Maison Law represents bus accident victims in Tulare. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident in Tulare, the skilled accident attorney at Maison Law can get you 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 Tulare?
Bus accidents can be complex, especially when assigning legal liability to multiple “at-fault” parties and knowing the proper steps to make a compensation claim. If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a bus accident, it is advisable to seek the counsel of a reputable accident attorney to help you navigate the legal complexities of personal injury law.
Let’s say one morning you’re driving through Sequoia National Park and a TCRTA Bus happens to drift into your lane of traffic as you come around a sharp turn. There’s no way to avoid it and you get into a wreck. From this situation, there are a number of factors to consider such as:
- Did the driver drift because they were careless
- Did the bus drift due to a defective part from the manufacturer
- Did a previous, passing car cause the driver to swerve into your lane
- Did the bus company hire an unqualified driver, which resulted in an accident
- Was there preventable maintenance the bus company failed to attend to
An experienced attorney will be able to investigate each of these possibilities and determine the at-fault party of your accident, which could result in multiple parties owing you compensation.
How Do I Determine Fault in a Bus Accident in Tulare?
Bus passengers are rarely found at fault for bus accidents. The bus driver is a “common carrier” according to Civil Code 2168. Common carriers are responsible for the safety of their passengers. However, depending on the details of the accident and the type of bus involved, the driver may not be found liable in a lawsuit, even if they caused the accident.
The bus company is liable for the actions of their drivers in the case of vicarious liability, which states:
“Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer is vicariously liable for his employee’s torts committed within the scope of the employment…
…the losses caused by the torts of employees, which as a practical matter are sure to occur in the conduct of the employer’s enterprise, are placed upon that enterprise itself as a required cost of doing business.”
In addition to bus companies, the most common liable parties in bus accidents are:
- Property owners
- Government entities
- Independent bus drivers
- Bus manufacturers
What Types of Vehicles are Considered Busses in Tulare?
There are many different types of buses traveling across Tulare, but if you’ve been injured in a bus accident, the type of bus responsible for the accident plays an important role in your compensation because liability could fall to:
- A university
- A local or state government
- A business
- A personal bus driver, or mobile home owner
The most common types of busses include:
- City buses
- Government buses (federal, state, county)
- School buses
- Feeder buses
- Coach, intercity, or long-haul buses
- Larger vans
- Commuter buses
- Mobile trailers or homes
What Compensation Can I Expect to Receive from a Bus Accident in Tulare?
It is difficult to know the specific amount of compensation you can receive from a bus accident because every case is different. However, the more severe your damages are, the more compensation you can typically expect to get. Damages include:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage and loss-of-use of vehicle
- Retraining or re-education for job placement if you have suffered a disability from the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death
- Loss of consortium (for the spouse to claim loss of love and companionship)
- Mental trauma
Proving your damages is a coordinated effort between you, your attorney, medical staff, and accident reconstruction experts. If you have questions about the value of your case, contact Maison Law for a no-cost consultation and case evaluation today.
Contact a Tulare Bus Accident Lawyer in California
If you or a loved one are hurt in a bus accident due to a careless bus driver, our accident attorneys can get you the compensation you need. We’re here to support the community of Tulare and its accident victims with trusted legal counsel and a team of experienced attorneys prepared to fight on their behalf. Contact Maison Law today for a free, no-risk case consultation for you or your family members. No upfront money is required and you don’t pay a dime until your case is won.
