As the congestion increase on the roads of Los Angeles, so does the use of mass transit services, such as the bus, subways, and other rail services. As a result in the increase of vehicles, the number of accidents that arise also adds up.

As a commuter, there is no guarantee that all forms of public transportation we are taking are a hundred percent safe. Yet, we frequently ride these transportation vehicles in the hopes of saving money for gasoline, reaching to a destination faster and easier, and with the assurance of being safe on these vehicles.

Due to the need for safe and fast modes of transportation, a number of public commuters choose to utilize buses for their everyday trip. Often times we find ourselves disappointed. People often find themselves involved in bus accidents because of several factors, including:

• Negligence and lack of precaution of the driver

• Inadequate security in bus stations

• Bad weather conditions

• Hazardous road conditions

• Improper maintenance leading to mechanical failure of the bus

• Driver fatigue

Not only the passengers of these buses are at risk. It should be clarified that a victim may not only involve a bus passenger, but could also involve pedestrians, cyclists, other vehicle drivers, and passengers in another vehicle.

Due to the size and weight of a bus, it often has little impact on the bus itself and its passengers. However, it can cause serious impact on smaller vehicles, especially its passengers.

Hence, its outcomes can be profoundly severe. A single bus engaging in a collision with a smaller vehicle may lead to serious injuries or even fatality.

Public and private buses

Passenger buses, passenger vans, and shuttle bus accidents are all considered common carriers so their drivers are held to a higher standard and duty of care than other normal drivers.

Also, their legal responsibility for their passengers is higher than the negligence duty owed by the bus company to other vehicles and pedestrians. If you were injured as a passenger on a bus, you may have extra incentive to seek reparations for your injuries.

The remunerations a victim is entitled to, is similar with that of any other type of vehicle accident. A person may demand compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, impairment of earning capacity, and others.

If you are a victim of a bus accident, you can sue whoever was potentially at fault for the mishap. This would include the bus operator and the bus company, the driver of your own vehicle, the drivers of any other vehicles involved in the accident, as well as any other entity, which in any way have contributed to the accident.

The Bus Accident Laws, like any other civil law, allow victims of these accidents to employ the aid of a trusted legal defender. Lawyers are capable of finding immediate solutions to your claims and help you determine fault.

Thorough investigation at the early aftermaths of a bus accident is essential to resolving liability issues. Therefore, it is necessary that you will be able to discuss the circumstance with the bus accident attorney before, during and after the accident in order for your legal advocate to make an accurate assessment of your claim.

Our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys are proven experts in the field of handling lawsuits involving bus accidents. For more information, please do visit our website.

Travel by bus can be one of the most economical and convenient ways to travel. If you are lucky you can see some beautiful scenery and meet interesting people. Following the below tips will help you have a nice bus trip:

1. A good way to save a night accommodations is to take a long distance train or bus during the night. Use earplugs and eye shades if you plan on getting any sleep.

2. Wait for a cute guy/girl to show up to check in at the airport or to buy the bus ticket and the stand in line behind that person. If you are lucky you will get the seat next to them But realistically we will gladly settle for someone who does not smell, has their body fat pouring into our seat or drools while sleeping…

3. Find out which side of the bus the sun will be and try to get a seat on the opposite side. The worst seats are:

* In the front:

- you can see how terrible the driving is

- the driver may be allowed to smoke even on a non smoking bus

- the seats may have less leg room

* Next to the toilets (usually in the back)

* The last row (may not recline fully)

4. Even though the bus company may claim that there is air conditioning and heating these often turn out to be broken in some countries, prepare for the worst.

5. Bring along a sweater even if it is warm outside, the air con can make things very cold.

6. When traveling by bus you enter cities which sometimes do not have a clear city sign. If you want to know where you are you can try to find out by looking at the bottom of the signs for various shops, they sometimes have the city name written there.

Buses generally thought to be a safe method of travel; after all, they are significantly larger than other vehicles on the road and many buses do not even come equipped with seat belts. A study by the National Bus Safety Council between the years 1987 and 1996 found 4.3 bus rider fatalities per year compared to 44,000 passenger vehicle fatalities over the same time frame. However, buses are involved in an alarming number of crashes, many of which prove fatal. Public transportation buses also frequently are involved in accidents leading to injury and death. Accidents involving school children have prompted many school districts to re-outfit school buses with seat belts, even though many states still do not require school buses to have seat belts.
Data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) reveals that 5,212 deaths in 2005 were caused by crashes involving large trucks and that 91,824 injuries were a result of crashes involving large trucks.
Who is at Fault for Bus Accidents?
Because buses can carry large numbers of people and often are cumbersome to drive, it is important that bus drivers are well-trained and qualified for the job. A bus driver can be held at fault for causing an accident. However, bus accident lawsuits are not always clear because state and federal laws differ in who they say is at fault for such accidents. “Common carriers” are defined as being someone whose business is transporting people or material items from one place to another for compensation; such services typically are open to the public.
Common carriers, which include commercial bus companies, are governed federally and by most state governments, and the drivers of these vehicles are required to have adequate training and equipment to complete their duties. Bus drivers consequently are subjected to strict standards for their performance and can be found at fault in bus accidents. However, the involvement of insurance companies and contractors in accident legal proceedings make questions of who is at fault much more complex. Because state governments are involved in establishing their own common carrier regulation, bus accident litigation action can vary widely from state to state.
Finding an experienced lawyer who is familiar with the common carrier laws of the area in which the accident took place and insurance policies regarding bus accidents is highly advisable.
What Should Be Done in the Event of a Bus Accident?
- If no law enforcement is present at the scene, immediately file an accident report with the police, sheriff, or highway patrol.
- Be sure to record the name, address, insurance information, vehicle license number, and driver’s license number of everyone who was involved in the accident. Also obtain names and contact information from any witnesses.
- Take photographs of the accident scene, of all vehicles involved, and any injuries to victims of the accident.
- Do not discuss the accident or any injuries you suffered with anyone other than your doctor or lawyer.
- Do not agree to making a recorded statement or sign any document that you have not first reviewed with your lawyer.
- Immediately seek medical treatment and be sure to tell your doctor how your injury occurred and about any pain from which you may be suffering.
Should I Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer?
In the event of a bus accident, it can be incredibly beneficial to have the counsel of an experienced bus or auto accident attorney. If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus accident and believe someone else may be at fault, use the auto accident attorney information request form on this page to get in touch with an expert auto accident attorney or law firm in your area today!