Special Laws For Bus Accidents

When a city bus is involved in an accident, many different people might be involved. They could include drivers and occupants of other cars, pedestrians, bicyclists and bus passengers. These types of buses don’t have seat belts for passengers who are sitting, and during rush hour, it’s not at all unusual for passengers to be standing.

Local transit authorities that are owned by governmental entities are known as common carriers. California Civil Code 2100 is a special statute that applies to common carriers. It states that “A carrier of persons for reward must use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage, must provide everything necessary for that purpose, and must exercise to that end a reasonable degree of skill.” An attorney well-versed in public transportation accidents is well aware of the fact that a higher degree of care must be exercised by a common carrier than an ordinary motorist.

If you are injured in an accident involving the carelessness and negligence of the driver of a local transit authority bus, California law allows you to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your damages, but you’re going to need to contact a public transportation lawyer in Los Angeles right away. That is because another special law applies, which is the law of notice. A personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles will advise you that a claim notice for damages must be filed with the appropriate agency within six months of the date of the accident. No such notice is required in an ordinary car crash case.

If you or a family member were injured in any kind of transit authority bus crash, contact an attorney from our offices right away to arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation. You’ll want to preserve your claim for damages by timely filing and properly serving it.