Maison Law represents victims of bus accidents in Merced. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to a bus accident, the accident attorneys at Maison Law are here to help you get the compensation you need. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Bus Accident in Merced?
When an individual bus driver is careless behind the wheel and injures you in an accident, they are liable for damages. You can settle with the bus company’s insurance, or you can hire an attorney to file a personal injury lawsuit. With a reputable attorney handling your case, you sue for economic damages and non-economic damages. Together, these include:
- Emergency room treatment
- Physical therapy
- In-home care
- Lost income
- Vehicle repair
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Future loss of earnings
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional pain
- Court costs and fees
To protect your right to compensation, contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Where Do Bus Accidents Frequently Happen?
Bus accidents occur in various places and for different reasons. In 2022, there were 15,033 bus accidents in California, with 219 of them being fatal for one or more people involved. The most common places for bus accidents to occur 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.
Common Causes of Merced Bus Accidents
All buses driving through Merced like “The Bus” of the Merced Transit Authority are required to offer a “duty of care” toward other drivers. Unfortunately, even with public transportation buses, accidents do happen. In 2019 alone, based on bus accident statistics, there were 122,331 vehicles wrecked involving a bus accident in California and 2,734 were fatal accidents. The most common causes of bus accidents are:
- Speeding: If a bus driver faces delays, which is common in a city like Los Angeles, they may feel obligated to speed to meet their scheduled stops.
- Distraction: Passengers can engage in distracting behavior and cause the driver to lose their focus on the road.
- Drunk driving: Bus drivers who were drinking on their breaks or before work make the mistake of driving while intoxicated, putting many passenger’s lives at risk.
- Defective bus: The bus missed scheduled maintenance or certain repairs were not done correctly, causing the bus to malfunction during operation.
- Road hazards: Bad weather and uneven roads could result in a bus accident.
- Overcrowded passengers: If the weight of all the passengers exceeds the restricted weight limit, the bus may not operate correctly.
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 brief statements if you must speak to them, or have your lawyer speak with them on your behalf.
Contact a Bus Accident Lawyer in Merced
If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident in Merced, our skilled team of accident attorneys at Maison Law will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you need to recover. 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.
