When you are involved in an accident involving a bus or another form of public transport, you need the help of a San Bernardino bus accident lawyer.
All auto accidents have the potential to cause injuries, and bus crashes are no exception. In fact, the high-impact nature of a wreck involving a large and heavy vehicle like a bus increases your chances of suffering a severe injury.
It is important that you contact a bus accident attorney after a crash in San Bernardino to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Our personal injury lawyers at Bisnar Chase have decades of experience handling cases like this. We are dedicated to protecting victims and fighting for their rights.
If you or a loved one suffer an injury, contact a bus crash attorney in San Bernardino as soon as you can for the superior representation that you deserve. We offer a free consultation and have won more than $900 million for injury victims.
San Bernardino Bus Accident Lawyer
Common Types of Bus Accidents
Accidents involving buses can occur in a number of different ways and do so daily. The most common types include:
Head-on impacts.
Rollovers.
These accidents can also involve a wide variety of different vehicles. For example, a collision could involve a school bus, a public transit bus, or a private hire bus. They are worryingly frequent because buses have large blind spots. They stop and start a lot, creating dangers as they slow and merge back into traffic.
Most common types of bus accidents:
School bus accidents: They are often caused by driver negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, or failing to yield the right of way.
Public transit bus accidents: These accidents involve buses used for public transportation, such as city buses or light rail trains. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including driver negligence, mechanical failure, or poor road conditions.
Freight bus accidents: These accidents involve buses that are used to transport goods. They are often caused by driver fatigue, speeding, or bus overloading.
Shuttle bus accidents: Involve buses used to transport passengers to and from hotels, airports, or other destinations. They can be caused by driver negligence, mechanical failure, or poor road conditions.
Private, commercial, and charter bus accidents: Involve buses used for private or commercial purposes, such as tours or parties. Various factors, including driver negligence, mechanical failure, or poor road conditions, can cause them.
Common Causes of Bus Accident Crashes in San Bernardino
There are plenty of potential causes of bus accidents in and around San Bernardino. The most common causes include the following:
Distracted driving: One of the top causes of auto collisions is distracted driving. This could mean the bus driver or other drivers on the road were distracted, resulting in a crash.
Driver error: Typical driver errors include driving too fast for the conditions, failing to yield right of way to other road users, speeding while trying to make up time on the bus route, and more.
Drunk driving: When the bus driver or other drivers on the road cause accidents because they are behind the wheel while under the influence.
Fatigue: Driver fatigue can be deadly, particularly when bus operators work long hours.
Maintenance or vehicle defects: When buses are not properly maintained or have defects such as steering or braking issues, bus accident dangers are greatly increased.
Lack of safety devices: While the law is evolving, many buses are not fitted with safety devices such as seat belts. This can put bus passengers in danger in the event of a crash.
What to do if you are Involved in a CA Bus Crash
We have seen firsthand how dangerous wrecks involving buses can be. Many victims who are unlucky enough to be involved in this kind of crash do not know what to do next. At Bisnar Chase, our San Bernardino bus accident attorneys want to help you make decisions to boost your case.
The chances are that if you are reading this guide, you have already been involved in an accident. Follow our guide on what to do next.
Four Essential Steps to Take After a Bus Collision
Get checked out by a medical professional. Some injuries are immediately apparent. Others, such as concussions and other brain injuries, can develop later. It is vital that you get checked out by a doctor, even if you only experience minor symptoms.
Document the event. Write down precisely what happened from your point of view. Memories can fade when the adrenaline wears off, and it is good to have a detailed account of the incident.
Collect evidence. Bring together any evidence you were able to collect at the scene of the accident. This could include pictures, witness contact details, police statements, etc. This will give your attorney a solid base to work from. If you suffered serious injuries and could not document the incident, don’t worry. Just provide your lawyer with as much as you can.
Contact a top-rated San Bernardino bus accident attorney. Choosing the right lawyer can make or break your case. Contact Bisnar Chase to ensure you get the superior representation you deserve. We bring our elite skills and experience to bus accident claims to maximize your compensation.
How an Attorney Can Help Bus Accident Victims
It is natural to wonder if you really need an attorney to handle a personal injury claim involving a bus-related accident.
In our experience, working with the right bus accident lawyer can make a huge impact. But how will a law firm like Bisnar Chase help you specifically?
We remove any guesswork from the process. We have handled thousands of injury cases and have seen it all.
Our team will prepare all the necessary evidence, complete any paperwork, and consult with opposing parties.
