In case you are involved in a bus crash, it is recommended to approach an experienced bus accident lawyer to get the proceedings moving. Bus accidents are rare but end up in heavy losses for the victim. Hence, it is important to approach such a case with the utmost care. Below is a discussion on the different aspects of protecting your rights in a bus accident case in California.
California Bus Accident Cases and the Requirement of important Evidence
Trying to move against the bus company and their legal team is a difficult process in itself, especially if you suffered major losses and are in a process of recovery. In bus accident cases, several pieces of evidence like service logs, cell phone records, maintenance records and more are important to acquire the compensation you deserve.
Protecting Your Rights in a California Carrier Crashes
Bus accidents are comparatively rare when compared to other traffic accidents. Meanwhile, be aware that they could occur at any time. In this case, it is necessary to understand the difference between the common carriers and other vehicle collisions. It could be difficult to acquire a rightful compensation. This is because they end up receiving little or no support for medical bills, missed wages, and other associated damages.
Tour Bus Accidents in California
Tour buses are one of the most common carriers of passengers. In accidents involving tour bus or a shuttle, it is difficult to determine the liability. Tour companies usually do not own buses. Instead, they have active contracts on with bus companies. It is the responsibility of the tour organization to see that the buses are maintained properly and if the bus company has a history of clean driving. This includes their responsibility to ensure that there have been no crashes involving the bus. The responsibility also extends to ensuring the well-maintained buses and the license of the drivers involved.
Regardless of these requirements, the bus company would still be responsible for the accident if the bus driver is responsible for the crash due to carelessness.
California School Bus Accidents
A school bus accident involves those which occurred while the kids were being taken to and from school events.
Based on the study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of 19 school-age children are killed every year in school bus-related accidents. Out of them, only 5 of them were inside the school bus. The remaining 14 are pedestrians.
Bus and Commercial Truck Crashes
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were more than 4,889 trucks and buses involved in fatal accidents in 2017. For the inner city buses, the vehicles sharing the road could all pose a danger. These are massive vehicles and can inflict serious damage on the victim vehicles due to the sheer magnitudes.
Average Value of a Bus Accident Injury Claim
It is difficult to determine the average value of the settlement in a bus accident case in California. This is because of the multiple factors involved in each case that deserve to be considered.
Every case may have certain similarities and circumstances. However, other factors may be totally different from them, making them a different case. For instance, if two people sustain a broken hand, the compensation they would be entitled to will be different. While one may be able to work without the help of their hand, the other may not be able to go to work while the injury remains. Hence, the settlement value would be higher for those who have to spend a longer period off work. The case value depends on the extent of the injury on your work and life, its permanence, and the emotional damage incurred.
Bus accident lawsuit could b valued more than $100,000 if there are significant damages incurred and the bus driver was negligent and reckless. If the injuries are more serious and permanent, the value of the lawsuits could be over $250,000. If the bus accident resulted in a series of major losses and wrongful death, you have the right to receive over $2,500,000 in case you prove the driver’s negligence.
Many bus accident claims create hundreds of thousands of dollars. On average, the value of settlement remains inside the five-figure range. The million dollar lawsuits are considered as outliers. These exaggerate the average settlement amounts. Most of the cases are settled for a small amount because of the decision of the parties involved to not go to a trial and pursue a higher settlement. This is also considered to be a flaw of several attorneys. Remember that the faster the case is settled, the sooner the payment is made. It is important to choose your attorney wisely to ensure that you receive the settlement you deserve.
Above factors are the part of a bus accident settlement and protection of your personal rights in the event of an accident. Make sure you choose the right bus accident attorney California for such cases.