Were You Injured in a Bus Accident?

Buses, while usually a safe and reliable mode of transportation, can be involved in accidents just as easily as any other autos and motorcycles. Approximately 10,000 bus accidents occur every year in the United States, causing as many as 21,000 injuries to innocent passengers, and over 20 fatalities each year.

Bus accidents can result in such injuries as:
  • Brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Burns
  • Paralysis
  • Broken bones
  • Abrasions
  • Internal and soft tissue damage

In some cases these accidents are beyond the bus driver’s control, but there are circumstances in which negligence on the part of the bus driver, the bus company, the maintenance company that services the bus, or even local or state governments (if the bus is a government-owned transit bus) is involved.

If negligence is indeed the cause for a bus accident occurring, the innocent victims may be entitled to financial compensation to cover the costs of their injuries and their pain and suffering. Contact a dedicated lawyer from our firm if you have been injured in a bus accident, and they will ensure your rights are protected and help you possibly obtain restitution for your pain and suffering.

School Bus Operators Have Special Duties

Those individuals who operate school buses have special duties because they are carrying special cargo—our children. You may not realize it, but there are special pieces of equipment that should be on all school buses. One good example is the school bus crossing arm. This is a long piece of plastic or metal which extends out in front of the bus. Children who get off the bus then must walk some eight to ten feet past the front of the bus in order to cross in front of the bus. This allows a bus driver to see a child who is crossing right in front of the bus. The crossing arm extends automatically when the bus stops to let a child off the bus. We once handled a case in which a young child was grievously injured on a bus which did not come equipped with one of these arms. In 1990, a six-year old named Betsy Kyung Lee Anderson in Washington state was killed by a bus driver who could not see her in front of the bus. These arms are also sometimes called Betsy bars” or Betsy Gates.” Unfortunately, these type of arms are not required by federal bus regulations.

Other types of school bus accidents occur when drivers refuse to obey the law and stop when a school bus is loading and unloading. These types of cases are especially egregious.

Another often-debated topic is whether school buses should come equipped with seatbelts. You would think that in this day and age, seatbelts would be required equipment on all school buses, but unfortunately, they are not. Luckily, California is one of the few states where seatbelts are required. According to the National Association of Pupil Transportation, outfitting school buses with seat belts would only cost $7,000 to $11,000 per vehicle, a small price to pay for student safety.

The Prom Party Bus

Has your teenager asked permission to go on one of these “Party Buses,” which may have a dancing pole, strobe lights, and a dance floor? Can you imagine how reckless it is to drive down the street with the occupants of your bus out of their seats, not wearing seatbelts, drinking alcohol, and dancing to strobe lights and theatrical fog? How do these people remain in business? It is astounding. There are practically no government regulations on these operators. If you or your loved one has been injured while riding a party bus, please give us a call.

The Benefits of Enlisting an Attorney

An attorney who is well-versed in bus accident cases is your best chance at acquiring the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses and cost of lost wages after an accident. Our team at The Medler Law Firm has handled countless injury cases, including bus accidents, and we have been the recipients of many distinguished trial awards. We are prepared to provide you with tireless and aggressive legal representation in your bus accident case, and help you hold those responsible for your accident liable for the losses and injuries caused. Call our offices today, and increase your chances of an outcome to your case that is beneficial to you and allows you to recover fully without financial strain.

If you have been injured or your loved one killed in a bus accident anywhere in California or near any of these cities & communities, call us right now for a no-obligation case review. You may be entitled to negligence-based compensation.

There is never any fee until we win your case: