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Bus Accident Lawyers in El Cajon

Dangers of Buses in California

In 2016, there were 4,400 large truck and bus fatality accidents and 119,000 large truck and bus injury accidents. It has been reported that California has over 98,000 registered buses, which is more than any other state. Buses provide the convenience of transporting many people at once, but the downside to that is that just one accident may cause injuries to many people.

There are many elements that make buses more dangerous than other motor vehicles operating on California roads. A bus’s size makes it dangerous as it can cause extreme damage and injuries when it collides with smaller vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles. Bus size also makes their operation more dangerous because it takes longer for them to stop and they need significantly more clearance than smaller vehicles when they turn or pass other vehicles.

Statute of Limitations

If you have been involved in a bus accident in El Cajon, especially with a public bus, be sure that you pay attention to the applicable statute of limitations. Public transportation buses may have a shorter statute of limitations and notice of claim requirements. After a bus accident, contact Eugene Bruno & Associates so we can review your case and make sure that you comply with the applicable statute of limitations in filing your claim.

Bus Regulations and Requirements

Buses operating on our California roads are subject to both federal and state regulations. After a bus accident it is important to conduct an investigation to see if your bus driver and the bus company were in compliance with bus regulations and requirements. When our El Cajon bus accident attorneys conduct a bus driver investigation, they start by asking the following questions:

  • Did the bus driver have required licenses, certifications, and endorsements?
  • Was the bus driver in compliance with hours of service regulations?
  • Were appropriate drug screenings and background checks for the bus driver conducted?
  • What is in the bus driver’s driving history?
  • Was the bus driver appropriately trained and did he or she comply with any required continued training and education?
  • Was the bus properly inspected and maintained?

Recent California Bus Accident Verdicts and Settlements

Recent bus accident cases in California have concluded with large recoveries for injured plaintiffs. With so many buses operating in California, bus drivers and their employers must be held accountable when they cause accidents. See below for recent bus accident cases and their outcomes.

  • May 2018 – Verdict $1.1M – Los Angeles Metro bus driver loses consciousness and vehicle strikes a pole and passenger is injured. Economic damages were $136,000 in medical bills.
  • August 2017 – Verdict $900,000 – A San Diego Metro Transit bus struck a bicyclist as the bust attempted to pas the bicycle.
  • January 2017 – Settlement $10M – A heart condition caused a school bus driver to lose consciousness and the bus crashed into a tree. Five children were injured in the accident.

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a bus accident, contact El Cajon personal injury attorney, Eugene G. Bruno, so that he can help you seek the financial recovery to which you are entitled.