Victims in San Joaquin County bus accidents would file a claim against the government agency in charge of the bus line. The claim should include strong evidence of the bus driver’s carelessness and of the injuries caused by a collision.
Then negotiations would begin to determine how much the county bus service’s insurer should offer in a settlement. Victims always have the right to reject an offer that doesn’t cover their entire recovery costs. They can demand more.
Claims filed against a government department can be extremely complicated, and a skilled Stockton bus accident lawyer can prove to be a helpful advantage.
You can contact Maison Law of Stockton for a free case consultation to talk over your options and how to get compensation as quickly as possible. This no-risk, informational meeting comes with no obligation and is an easy way to learn how to hold San Joaquin County governments fully responsible for a careless bus driver’s mistake.
Why You Would Want a Lawyer for a Bus Accident Case
When your bus accident only involves very minor injuries, or if your car is struck by a bus and only vehicle damage is involved, you may be fine proceeding without a lawyer.
It’s when injuries are more serious, and recovery bills get expensive, that victims may need a lawyer’s protection. Government lawyers and insurers take the opportunity to try to shift blame in the accident, or to discount how badly victims are hurt. They do everything possible to get the county or city off the hook.
A lawyer has a good chance to earn you more if you’ve suffered something like a bone fracture, head trauma, or a neck or back injury. A lawyer works to earn you more, because you’ll need more to pay for all the doctor visits and physical therapy, and to replace the paychecks at work you forfeit while injured.
It’s a good time to have a skilled attorney investigating what happened and preserving evidence to use against the bus service provider.
Cases against government transit agencies are also more complicated.
You may need an experienced lawyer’s help to fight back against these and other protections governments have against litigation:
- Shorter deadlines: Victims in bus accidents have just 6 months to file to seek permission from the county or city to seek damages. It’s like being made to ask permission to file a claim, and you can be denied if your case isn’t strong and filed without errors.
- Complicated paperwork: As with anything involving the government, there’s a lot of red tape and hoops to jump through. A good lawyer is used to filing perfectly prepared documents on time.
- Preparing a lawsuit: You may go through this entire process and find that San Joaquin County has denied your claim. It may be time to consider filing a lawsuit and taking the city or county to court. The complexity only multiplies at this point. However, a Maison Law attorney will have a strong case already prepared for a trial.
Victims can always file a claim on their own, but they stand to win much more with the help of a skilled Stockton Personal Injury Lawyer.
Who is Responsible for a Safe Bus Ride in Stockton?
San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) is responsible for a partnership that keeps buses in the county and in cities rolling.
Representatives from Lodi, Ripon, Thornton, French Camp, Lathrop, Manteca, and Tracy all help make the network run on time for passengers. But city and county leaders have more to do than just keep buses on the road and worry about budgets. They must also provide absolutely safe rides for every rider.
They must hire safe drivers to operate RTD and BRT Express buses. They must also provide safe vehicles to transport passengers without putting them in danger.
These are a few of the things that can cause bus drivers to make mistakes:
- Speeding: Bus drivers who get behind on the schedule can hit the gas to make up the time. This can lead to collisions with other cars and even a bus overturning.
- Distracted Driving: Bus drivers might fall prey to the distraction of a cellphone, or be distracted by a passenger, and suddenly run off the road or miss a light changing to red.
- Drowsy or Fatigued Bus Drivers: Drivers can skip mandated breaks or come to work without having gotten a proper night’s rest. Their reflexes may be slowed, or they could just fall asleep at the wheel, causing a horrible accident.
- Bus Maintenance Ignore: Cities and counties are responsible for keeping bus parts, like brakes and tires, maintained. When a bus crash is caused by negligent upkeep and maintenance, victims should be supported.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What if I can’t afford to pay a Stockton bus accident lawyer?
Victims of a scary bus accident don’t need to worry about how they’ll get a lawyer paid at such a difficult time. Our lawyers don’t accept any payment unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money that a bus accident insurance company is forced to provide.
What can I earn in a bus accident settlement?
Your Maison Law attorney would demand support for all the medical bills you’ve received to this point and those that may come in the future. The paychecks you forfeit while forced to miss work should be reimbursed for as long as recovery takes. You should receive support for the pain you must live with and the emotional trauma that an accident and difficult injury recovery cause. If your car was smashed by a bus collision, you must also seek support for car repair bills.
Can my family seek support for a loved one lost in a deadly bus accident?
Your family can file a wrongful death claim after a loved one dies in a tragic bus crash. Victims riding in buses can be thrown with extreme force if a bus goes into a ditch or turns over. Those struck by an out-of-control bus endure powerful impact forces and could easily suffer life-threatening injuries. Families left behind could ask for help with their funeral costs and with ambulance fees. Those left behind could also receive support to replace the income the loved one may have provided to support a spouse and children each month. The emotional trauma a death will cause should also earn support.
Contact a San Joaquin County Bus Accident Injury Lawyer
After you’ve endured 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.
Allow Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, to fight back on your half. Mr. Gasparian has decades of experience taking on giant companies and government agencies. He continues to fight for the rights of accident victims in the Stockton area.
