency?

To file a claim against LA Metro or another public bus agency, you usually must file a written government claim within six months of the crash. LA Metro uses its own Claims for Damages form. Metro accepts claims in person or by mail, not by email. If the claim is denied, you usually have six months to sue.

A government claim is a written claim you must send to a public agency before you can file a lawsuit. It describes what happened, when and where, the injuries, and the amount claimed. Missing the six-month deadline can end the claim, though limited relief may be available in some cases.

Public bus agencies in the area include:

• LA Metro, which runs local buses on Ventura Boulevard and the G Line busway through the Valley
• LADOT, which runs the city’s DASH and Commuter Express buses
• School districts, such as the Los Angeles Unified School District, which run school buses
• Other cities and counties that run local shuttles and transit

If the agency rejects the claim in writing, you usually have six months from that notice to file a lawsuit. If the agency does not respond, a longer deadline may apply. Each agency has its own claim form and address, so finding the right one early is key.

What if I was hurt on a private bus, shuttle, or tour bus?

If you were hurt on a private bus, shuttle, or tour bus, you usually have two years to file a lawsuit in California. Private carriers include tour buses, charter buses, intercity buses, hotel and airport shuttles, and party buses. Many interstate passenger carriers must carry at least $1.5 million or $5 million in insurance, based on bus size.

Federal rules set minimum insurance for for-hire bus companies that travel across state lines. A company with vehicles that seat 16 or more people, counting the driver, must carry at least $5 million. A company with vehicles that seat 15 or fewer must carry at least $1.5 million. Those amounts often exceed what a typical car insurance policy carries.

Private bus claims may also involve:

• The bus company and its insurer
• A travel company or event host that hired the bus
• A hotel or business that runs its own shuttle
• A staffing agency that supplied the driver
• Federal safety records on driver hours, inspections, and past crashes

What if my child was hurt in a school bus accident?

If your child was hurt in a school bus accident, the school district or bus company may be at fault. Many school buses are run by public districts, so a six-month government claim often applies. The child’s own lawsuit deadline may wait until age 18, but the government claim deadline still applies.

School bus cases can involve the bus driver, another driver, the school district, or a private company the district hired. Children may be hurt in a crash, while getting on or off, or while crossing the street near the stop. Drivers must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.

A parent also has a separate claim for the child’s medical bills. That claim usually runs two years from the crash, or six months if a public agency is at fault. Settlements for children usually need a judge’s approval. Our child injury lawyer page explains more.

What if a bus hit me as a driver, rider, or pedestrian?

If a bus hit you while you were driving, riding a bike, or walking, you can bring a claim against the bus driver and the agency or company that runs the bus. If the bus belongs to a public agency, the six-month government claim deadline usually applies. Video from the bus can help prove what happened.

Buses are large and heavy, with wide turns and big blind spots. Common crashes include buses turning right across a bike lane, pulling away from the curb into traffic, or hitting people in crosswalks.

Many buses have cameras inside and out. Bus video can show the driver, the road ahead, and the doors. That video may be kept for only a short time, so a written request to save it should go out right away. Our pedestrian accident lawyer page covers cases involving people on foot.

What evidence helps prove a bus accident claim?

Evidence that helps prove a bus accident claim includes bus camera video, the driver’s records, maintenance logs, GPS and speed data, the police report, and witness statements. For public buses, agency records may need a formal request. Because some records are kept only for a short time, early requests are key.

Bus agencies and companies keep many records that most car crash cases do not have. These records can show how the crash happened and whether the company did its job:

• Video from cameras inside and outside the bus
• GPS, speed, and braking data from the bus
• The driver’s training, hiring, and discipline records
• The driver’s work hours and rest breaks
• Maintenance and inspection logs
• Prior complaints about the driver or the route
• Radio calls and incident reports from the day of the crash
• Police reports and witness statements

What injuries are common in bus accidents?

Common bus accident injuries include head and brain injuries, neck and back injuries, broken bones, and injuries from falls inside the bus. Many passengers stand or ride without seat belts, so a sudden stop can throw them. People hit by a bus often suffer severe injuries because of the bus’s size and weight.

