A bus accident is something most people never prepare themselves for. Even though 60,000 bus accidents are reported yearly, this number doesn’t hold a candle to the 6 million passenger car crashes.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Commercial Motor Vehicles report, over 30,000 commercial buses and 450,000 school buses travel U.S. roadways each year. They rack up over 28 billion miles traveled annually when you crunch the numbers. Yet, for the most part, fatality rates are low.
Why is this? Unlike other forms of transportation, bus safety is regulated at two different levels: state and federal. School buses, in particular, are heavily regulated, leading to the continued decline in fatal bus crashes over the years.
Still, the San Diego bus accident lawyers at PTAL know that when accidents do occur, the effects are often catastrophic.
If you have been injured in a San Diego bus accident or one of your family members died in a bus-related crash, you’ll want to hire an expert to represent you and get you every bit of compensation you deserve.
Call 866-999-9085 to speak with an attorney at Premier Truck Accident Lawyers for your free case evaluation. Our lawyers have over 52 years of combined experience and have represented clients in a variety of personal injury cases.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines a bus accident as involving at least one vehicle with the capacity to carry nine people or more. Because this is such a broad definition, there are many different types of bus accidents in San Diego. These include the following:
PTAL’s San Diego bus accident lawyers cite a 2020 case of a bus that crashed on a rain-slick highway. The bus was traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego County on Interstate 15 when it went off a slight curve and down an embankment. Eighteen people were injured. There were also three fatalities.
An investigation determined that excessive speed for the conditions and worn rear tires contributed to the accident. The bus was owned and operated by the company Executive Lines Inc. Its driver was found to have contributed to the loss of control.
With that being said, who was legally at fault? The driver? The company? Were the victims owed compensation? These questions required further investigation or a case evaluation initiated by the victims.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the factors mentioned above are just some of the causes that can lead to bus accidents. Other contributing factors to bus accidents include:
One final cause of previous San Diego bus accidents is ignoring driving laws. For example, a bus operator running a red light or driving the wrong direction on a one-way street.
It is important to note the following:
Here are some of the things that PTAL’s San Diego bus accident attorneys suggest you do directly following a bus accident:
If you’ve been involved in a bus accident in San Diego, you should get in touch with attorney Steven Peck and his team immediately.
Premier Truck Accident Lawyers will provide you with a free case evaluation that will help you find the best steps forward.
Although this might seem like a scary process, it is actually quite simple. You can start by calling 866-999-9085 or by filling out the form on our site.
This is one of the most common questions PTAL’s personal injury attorneys receive from clients who have been involved in such a traumatic event. The “yes” or “no” really depends on a few things: 1. The statute of limitations. 2. Liability. 3. Damages.
A case evaluation will examine all three factors and determine if compensation is likely.
When a claim is successful, a plaintiff can be awarded two types of compensation. The first is money to cover economic and noneconomic damages. These include financial losses, as well as pain and suffering. The second covers past and future losses. For example, money to cover loss of future earnings due to injuries.
If you or a family member was injured in a bus accident, contact an experienced bus accident lawyer at PTAL immediately to ensure you are adequately compensated for your losses. Call toll-free at 866-999-9085 or fill out the free case evaluation form on our website to speak with an attorney today.
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