Orange County Bus Accident Lawyer

Private and public bus companies are “common carriers” that California law holds to a very high duty to keep passengers and non-passengers safe. In addition to driving safely, bus companies have a duty to accommodate passengers’ reasonable needs, hire proper drivers and treat passengers respectfully. These are some of the common types of bus accidents that occur in Orange County:

• A collision between a bus and another motor vehicle;
• Bus strikes a pedestrian or cyclist;
• The bus driver stops short, accelerates too quickly, or loses control of the bus;
• Defect in the roadway, missing signage or broken traffic lights;
• Defect in the manufacturing or maintenance of the bus and
• Negligent hiring of the bus driver.

Bus accidents must be thoroughly investigated to determine how they happened and to determine all possible defendants. Once all the parties are established, they will offer their version of how the accident happened. If the statements conflict, there will be depositions to determine whose testimony is most credible. If it’s still not clear how the accident happened, it may be necessary to hire an accident reconstruction expert to look at evidence such as the rates of speed of all vehicles, skid marks, the points of impact, and other facts to determine causation. California has specific laws and regulations that govern making claims against private, municipal, and quasi-municipal bus transportation providers. That’s why it’s important to hire an attorney that has handled many Orange County bus cases.

Making A Claim Against the OCTA

There are both private and public buses operating in Orange County, but most of the buses are operated by or partnered with the OCTA. Laws and regulations for filing claims against California public entities such as OCTA are rigid and have strict time limitations. For example, a claim must be filed with the OCTA within six months of the accident, and a lawsuit must be commenced within two years. There are certain exceptions that might allow you to file a claim or a lawsuit after the deadline, but this is the last resort and might not be successful. Municipalities don’t have teams of claims representatives sitting by phone looking to settle cases, so it’s usually necessary to do a substantial amount of trial preparation and testimony before settlement. It’s important to remember that there are other types of buses in operation in Orange County that are also owned by government entities such as prison buses and some types of school buses, with their own laws and regulations. For all of these reasons, it’s prudent to hire an experienced Orange County bus accident attorney to represent you in a case against the OCTA.

Claims Against Private Bus Companies

There are many types of private bus companies that operate in and through Orange County such as:

• Greyhound, Megabus, Flixbus, and other long-distance carriers;
• Shuttle buses used by hotels and rental car companies;
• Party buses;
• School, Camp and Athletics buses;
• Media production buses and
• Sightseeing buses.

Bus companies are responsible for the operation of the buses in their fleet and for making sure that passengers are safely transported. This duty includes making sure that the drivers they hire are qualified to operate the bus they are driving and have clean records. Plaintiffs have two years to file a lawsuit against a private bus company and there is no requirement of filing a claim within six months. That said, it’s important to make sure that the company is actually private, as some bus companies may appear private, but they are actually quasi-municipal. Collecting enough compensation to get your life back on track after a bus accident is no simple task, that’s why it’s important to hire the best Orange County bus attorney you can find. Text Kevin Accident Attorneys is the most reputable personal injury law firm in Orange County with many successful outcomes for bus accident cases. Call (888) 965-3827 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation.

Orange County Bus Accident Attorneys

If you’ve sustained severe or catastrophic injuries in a bus accident, there’s no time to waste. The sooner you make your claim, the sooner you’ll be able to collect the compensation you need for medical bills, lost earnings, out-of-pocket expenses, pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Text Kevin Accident Attorneys is well known for its large settlements and verdicts, but also for its kind and patient relationships with clients. Please call (888) 965-3827 for a free no-obligation consultation.