We help the victims hurt in tour bus accidents win more from negligent bus companies. This means we fight to get full compensation for the medical bills victims receive and the paychecks they lose while out of work. We can help local residents and tourists from out of state demand support, no matter where they may live.
You can contact Maison Law’s California Bus Accident Lawyers for a free case consultation to talk over your options and how to get complete compensation as quickly as possible. This no-risk, informational meeting comes with no obligation and is an easy way to learn how to hold the business fully responsible for a careless bus driver.
Figuring Out If You Need a Lawyer After Getting Hurt on a California Tour Bus
If you are involved in an accident caused by a careless bus driver, and your injuries are serious, you may greatly benefit from the help of a skilled lawyer. You always have the option to file a claim yourself, but when a serious injury is involved, the costs go up and insurers look for ways to resist accepting full blame.
A lawyer can be a powerful advantage if commercial insurers begin pointing the finger of blame at you for a collision between a charter bus and your car. They can also question how badly you were hurt after being knocked around in a bus seat. They look for excuses to offer you as little as possible. Your lawyer investigates your accident and has evidence ready to hit the brakes on these shady tactics.
If you come away with serious injuries like these, it may pay to bring your case to a local attorney, even if you were visiting from another state.
- Broken bones (e.g., arm bones, leg bones, ribs)
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), including a serious concussion
- Spine and vertebrae damage
- Internal organ damage
- Deep cuts
- Facial injuries like a broken nose, cuts, or damage to your teeth
- Eye injuries
- Neck injuries, including a long-lasting case of whiplash
- Serious back injuries
Take Advantage of a Free Legal Consultation
The best way to determine if you have a strong case and what your claim may be worth is to schedule a free case consultation with Maison Law. When you need to know if your case is worth the trouble, a discussion with Maison Law can help. It’s completely confidential, and there’s never any obligation to you or your family members who may need to call on your behalf.
Determining What You Should Demand in a Bus Accident Claim
An accurate estimate on what you may earn in a bus accident injury claim is hard to calculate without knowing the circumstances of your accident and the diagnosis of your injuries. Every case is very different.
However, the value of your case will depend on a few factors. The severity of your injury and how long you must receive medical attention and call out from work will determine a large percentage of your settlement.
The changes a frightening bus crash and injuries bring to your life also play a part in the ultimate worth of your case.
Your attorney would make sure every physical, emotional, and financial hardship you’d endured was part of your claim.
Your Maison Law representative would demand compensation for these factors and others:
- Ambulance fees and emergency room care
- All bills for hospital stays
- Medications, medical equipment, and in-home care expenses
- Reimbursement for physical therapy costs
- Long-term support for bus accident victims who come away with a permanent disability (e.g., an amputation or paralysis)
- Support for the pain victims are put through
- Support for the emotional trauma caused by a frightening bus crash and a difficult recovery
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity if your injuries have rendered you unable to return to your job
- Vehicle repair if your vehicle was struck by a reckless bus driver
- Punitive damages (described below)
Finding Out Who Is Responsible If You Are Hurt in a Tour Bus Crash
The federal government classifies tour/sightseeing buses and other mass transit buses as “common carriers.” It’s an official designation for commercial transportation services that transport passengers for money.
It’s an important distinction for bus passengers, because being a common carrier comes with a higher “duty of care” for these businesses. Bus companies are actually held to a higher standard of safety than normal drivers. They must protect all customers. It’s easier for victims to prove negligence on the part of a common carrier with this expanded legal responsibility for safety.
This duty applies to tour businesses, charter buses for field trips and church trips, and even trips to Vegas. Shuttle buses taking people to events are also held to a higher standard.
These are just a few of the parties that can be held liable after a tour bus accident in California:
- Touring companies and charter companies: Depending on how many passengers they carry, bus companies may carry a commercial auto policy with upper limits anywhere between $1 million dollars and $5 million dollars. Of course, companies will have lawyers at the ready to try to limit what victims receive. These companies are also liable for any accidents caused by maintenance negligence, such as not replacing worn tires or brake pads.
- Owner/Operator Bus Drivers: In rarer cases, some bus drivers own their vehicles and work for themselves. They would have to carry commercial auto insurance, although with such a tiny business, their policy limits may run out sooner than a policy purchased by a large bus business.
- Cities, Counties, and other Government Agencies: Some tour buses are run under the control of county or city governments. The YARTS buses that leave Fresno and Merced to take passengers up into the Yosemite area also have to have liability insurance. Beware, claims filed against a government entity can be more complex and come with much shorter deadlines to file. Bring your case to a lawyer.
- Bus Maker: A bus manufacturer could also be partially liable for harm to riders and other victims if a design flaw or manufacturing flaw contributes to a crash.
Bus businesses will usually have insurance that covers riders if they are injured at a bus terminal or while boarding a bus.
With all these insurance options for victims to file claims against, an experienced lawyer can be helpful. In some cases, multiple claims could be filed, giving victims a better chance of getting all of their damages compensated.
Punitive Damages for California Tour Bus Companies
Punitive damages aren’t awarded in most cases. But some bus crashes that involve extreme negligence on the part of a tour bus business can earn additional penalties.
Punitive damages are meant to punish businesses that ignore major problems and put passengers at high risk through very reckless decisions.
These damages might be awarded by a judge if a bus company knew of a bus driver’s unsafe record (or should have known), but allowed a driver to embark with passengers anyway. The penalties may be assigned if a bus company knows about dangerous mechanical issues with a certain bus and still lets it go up into the mountains or out to the coast.
The positive news for victims is that they usually get to keep any punitive damages the bus company is hit with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I’m struck by a tour bus?
You can file an injury claim as in a normal car accident. You would file your case against the insurance provider for the bus company. In some cases, you’d have to prove that the bus driver caused the accident, because a bus company may try to blame you. A pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist struck by a bus could also file an injury claim against a tour business. A lawyer can help you collect evidence of a bus driver’s recklessness and demand the maximum in compensation possible.
What can I do to help my case at the scene of the accident?
See to the injured first, and then, if it’s safe, start collecting evidence. Show the view from inside the bus if you are a passenger. Highlight the debris thrown everywhere and where people ended up after a collision. Take photos of the damage to the bus and to any vehicles involved. Take pictures of any visible injuries you have. Get contact information from any witnesses. Other passengers can be witnesses.
How long do I have to file a bus accident claim in California?
If the bus is owned by a private tour or charter business, you’d usually have up to two years to file a claim over an injury. But waiting can hurt your case. Always talk to a lawyer as soon as you can. If your claim involves a city or county-operated bus, your filing time shortens. You’d usually have to file a claim within 6 months or lose your chance to earn support forever.
Contact a California Bus Accident Lawyer
After you’ve suffered a serious injury due to a bus driver’s mistake, it’s a good idea to take advantage of a free case review. Contact us to set up a meeting with a real lawyer.
We also understand that hospital bills and supporting your family while you are out of work can drain your savings. You won’t have the money to pay a lawyer, and that’s okay. If you need Maison Law, we’re there. We only get paid if we win your case for you. Then our fee is paid out of the settlement that a bus accident insurance company must write for you.
Additional Resources:
How To File an Injury Claim against Greyhound in California
How To File an Injury Claim against FlixBus in California
How To File an Injury Claim against Intercalifornias in California
How To File an Injury Claim against Tufesa in California
How To File an Injury Claim against Amtrak Thruway in California
How To File an Injury Claim against Los Limousines Bus Company in California
How To File an Injury Claim against Fronteras del Norte in California
