Maison Law represents Beeline Bus accident victims in Glendale. If you or a loved one were injured in a Beeline Bus accident, the experienced accident attorneys at Maison Law can get you the compensation you need. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need an Accident Attorney for a Beeline Bus Accident in Glendale?
Bus accidents, while fewer than car accidents, cause far more financial and physical damage than your average two-car collision. Typically, multiple parties are involved in bus accidents, such as passengers, pedestrians, motorcycles, and other vehicles. This makes it difficult to determine the liable party. However, the matter can become even more complex when a government entity like the Beeline Bus system is involved.
When a government bus line is sued, they can invoke “sovereign immunity.” Sovereign immunity is when a government agency cannot be held liable for injuries caused by the government entity or its employees as they are fulfilling their duty. However, the government is not allowed to declare sovereign immunity anytime they are at fault. The California Tort Claims Act gives exceptions in which the government can be held liable for damages in cases of excessive carelessness, or abuse of the law.
For these reasons, it is advisable to discuss your legal options with an experienced tort lawyer to help you navigate the complexities of personal injury lawsuits against a government agency.
Regulatory Bodies: State and Federal Regulations for Busses
If a bus driver for a government agency violates any government regulations, then you may be able to surpass a government’s sovereign immunity. The California bus regulations fall under the following:
- California Vehicle Code: provides specific regulations for all vehicles, including busses, on California roads. Bus regulation addresses safe operation standards, driver qualifications, and the proper transportation of passengers.
- Public Utilities Commission (PUC): The PUC provides additional oversight to busses by ensuring safety standards are met by conducting regular inspections, overseeing training, and certifying bus drivers.
Federal bus regulations include:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): The FMCSA governs all large vehicles operating within interstate commerce. They uphold nationwide standards for bus maintenance, drivers’ hours of service, and safety procedures.
- Department of Transportation (DOT): The DOT oversees bus operations across state lines and bus lines must comply with the DOT to maintain an operational bus license in the United States.
Where Do Beeline Bus Accidents Frequently Happen in Glendale?
With Universal Studios Hollywood and Dodger Stadium nearby, Bus accidents occur more often in Glendale than in most other cities. In 2021, according to the Transportation Injury Mapping System, over 12,000 accidents occurred within Gelndale’s Los Angeles County, injuring more than 18,000 people. With all the pedestrians, cyclists, buses, and other motorists, traveling in all different directions throughout Los Angeles County, the greater the risk of a bus accident. The most common places for Beeline Bus accidents to occur in Glendale include:
- Urban intersections: the size of a bus makes it difficult to navigate these types of intersections with multiple lanes, pedestrians, and changing traffic signals to adhere to.
- Bus stops: these may seem like an odd place for a bus accident to occur, but making a sudden stop in traffic with pedestrians coming on and off the bus creates a high risk for an accident.
- Highways and expressways: high speeds and merging lanes create a high-risk accident environment for buses.
- School zones: with a mix of hundreds of kids getting out of class and parents arriving at school at the end of the day, a school zone accident is a common occurrence.
- City centers: city centers are filled with pedestrians crossing the street frequently from both sides, which can lead to a higher chance of a bus accident occurring.
- Construction zones: construction zones often redirect traffic into reduced speed zones, which can lead to bus accidents.
What is the Typical Compensation for a Beeline Bus Accident in Glendale?
There is no average compensation when it comes to bus accidents. The value of each case is dependent on the severity of your injuries and how much they’ve altered your life. For example, let’s say you broke your ribs in a bus accident and were out of work for 6 to 8 months. Your compensation would reflect the cost of medical treatment received, lost wages, and non-economic damages such as anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life.
However, lawsuits involving government agencies like the Glendale Beeline Bus require adherence to specific guidelines. For instance, a government bus accident victim only has 6 months to file a lawsuit as opposed to the 2 years allocated to non-government personal injury lawsuits. Also, a government agency may choose to deny, or ignore your claim. In this case, you will need an attorney to take them to court to be awarded compensation.
Contact a Glendale Beeline Bus Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries due to a Beeline bus accident in Glendale, our skilled accident attorneys at Maison Law are experts in Tort Law where we have years of experience in aggressively pursuing fair compensation for our clients. Contact Maison Law today for a free, no-risk consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront fees and you don’t pay a cent until we’ve won your case.
