Santa Ana Bus Accident Lawyer

With so much traffic in and around Santa Ana, buses are always on the go, serving commuters and tourists alike. In fact, bus travel is one of the main methods of transportation for many Californians.

With an increase in the number of buses on the roadways also comes a higher chance of being involved in a bus accident. If you were hurt in a bus accident, whether as a bus passenger, an occupant of another vehicle, or as a pedestrian or bicyclist, you could benefit from the help of a skilled attorney. A Santa Ana bus accident lawyer may be able to help you build a strong case.

Common Types of Bus Accidents

There are numerous types of incidents that a bus accident attorney in Santa Ana could help with, such as:

  • A bus colliding with another large vehicle, such as a tractor trailer
  • A bus colliding with a small passenger motor vehicle
  • A bus striking an individual pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist
  • Multi-vehicle pileups including a bus
  • Single bus accidents
  • Injuries to passengers that occur inside the bus, including cases of assault
  • Passengers falling forward or backward on the bus when a driver stops and starts too quickly
  • Passengers slipping on wet floors, stairs, or debris

Deadly Bus Accidents in California

In 2016, 13 people were killed in a tour bus accident when the bus collided with a tractor-trailer on the roadway. The driver of the semi-truck was later charged with felony manslaughter for falling asleep at the wheel during a traffic jam, and leaving the vehicle in the roadway as a hazard, once traffic began moving again.

In 2014, ten people were killed when a truck crossed the median and collided with a school bus full of students on a college visit.

Bus Company Responsibilities

Buses are considered a type of carrier transportation under California law. As such, they are required to exercise the utmost care and diligence in carrying out their duties of transporting passengers.

Bus companies have a duty to conduct adequate background checks on their drivers, including drug and alcohol screenings. They also must ensure their buses are up-to-date with all maintenance and inspections.

In addition to making sure their bus drivers are well-qualified, trained, and prepared, bus companies have a duty to make sure their business practices do not encourage bus drivers to make unsafe driving choices. This includes actions such as incentivizing speeding to reach destinations faster than is reasonable given weather and road conditions. In the same vein, bus drivers need to have adequate rest breaks so that they do not fall asleep at the wheel, or resort to using unsafe or illegal methods of staying awake for long periods of time, such as taking amphetamines or other drugs.

Benefits of a Santa Ana Bus Accident Lawyer

An experienced bus accident attorney could consider the circumstances surrounding a bus accident and determine what led to the collision, as well as which party or parties may be at fault. Bus accident attorneys in Santa Ana may seek evidence to establish exactly what happened to cause the bus accident, including obtaining video surveillance footage that a lone plaintiff may find difficult to acquire.

In the event of an injurious bus accident, a seasoned Santa Ana bus accident lawyer could help you pursue the compensation you need to get back on your feet, including damages for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and other costs.