Negotiations with insurance carriers can be tough. An insurance company will not want to pay out and will often lowball or use devious tactics against injury victims. But we will take care of those negotiations and save you the hassle of dealing with them.
If further evidence is required to boost your case, we will source it. This could include hiring an independent investigator or expert witnesses.
If a case cannot be settled and must go to court, our team is made up of brilliant trial lawyers with top track records in the courtroom.
We will ensure that all court and filing deadlines are met and use our considerable skills to secure top compensation for you.
Who is Responsible for a Bus Crash: Liability
Determining liability after a bus accident is not always straightforward. Blame or responsibility will depend on a few different factors, from the cause of the crash to the type of bus involved.
For example, if you are involved in a school bus accident, the school authority might ultimately be liable, such as San Bernardino City Unified School District.
If the crash involved a public transport bus, it might be the responsibility of OmniTrans Public Transit Agency in San Bernardino. A collision involving a private hire vehicle would fall on the bus company.
Depending on the circumstances, liability could also belong to a bus driver personally, other drivers on the road, and any other parties contributing to causing the accident through negligence. In some cases, multiple parties could share liability.
Your personal injury lawyers will identify all responsible parties and take legal action accordingly. Whether a bus company or an individual is liable, we will make sure they are held responsible.
School Bus Accidents in San Bernardino
Crashes involving school buses are not common in San Bernardino, but they can be deadly when they occur.
School buses are made to be highly visible. But they can also stop in unexpected places, have children moving unpredictably in and around them, and have large blind spots.
School bus drivers and other motorists on the road with them have a duty to be extra vigilant to avoid tragic accidents.
Common Injuries From a Bus Accident
A bus accident can cause severe injuries, both to occupants within the bus and to other road users or pedestrians. Common injuries include:
Bruises and contusions.
Broken bones.
Internal injuries.
Burns.
Spinal cord injuries.
Head, neck, and brain injuries.
If you have suffered injuries in a bus accident, our team can help. We take cases involving all kinds of physical injuries, from relatively minor whiplash to severe damage. Bisnar Chase can also help you file a wrongful death lawsuit when the worst happens. All of our bus accident lawyers in San Bernardino are trial attorneys seasoned in litigation.
Bus Laws in San Bernardino, California
As San Bernardino County lies in Southern California, the traffic laws covering San Bernardino bus accidents are decided by California state laws. The relevant laws include:
Bus passengers must wear seat belts where applicable – but not all vehicles are fitted with them.
Drivers must stop when they encounter a school bus that has stopped and has its stop sign arm extended. Authorities can fine you for passing it.
Buses must not exceed 55 miles per hour (California Vehicle Code 22406 VC).
San Bernardino Bus Ordinances
The City of San Bernardino has a number of ordinances that regulate buses. These ordinances cover a variety of topics, including:
Bus stops: Bus stops must be located at least 10 feet from intersections and clearly marked with signs.
Bus lanes: Bus lanes are designated for the exclusive use of buses and other public transit vehicles.
Bus loading and unloading zones: Bus loading and unloading zones are designated areas where buses can stop to pick up and drop off passengers.
Bus speed limits: The speed limit for buses is 35 mph in most areas of the city.
Bus driver requirements: Bus drivers must be licensed by the state and must have a clean driving record.
If you are involved in a bus accident in San Bernardino, it is important to know these ordinances. The ordinances may affect your ability to recover compensation for your injuries, especially where negligence is concerned.
What is Your Bus Crash Case Worth in California?
Hiring skilled bus accident attorneys to handle your claim is so important if you hope to receive the maximum compensation for your injuries. Some people try to go it alone, but the legal process is complex. When seeking compensation, it is best to work with an expert who has been there and done it all.
The value of a claim will depend on the circumstances of your accident. Compensation will typically cover elements like:
Medical expenses.
Lost wages.
Property damage.
Future earnings.
Pain and suffering.
Economic and non-economic damages.
The value of your claim is directly related to the impact the bus accident had on you. Whether you need help with your medical bills or require ongoing care due to your injuries, the value of your claim should reflect those needs. Compensation can range from a few thousand to seven and eight-figure settlements or verdicts.
Every case is different. But at Bisnar Chase, we have a track record of success, and our team is focused on securing full compensation for you. Contact us now for a free consultation. Speak to one of our San Bernardino bus accident attorneys to see if you have a case. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.
San Bernardino Bus Accident FAQs
When it comes to bus collisions and other such accidents, our clients usually want clarity on the process before taking legal action.
Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions. But please get in touch if you want more information on a potential lawsuit.
