Who Can You Sue for a Bus Accident?

Southern California may be famous for its car culture, but over 520,000 people ride LA Metro buses on any given weekday. And this number doesn’t even take school or tourist buses into account. Unfortunately, not every passenger gets to their destinations safely. If you or a loved one were injured in a bus accident, you likely have questions about how to proceed. One of the biggest may be who exactly you are suing. Please keep reading for more information on this topic and your rights.

Bus accidents can cause serious injuries and deaths. You can end up unable to work while facing steep medical bills. This is not the time to go it alone. Call The Dominguez Firm for a free consultation at 800-818-1818 to see how we can help you.

Does The Law Hold Transportation Companies To A Higher Standard?

Yes, because buses transport passengers, they are expected to do so with “the utmost care” as the law itself states in California. They are entrusted with the lives of numerous people at a time. Getting everyone to their destination safely has to be their priority. So yes, they are held to a higher standard of care than those in passenger cars.

Am I Suing on Behalf of My Injured Child For a School Bus Accident?

Your child has the right to sue for their school bus accident injuries. However, if they are under the age of 18, you would file a claim on their behalf preferably with the help of a personal injury attorney. Bus accident claims are complex, but bus accident claims for a minor are even more involved. The court requires extra steps to make sure the child’s best interests are protected. No one should handle their own bus accident claim much less one for their child.

Am I Suing the School District for My Child’s School Bus Accident Injuries?

There are often multiple defendants in school bus accident claims, regardless of whether the child attends a public or private school:

• School districts
• Bus drivers
• The owner of the bus if it wasn’t the school district
• Another driver if they caused the crash

Any of these individuals or entities can be responsible for your child’s accident injuries. This may or may not include the school district. Piecing together the evidence will help determine who caused the school bus accident.

Who Are The Most Common Defendants In A Bus Injury Lawsuit?

The majority of bus accident claims can involve one or more of the following defendants, regardless of the kind of bus involved:

• The bus driver
• The transportation company that owns the bus
• If the bus was leased or chartered, the leasing or charter agency
• The manufacturer if the bus got into an accident due to a vehicle defect
• Another driver if they caused the accident

Government entities, including municipal, state, and federal agencies can also be named in a lawsuit. One note, if the defendant is a government entity, you only have six months to file your bus accident claim. You have two years from the date of the accident if the defendant is a private entity. Either way, don’t wait to file since that can seriously damage your case.

Government entities are included in bus accident claims when:

• The bus belonged to a municipal, state, or federal transportation system
• If the bus accident happened due to a road design flaw or maintenance problems the agency tasked with its design or care can be sued

No one mentioned in these lists is immune from being named in a bus accident lawsuit.

Can I Sue Multiple Parties Or Am I Limited to One or Two?

There are no limits as to who you can sue. After conducting a thorough investigation of how your bus accident happened your attorney can file claims against every single person and/or entity responsible. An experienced bus accident attorney will work hard to make sure everyone responsible is held accountable for your injuries. This can include both private and public parties.

Are Bus Drivers Automatically Named as Defendants in Bus Accident Claims?

Not necessarily, but because they have a higher duty of care they are often named as defendants. Much depends on the circumstances of the accident. In some cases, both the bus driver and their employer– in most cases a transportation company, will be included. This can be due to poor driver training or drivers being overworked.

If the evidence shows they weren’t to blame, the bus driver wouldn’t be included in the lawsuit. An example of this would be a bus that is hit by a vehicle running a red light.

Call The Dominguez Firm For A Free Consultation Today

Bus accidents commonly make the evening news. Victims can suffer permanent injuries or even be killed. There are usually multiple plaintiffs and defendants are involved too. For these reasons alone,  bus accident cases are one of the most complex to litigate. That’s why it’s so important to have the right personal injury law firm by your side.

The Dominguez Firm has over 30 years of experience successfully handling bus accident cases. If you were injured in a bus crash, call us for a free consultation today at 800-818-1818. We know how to deal with the insurance company and their defense attorneys. We will work hard to obtain the maximum in damages (the legal term for financial compensation) you are entitled to.

Our in-house team of litigation attorneys is ready to help you. You don’t have to worry about out-of-pocket costs or hidden legal fees either. We get paid from a percentage of your final verdict or settlement. And as always, we promise; if there is no recovery, there is no fee! So call us today.