Bakersfield Bus Accident Attorneys

The hardship that follows a serious auto accident is not easy to put into words. Victims may experience debilitating pain, emotional trauma, and palpable stress. And all the while, they have to contend with the fact that their injuries and the adversity they now face might have been avoided if the liable party hadn’t been negligent or careless. Our bus accident attorneys in Bakersfield have helped countless clients navigate through these very circumstances, and we are ready to help you pursue the compensation you need to get your life back. Bus accident claims are not the same as typical car accident claims; there’s often a corporation or government entity involved. The injuries, as well, could be more serious given the size and weight of these vehicles. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we have a mastered understanding of the procedures, case law, and statutes pertaining to these claims, so you can rest assured that our legal team will provide exceptional representation no matter the circumstances of your particular case. We are proud to offer free consultations to our clients, and we don’t charge anything upfront for our legal services. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS to schedule a case evaluation.

Who Might Be Liable for My Bus Accident?

After most collisions in California, the at-fault driver will be liable for covering the damages incurred by the other parties involved. Under the most ideal of circumstances, the driver responsible for the crash will have sufficient liability insurance to pay for the victims’ injuries and property damage. While even a standard auto accident claim comes with its fair share of complexities, cases that involve buses tend to be even more complicated. Who is liable for my damages? This might seem like a simple question—especially if you’re certain that one of the drivers involved broke a traffic law. No matter how straightforward your case seems, however, there are all sorts of factors that might convolute the proceedings. In fact, simply identifying the liable party might pose a challenge. While it is certainly true that a single driver might be solely responsible for a bus crash, it is often the case that a government entity or bus company is at least partially at fault. And here’s something you may not know—if multiple parties share fault for your injury and one party lacks the insurance and assets to cover their share of the economic damages, you may be able to pursue the difference from the other party. This is called “joint and several liability.” Therefore, it is strategically wise to name all potentially liable parties in your claim because doing so might increase the total insurance coverage from which you can recover damages. Here’s something else you may not be privy to—in the state of California, an employer can be held liable for the negligence of an employee who is acting within the scope of his or her employment. That means if the negligence of an employee of a bus company or government entity was a proximate cause of your accident, you may not be limited to pursuing compensation from the employee; it might also be possible to seek compensation from his or her employer, who will likely have a greater capacity for covering your damages. Our bus accident lawyers in Bakersfield can perform an intricate investigation, taking note of all relevant facts and evidence, to determine which parties might be liable for your damages. We will then aggressively pursue the highest settlement possible. So the question remains—who might be liable for my bus accident? The answer, unfortunately, cannot be provided until the investigation has been performed. Your attorney will have to discern the most likely cause of the accident and determine whether vicarious liability applies. To quench your curiosity in the meantime, below you will find a list of parties that are often liable for bus accidents in California:

• Bus drivers;
• The drivers of other vehicles involved;
• Bus companies that employ negligent drivers or fail to maintain their vehicles;
• Negligent contractors who are hired to maintain buses but fail to do so to a reasonable standard;
• The company operating the bus tour;
• Government entities that employ negligent drivers;
• Government entities that are negligent in road design or maintenance; and/or
• The party or parties responsible for an auto part defect.

Dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS to Set up a Free Case Assessment with a Bus Accident Lawyer in Bakersfield

If you would like to take legal action after being injured or losing a family member in a bus accident, contact Harris Personal Injury Lawyers. Our attorneys will make sure you are well-represented from the day you retain our legal services to the resolution of your case. You won’t have to pay anything upfront, and we won’t charge attorney’s fees unless we win. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or message us to schedule a free case evaluation.