A bus accident can leave people with serious injuries and confusing insurance issues that can delay their recovery. Whether you were injured as a bus passenger or a driver of another vehicle, you may have the right to file a claim and pursue compensation if someone else caused the crash.
At Frank Penney Injury Lawyers, our Sacramento bus accident lawyers understand how impactful bus accidents are and are committed to help injured victims understand their rights and guide them through the legal process. With decades of experience fighting for people’s rights, injury victims can rest easy knowing that their case is in the right hands.
Contact our firm at 888-888-0566 or by filling out our online contact form today for a free consultation.
How Often Do Sacramento Bus Accidents Happen?
Buses are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, so when they collide with other vehicles or even pedestrians, the injuries can be severe, but to some people’s surprise the chances of a bus accident occurring is more likely than they think.
According to a 2023 report from California Office of Traffic Safety data, the city had 4,214 victims killed or injured in traffic collisions, ranking 2nd out of 15 similarly sized California cities for total fatal and injury collision victims. At the county level, Sacramento County had 11,407 victims killed or injured in traffic collisions in 2023, including 653 pedestrian victims and 529 bicyclist victims.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has also identified from 2008 to 2023 that there were 8,230 bus-to-person collisions, resulting in 596 fatalities and 8,259 injuries. The FTA also found that, from 2017 through 2023, 41% of bus-to-person collisions occurred in roadway intersections, 35% occurred mid-block, and 24% occurred at or around bus stops. This matters in bus accident claims because some of the most serious bus-related injuries involve pedestrians, bicyclists, and people entering or exiting transit areas.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Sacramento
Much like any motor vehicle accident, bus accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the bus driver makes a direct error, while in others, the transportation company or another motorist may have created the danger. In fact, some of the most common causes include:
Distracted driving
Speeding
Unsafe lane changes
Failure to yield to pedestrians or bicyclists
Improper left turns or right turns
Sudden braking
Driver fatigue
Inadequate driver training
Failure to check blind spots
Poorly maintained brakes, tires, lights, or doors
Unsafe bus stops
Negligent hiring or supervision
Other drivers cutting off, rear-ending, or sideswiping a bus
What Types of Bus Accident Cases Does a Sacramento Bus Accident Lawyer Handle?
A Sacramento bus accident lawyer may handle several types of claims, depending on who was injured and how the crash happened.
Bus Passenger Injury Claims
Whether someone is on a school bus, a tour bus, or even an airport shuttle, bus passengers may be injured when a bus crashes, brakes suddenly, turns too sharply, strikes a curb, hits another vehicle, or stops in an unsafe location. Passengers may also be injured by falling inside the bus, being struck by unsecured objects, or getting caught in bus doors, and can file a claim to recover compensation for their injuries.
Pedestrian Bus Accident Claims
Pedestrians are especially vulnerable in bus accidents, because when a pedestrian is struck while crossing near a bus stop or walking through an intersection, the injuries have a high likelihood of being permanent or fatal. These claims often require reviewing a variety of evidence from bus camera footage and traffic cameras to bus maintenance logs and whether the bus operator followed proper procedures.
Car vs. Bus Accident Claims
Drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles may suffer serious injuries when a bus rear-ends, sideswipes, or collides with their car. In some cases, the bus driver may be at fault because they were driving negligently or recklessly to stay on schedule, while in other cases, another driver may have caused the bus to swerve, stop suddenly, or crash. Whichever the case may be, these claims will be handled as standard motor vehicle accident claims.
School Bus Accident Claims
School bus accidents may involve children who were injured while riding the bus, boarding or exiting the bus, crossing near the bus, or walking near a school zone. Due to the potential victims in these types of cases, liability may involve a school district, private bus contractor, negligent motorist, bus driver, or roadway hazard.
Who Can Be Liable for a Bus Accident in Sacramento?