Older riders and people with disabilities face a high risk of hip fractures and head injuries in bus falls. Some injuries need long-term care. These pages explain how those claims work:

• Traumatic brain injury lawyer: concussions and brain injuries that affect memory and mood
• Spinal cord injury lawyer: injuries that cause numbness, weakness, or paralysis
• Wrongful death lawyer: claims by families after a fatal bus crash

What compensation can I get after a bus accident?

After a bus accident, you can seek money for past and future medical bills, lost pay, and lost earning power. You can also seek money for pain, stress, and lost joy in life. California sets no cap on pain and suffering in most injury cases, including most cases against public agencies.

A jury may consider these types of losses:

• Past medical bills, such as the ambulance, ER, surgery, and therapy
• Future medical care, such as more surgery or ongoing therapy
• Lost pay from missed work
• Lost earning power if you cannot go back to your job
• Damage to your car, bike, phone, or other things
• Pain and suffering, both now and in the future
• Loss of activities, hobbies, and time with family
• Scars and changes to how you look

Punitive damages, which punish very bad conduct, are generally not available against public agencies. They may be available against a private company in rare cases.

What affects the value of a bus accident claim?

The value of a bus accident claim depends on how serious the injury is and whether it will last. It also depends on your medical records, any gaps in care, and test results. Proof of fault, the insurance or agency involved, and where the case is filed all count. No honest lawyer can name a number at the start.

These factors shape the value of a claim:

• How serious the injury is, and whether you needed surgery
• Whether your medical records are steady, with no gaps in care
• What X-rays, MRIs, and other tests show
• How the injury affects your job and daily life
• Proof of fault, such as bus video, data, and witnesses
• How the driver and company acted before and after the crash
• How many people were hurt and how much coverage is available
• Where the case is filed, such as the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County

Can I recover if I was partly at fault in a bus accident?

Yes. California lets you recover even if you were partly at fault. Your award is cut by your share of the blame. If a jury finds you 20 percent at fault, you can still get 80 percent of your losses. Passengers sitting or holding on are rarely found at fault for a bus crash.

Bus companies sometimes argue that a passenger was not holding a rail, stood up too soon, or rushed to board. Drivers and pedestrians may be blamed for being in a blind spot. Bus video and data often show what really happened.

When more than one party shares fault, such as a bus agency and another driver, each one is fully responsible for your medical bills and lost pay. Pain and suffering is split based on each one’s share of fault.

How Can an Encino Bus Accident Lawyer Help Maximize My Compensation?

An Encino bus accident lawyer can help you recover more by finding out who runs the bus and filing the right claim on time. Your lawyer saves bus video and records, handles all insurance and agency contact, and proves the full cost of your injuries. Other tasks include clearing liens and getting the case ready for trial from the start.

Our Encino bus accident lawyers follow these steps, from the first call through trial:

• Find the operator: identify the agency or company, its insurer, and any other party at fault
• Meet deadlines: prepare and file the six-month government claim on the agency’s own form
• Save proof: send letters to keep bus video, GPS data, and driver and repair records
• Handle insurers and agencies: take every call, request, and offer
• Prove your losses: work with your doctors, accident reconstruction engineers, life care planners, and economists
• Clear liens: deal with health insurance, Medi-Cal, and Medicare claims for repayment
• File suit: draft the complaint and summons, gather records, and take depositions of drivers and managers
• Go to trial: present the case at mediation and, if needed, to a jury in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County

Our bus accident attorneys cannot promise any result. What our trial team can do is build the proof the law allows. Our Encino bus crash lawyers tell the full story of how the crash changed your life.

Crashes involving cars, trucks, and rideshare vehicles work in a similar way. Our car accident lawyer, truck accident lawyer, and rideshare accident lawyer pages cover those cases.

Contact Our Encino Bus Accident Lawyers

Were you hurt on a Metro bus, a school bus, a shuttle, or a tour bus? Were you hit by a bus while driving, riding, or walking? Big Joe Law in Encino, California offers a free consultation. Our Encino bus crash team will review what happened, the deadlines that apply, and the proof to save. Reach out to our bus accident attorneys to set up a time to talk.

This page is attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.