For most personal injury claims, you have to file within two years of the accident date. Do not wait too long, or you might miss out. California has a strict time limit to file personal injury lawsuits.
Whether you are a bus passenger or another road user, a bus driver will always owe you a duty of care. However, liability can also extend to the company responsible for operating the bus.
Bisnar Chase has a 99% success rate with more than $800 million won for injury victims. We can help you secure the right result after a San Bernardino bus accident.
Examples of Bus Crash Incidents in San Bernardino
There have been plenty of examples of bus accidents resulting in passenger injuries and harm to others on the roads in and around San Bernardino.
Bus Accidents in and Near San Bernardino
- In one crash in 2022, a victim was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a head-on collision with an OmniTrans vehicle. Several bus passengers also suffered minor injuries.
- In another incident in 2021, one person died in a school bus accident after crashing into a Colton Joint Unified School District vehicle.
- In December of 2022, a bus crash on the 15 freeway in San Bernardino killed one and injured another eleven people in a rollover crash.
- A tour bus also crashed in San Bernardino on Highway 38, killing seven. These mass transportation vehicles often violate safety measures, and a year after the horrific bus crash, no regulations for better safety have been implemented. The tour bus company had been cited 4 times for safety hazards.
Bus Accidents a real danger in California
Bus accidents in California are a serious problem. In 2020, there were 176 total fatalities in bus crashes recorded by the FMCSA. School buses and transit buses accounted for 131 of those fatalities.
A study also found that California lost 277 people and 3,939 others were injured in bus and truck crashes. Records indicate that about 2,000 injuries and deaths annually result from bus accidents in California.
These alarming statistics show that we must do more to make buses safer. Some of the things that can be done to improve bus safety include:
- Increasing driver training and education
- Investing in better bus infrastructure
- Enforcing stricter traffic laws
- Raising awareness of the dangers of bus accidents
Bus Accident Statistics
Pinning down statistics specific to bus accidents can be challenging, as these collisions are often counted alongside crashes involving trucks and other large vehicles in a single category. But we do know that:
There have been nearly 3,000 bus accident fatalities over the last decade.
An average of about 25,000 people suffer injuries in bus accidents every year in the U.S.
From 2010-2020 there were 1,252 deaths directly related to school bus accidents in the United States, as well as 140,800 injuries.
In the United States, bus accidents are the third leading cause of death for children under the age of 14, accounting for 11% of all fatalities in this age group.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were approximately 4,400 bus-related crashes in the US in 2018.
In 2018, there were an estimated 24,000 bus-related injuries in the US.
In California, bus-related crashes accounted for 1.3% of all traffic fatalities 2018.
In California, there were a total of 64 bus related fatalities in 2018.
In San Bernardino County, there were a total of 9 bus-related fatalities in 2018.
Contact a Top-Rated San Bernardino Bus Accident Lawyer
Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Bisnar Chase for superior representation. Our law firm has an office in San Bernardino County, and we have an outstanding track record working for local residents.
We cover claims of all kinds, from minor physical injuries to wrongful death claims. Whether a bus sideswiped your car or you were injured as a public transportation passenger, we can help.
Find the Best Bus Accident Lawyer for Your Claim
Our team offers a compassionate approach, helping you maximize the value of your case by recovering money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much more.
Our San Bernardino bus accident attorneys have decades in and out of California courtrooms and have exceptional results winning challenging bus accident claims.
Our firm has been helping people since 1978. We have decades of experience and a 99% success rate with more than $900 million won for our clients.
Why you benefit from hiring a bus accident attorney
- Bus accident cases can be complex. Bus accidents often involve multiple parties, including the bus driver, the bus company, the city or town, and the bus manufacturer. It can be difficult to navigate the legal system and understand your rights and options without the help of an experienced injury lawyer.
- Bus accident lawyers have the knowledge and experience to fight for your rights. Bus accident lawyers have a deep understanding of the law and the tactics that insurance companies use to deny or minimize claims. They will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Bus accident attorneys can help you get the medical care you need. After a bus accident, you may need extensive medical care, including surgery, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. A bus accident lawyer can help you get the medical care you need and can help you file a claim with your insurance company to cover the cost of your medical bills.
- A Bus accident lawyer can help you get your life back on track. Handling your own personal injury claim is time-consuming and complicated. By having a law firm handle the process, you can focus on getting your life back on track. We handle all the court dates, paperwork and medical liens to relieve your stress.
Contact our San Bernardino bus accident attorneys now for a free consultation. Call (909) 253-0750, send us an email, or use our website live chat.