Determining liability for a Sacramento bus accident case will depend on the type of accident and numerous factors such as how the crash happened and who had control over the bus, road, driver, maintenance, or transit property. Potentially liable parties may include:
The bus driver, if they were distracted, speeding, fatigued, impaired, or careless
A public transit agency, if the accident involved a government-operated bus
A private bus company, if the accident involved a charter bus, shuttle, or tour bus
A school district, if the accident involved a district-operated school bus
A private school bus contractor
A negligent third-party driver
A maintenance company
A vehicle or parts manufacturer
A public entity responsible for unsafe roads, intersections, or bus stops
It is important to note that when a public employee causes an injury while acting within the scope of employment, California Government Code section 815.2 may allow the public entity to be held liable if the employee’s conduct would otherwise create liability. However, claims against public entities have special procedural rules and shorter deadlines.
Key California Laws in Bus Accident Claims
There are several state laws that bus companies and bus drivers must abide by to ensure they are properly following safety procedures when transporting people to their destinations. In fact, buses that transport paying passengers may be treated as common carriers under California law and this matters because common carriers may owe passengers a heightened duty of care.
California Civil Code section 2100 states that a carrier of persons for reward must use the utmost care and diligence for the safe carriage of passengers, provide what is necessary for that purpose, and exercise a reasonable degree of skill. California Civil Code section 2101 also states that a carrier of persons for reward must provide vehicles that are safe and fit for their intended use.
However, this does not mean every bus driver and bus company is automatically liable for any accident they have been involved in, because the injured person still needs to provide evidence showing that negligence, unsafe equipment, lack of care, or another wrongful act caused the injury. However, common carrier rules can be important in claims involving bus passengers.
How Long Do You Have to File a Bus Accident Lawsuit in California?
For most personal injury and wrongful death claims, injury victims have a two-year deadline to file a claim for an action involving injury to, or the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another, as per California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Any failure to file within that timeframe will automatically result in the injury victim waiving their right to file a claim and recover compensation.
Public Bus Accidents and Government Claim Deadlines
If your accident involved a public bus, public transit agency, public school district, city, county, or other government entity, you may have a much shorter deadline than the normal personal injury statute of limitations.
Under California Government Code section 911.2, a claim for death, personal injury, or property damage against a public entity generally must be presented within six months. The California Courts Self-Help Guide also explains that if the government denies the claim, the injured person generally has six months from the date the denial was mailed to file a lawsuit. If the government does not respond within 45 days, the person generally has up to two years from the injury date to start a case.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Sacramento Bus Accident?
The value of a bus accident claim depends on the severity of the injury, available insurance coverage, liability evidence, long-term medical needs, and how the injury affects the victim’s life. While every accident claim is different, injury victims may be able to recover compensation for any of the following things:
Emergency medical care
Hospital bills
Physical therapy
Future medical treatment
Lost wages
Loss of future earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Property damage
Out-of-pocket expenses
Wrongful death damages, when a loved one is killed
What to Do After a Bus Accident in Sacramento
The steps you take after a bus accident can affect your health, your evidence, and your legal claim. As such it is vital to consider taking the following steps after a bus accident:
Call 911 if anyone is injured- A police or collision report can help document what happened.
Get medical care as soon as possible- Even if symptoms seem minor, medical records can become important evidence.
Report the accident- If you were a bus passenger, report the incident to the driver or transit agency, but avoid making detailed recorded statements before speaking with an attorney.
Get the bus number, route, and operator information- If the accident involved public transit, write down the route, bus number, location, and time.
Take photos and videos- Capture vehicle damage, injuries, roadway conditions, bus stop layout, traffic signals, skid marks, debris, and nearby cameras.
Get witness information- Bus accident witnesses may leave quickly, especially at transit stops or intersections.
Avoid signing settlement documents too early- Insurance companies may try to resolve a claim before the full extent of the injury is known.
Speak with a bus accident lawyer- A local Sacramento attorney can help identify the correct defendants, preserve evidence, and track government claim deadlines.
Speak With a Sacramento Bus Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured in a Sacramento bus accident, do not wait to get legal help. While it is understandable to feel shaken up, but every moment you wait, video footage can be deleted, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and government claim deadlines may apply sooner than expected.
At Frank Penney Injury Lawyers, our experienced team of accident lawyers can help injury victims pursue compensation after suffering serious injuries in a bus crash. With decades of experience and an established track record of securing compensation, our team can guide you through the legal process and give you the legal representation you need.
Contact our firm at 888-888-0566 or by filling out our online contact form today for a free consultation.