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Laguna Niguel Bus Accident Lawyer
Buses are a common sight on city roads and highways. They transport passengers where they need to go but are obligated to act safely when doing so. Failures to exercise reasonable care by a bus driver could lead to a major accident, to both the bus passengers or to pedestrians walking near it. Depending on the situation, several parties could be liable to you for the harms you suffered, and each may owe you financial compensation. A seasoned personal injury attorney could help you recover monetary damages in that event. After your involvement in a collision, schedule a consultation with a Laguna Niguel bus accident lawyer to help you pursue your claim.
Common Bus Accident Injuries
The overall size and heavy weight of a bus increases the potential hazards they pose to passengers, motor vehicles, and others in the busâs path. Injuries suffered as a result of these accident can be unduly severe, even in low-speed accidents. When high speeds are involved, the level of damage can be catastrophic or may even lead to an unfortunate death. Injuries that commonly occur in bus accident cases include, but are not limited to:
- Broken bones, fractures, and crush injuries
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Paralysis, partial or total
- Wrongful death
Anyone harmed in the accident could be entitled to a financial award through a properly-filed lawsuit. A bus accident attorney in Laguna Niguel could help a plaintiff learn about their rights and pursue them through a lawsuit.
Comparative Fault Analysis
As a defensive tactic, many bus accident defendants will attempt to shift blame to the plaintiff or to someone else. They may claim the accident was entirely the plaintiffâs fault or that they were at least partially at fault for their own injuries. For example, a passenger might have caused a distraction that led to a crash or a pedestrian might have walked in front of the bus at an incorrect time. When this occurs, a Laguna Niguel bus accident lawyer knows how to fully analyze the case to determine whether this is simply a desperate tactic or whether the plaintiff did in fact contribute to the accident through their own negligence.
Even in lawsuits where the plaintiff was partially at fault, they can still recover in a properly proven case. The California Civil Jury Instructions set forth the test for determining whether the plaintiff was responsible for at least part of their own injuries. It looks at whether the plaintiff was also negligent in the accident or if the plaintiffâs negligence was a substantial and contributing factor in their own harm.
When a defendant is able to prove this, the amount of damages available is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to them. If, for example, a jury holds that the plaintiff was 30 percent at fault for the accident, the total award from the jury will be reduced by 30 percent.
Consult a Laguna Niguel Bus Accident Attorney
Personal injury claims which arise from a bus accident typically involve complex areas of the law. Proof of the plaintiffâs injuries must conform with the rules of evidence and be presented in accordance with the rules of civil procedure. Even cases that seem easy to prove must be done properly, or else an otherwise easy case could fail to win you any compensation.
A Laguna Niguel bus accident lawyer could help present the claim in a manner that complies with the law and presents a more effective strategy for success. Your claim deserves the careful attention to detail and legal strategy of a trained attorney. To get started on a path towards compensation, contact us today.