If you’ve been seriously injured in a Gardena bus accident you need an experienced bus accident lawyer right away. Bus accident cases can be complex and involve state and federal laws regardless of whether you were in a city transit bus, school bus or a private bus. Often multiple defendants are involved.
This is not the sort of claim you want to take on by yourself, especially if you suffered severe injuries or lost a loved one in the accident. Call The Dominguez Firm today for a free consultation at (800)818-1818. Put our 35 years of experience and 96%* success rate to work for you.
What Kind Of Compensation Can Bus Accident Victims Pursue?
The types of compensation; legally known as damages, that victims of bus accidents can pursue can be broken down into economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, are easy to assess, while non-economic damages like pain and suffering are meant to compensate you for the emotional cost of your Gardena bus accident.
When determining how much money you will receive from your bus accident claim, there is no one-size-fits-all answer since every case is unique. Generally speaking, however, you can expect compensation for medical bills, lost wages due to time off work, property damage, and any other costs related directly or indirectly to the accident. The more serious the injuries, the greater your compensation will likely be.
If your family member was killed in a bus accident, you have the right to file a wrongful death claim against those responsible. This would include funeral costs, loss of companionship or consortium, as well as any other expenses incurred by the family as a result of the accident.
Who am I Suing for My Bus Accident?
When you are involved in a bus accident, you may wonder who you are suing. Depending on the particulars of your case, the following defendants may be named.
The Bus Driver
One of the most common causes of bus accidents is negligence on the part of the driver. The driver might not have been paying attention, or they could have been driving recklessly or too fast for the conditions. If it can be proven that the driver’s negligence was responsible for causing or contributing to an accident, then they can be held liable (the legal term for at fault) for damages and injuries sustained by anyone involved.
The Transportation Bus Company
In some cases, the bus company may also be to blame for an accident caused by one of its drivers. For example, if it can be shown that the company did not properly train its drivers or if it allowed a driver with a poor accident record to stay behind the wheel. In addition, if it can be proven that the company had knowledge of any mechanical issues or maintained their buses poorly, they could be named as a defendant.
A Government Entity
If your bus accident involved a public transportation vehicle, governmental entities such as state or city transportation agencies may also be named in your lawsuit. For instance, bus accidents caused by poorly maintained roads or a lack of appropriate safety features on the vehicle. In these cases, lawsuits must usually be filed against government entities within six months from the date of the accident.
Why Hire a Lawyer After a Bus Accident?
From protecting your rights to fighting for the highest compensation possible, there are a lot of good reasons to hire a bus accident lawyer.
Gathering Evidence to Establish Who and What Caused the Accident
The first step in any legal case is gathering evidence. After a bus accident, this can include collecting witness statements, reviewing police reports, and examining medical records. An experienced attorney knows how to effectively collect and use this information to establish liability (the cause of the accident). They are also familiar with the complex laws surrounding public and private transportation accidents, which means they will know what evidence to look for and what needs to be done for you to receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are notorious for lowballing victims of bus accidents to save money. A skilled attorney will help you fight back against these tactics by negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. Unless you have experience negotiating with insurance adjusters, you’ll want someone who successfully does it for a living to handle this aspect of your case for you.
Obtaining the Highest Compensation Possible
An experienced personal injury lawyer in Gardena can help you get the most compensation
by considering all the factors involved in your case and calculating an appropriate amount of damages that should be sought from the at-fault party. This includes medical expenses, lost wages due to missed work days, and emotional distress caused by the injury or its aftermath. An attorney will take all these factors into account when fighting for maximum compensation on behalf of their client and make sure that they receive full value for their claim. They should also have the resources and experience to take your case to trial if the insurance company won’t make a fair offer.
Get Help for your Bus Accident
If you were seriously injured in a bus accident, it is crucial to contact the bus accident lawyers at The Dominguez Firm right away. Our personal injury attorneys have the experience and resources to help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. They will work with you to build a case and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
The Dominguez Firm has been helping Gardena bus injury victims for over 35 years. We have a 96%* success rate, and have recovered over $1 billion* for injured clients in all types of accidents throughout Southern California. Call us today at (800) 818-1818 for a free consultation.
My experience was good. They made sure to kept me in the loop and made sure to let me know what was going on the whole time. My mom has used other attorneys and this experience was beyond better. I would definitely recommend them!
— Ashley Magana
The attorneys were always available and answered my questions. I would recommend them to anyone. Zoe is the best!
— Janet Salazar
My experience with The Dominguez Firm and the attorneys was really good. They were very informative and always returned my calls.
— Jocelyn Gonzalez