Maison Law represents bus accident victims in Bakersfield. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a bus accident, the bus accident attorneys at Maison Law can help. Victims of bus accidents can include passengers, pedestrians, fellow motorists, or bicyclists. Maison Law works tirelessly for our personal injury clients in Bakersfield and fights to get the compensation you need. Contact Maison Law today for a cost-free consultation and free case evaluation.
Do I Need an Attorney for a Bus Accident in Bakersfield?
Bus accidents can cause some of the most complicated personal injury cases due to the amount of plaintiffs and defendants involved. While you can seek to settle with the “at-fault” party’s insurance, it is recommended to discuss all your options with a reputable attorney before signing a settlement. An experienced attorney will perform the following on your behalf:
- Assist in making sure you receive medical care and managing your ongoing treatment as needed
- Advising you of your legal rights and options for exercising them
- Investigating the incident, gathering evidence such as camera footage, witness statements, and police reports)
- Filing a personal injury claim with the bus company’s insurance and presenting a lawsuit to other at-fault parties involved
- Handling all communication and negotiations with the insurance adjusters
- Representing you in court if no settlement can be reached and your case goes to trial
At Maison Law, we can break down how much your case is worth based on your situation and we will not accept the usual lowball, settlement offers the insurance companies try to trick bus accident victims into accepting. We’ll manage every aspect of your case once you become our client, so you can focus on your recovery. Contact Maison Law today. Our consultation is 100% free, and you pay nothing until we win your case.
Common Defendants in a Bus Accident Lawsuit
The facts of your case will decide how many at-fault parties are involved in your lawsuit. Once you partner with a lawyer and file a lawsuit, you become a plaintiff, and the parties you are suing become defendants. It is common for many parties to be liable in bus accidents, so your personal injury lawyer will often name the following as defendants:
- A bus company (for example, Kern Transit and Golden Empire Transit in Bakersfield) are the ones typically liable for their driver causing an accident
- School districts such as Bakersfield School District, Fruitvale School District, and Panama-Buena Vista School District if the accident is caused by a school bus
- Private companies and private vehicle drivers such as tour buses, RVs, and motorhomes
- Bus manufacturers for supplying defective parts
- Any parties responsible for bus maintenance
Common Bus Accident Causes and Injuries
In 2021, the US saw accidents involving 80 school buses, 78 transit buses, and 17 intercity buses for a total of 175 fatal bus accidents. The number of people who lost their lives was rarely the ones riding the bus. The majority of fatalities in bus accidents happen to occupants of smaller vehicles that are not built to sustain a collision with a vehicle the size of a bus: The most common bus accident causes are:
- Bus driver fatigue
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Hiring an unqualified bus driver
- Hazardous potholes in the road
- Defective bus parts
- Distracted driving
The most common bus accident injuries are:
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Lacerations
- Bruises and soft-tissue damage
- Burns
- Loss of limbs
- Organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
What Type of Compensation Can I Expect from a Bus Injury?
It is difficult to assign a dollar amount to the trauma experienced by bus accident victims. But an experienced accident attorney will help you understand the value of your case by calculating your economic damages (such as lost wages and medical bills) and non-economic damages (emotional harm, depression, and anxiety). These damages combined include:
- Hospital bills
- Current and future medical treatment
- Lost income
- Future lost earnings
- Physical therapy
- Surgery (if necessary)
- Loss of consortium (a claim filed by a spouse or loved one for loss of love or companionship)
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
No amount of money may be enough to help you get past what you’ve been through, but you shouldn’t have to suffer physical and financial burdens. Put the judicial system on your side and contact the experienced bus accident attorneys at Maison Law today.
FAQs
Q: What if I was partly at fault in a bus accident?
A: You can still recover damages even if you were at fault, your financial compensation would just be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Q: How long do I have to file a personal injury claim from a bus accident?
A: 2 years. In California, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident.
Q: Should I speak to the bus company’s insurance?
A: It is not advisable to speak to the bus company’s insurance as they will try to trick you into minimizing your damages or saying something hurtful to your case. The best practice is to only give basic information to them and then have your lawyer speak with them on your behalf.
Contact a Bus Accident Lawyer in Bakersfield
If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident in Bakersfield, our skilled team of accident attorneys at Maison Law will seek the maximum amount of compensation for your damages. Bus accidents are complicated and traumatic situations that no one deserves to manage alone. Contact Maison Law today to partner with an experienced law firm and see what options are available to you. Our consultation is free, and you don’t pay a cent until we win your case.
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