Why Bus Accidents Are Different
Bus collisions are often more complex than car accidents. Buses carry dozens of passengers, weigh many tons, and are governed by both California law and federal safety regulations under the FMCSA. The absence of seat belts, wide blind spots, and long braking distances can make injuries more severe.
Unlike typical vehicles, buses are considered common carriers, which means operators owe a higher duty of care to passengers and the public. If you were injured as a passenger, this higher duty often means you can pursue compensation through the bus company’s insurance without having to prove negligence, while drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists typically must show fault to recover damages. This stricter standard means even small acts of negligence can lead to liability.
According to NHTSA data, over 60,000 bus-related crashes occur each year in the United States, many within California’s urban corridors. These accidents can involve city buses, tour buses, and school transportation, each with its own legal process and insurance coverage.
Serving Greater Los Angeles Bus Accident Victims
Our California bus accident lawyers proudly serve victims across Los Angeles County, Orange County, and surrounding areas. Whether your crash occurred on California’s busy highways, at a Metro stop, or along the Bay Area’s transit routes, our team has the experience and local insight to help. We understand how city, county, and state agencies handle transit accidents, and we use that knowledge to build stronger cases for injured passengers, pedestrians, and drivers throughout Southern California.
To find a GJEL office near you, visit our locations we serve page.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Most bus crashes stem from negligence. Common bus-related causes include:
- Distracted bus driving, such as texting, eating, or using a dispatch device
- Drowsy or fatigued bus drivers operating beyond regulated hours
- Speeding buses that cannot stop safely in traffic
- Unsafe bus turns or failure to yield to pedestrians and cyclists
- Poor bus maintenance, including skipped brake or tire inspections
- Bus brake failure caused by wear or mechanical neglect
- Blind-spot collisions where the bus driver fails to see nearby vehicles
- Mechanical defects in steering, suspension, or transmission systems
- Worn or under-inflated bus tires that cause blowouts
- Bus drivers under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or impairing medication
- Hazardous road or weather conditions that increase the risk of bus crashes
- Poor roadway lighting or visibility near bus stops and intersections
Additional hazards include sudden braking that throws standing passengers, a limited turning radius, and the lack of seat belts that often worsen injuries.
We investigate bus driver training, driver logs, maintenance records, and dispatch data to uncover what went wrong. Our bus driving legal team examines whether proper inspections were performed, whether the bus was overloaded, and whether the operator was properly certified under California law.
Who Can Be Held Liable
Liability in a bus crash is rarely simple. Your compensation can depend on how many people were injured, which insurance policies apply, and whether coverage limits must be shared among multiple victims, all of which affect how much you can ultimately recover. Depending on the circumstances, responsible parties may include:
- The bus driver or operating company for negligent driving, speeding, or unsafe operation of the bus.
- A public transit agency (city, county, or state) that owns or manages the bus service and fails to train or supervise drivers properly.
- A private charter or tour bus operator that neglects maintenance, schedules unsafe routes, or hires unqualified drivers.
- The bus manufacturer or parts supplier if a design flaw or defective component contributed to the crash.
- Bus maintenance contractors or fleet managers who fail to inspect, repair, or service buses according to safety standards.
- Third-party motorists who cause or contribute to a bus collision through reckless or distracted driving.
- Government entities responsible for unsafe roads, faulty traffic signals, or poor roadway design that lead to bus accidents.
When a government agency is involved, California’s Government Claims Act applies. You must file a formal claim within six months of the incident, which is far shorter than the two-year window for private parties. Our attorneys handle these deadlines for you and ensure no technicality jeopardizes your claim.
School Bus Accidents
When children are injured in school bus crashes, multiple parties may share responsibility, including the school district, private transportation contractors, or the bus manufacturer. These cases require strict compliance with the California Tort Claims Act, which limits the time to file to just six months.
Our attorneys handle these sensitive cases with urgency and care. We work directly with families to secure compensation for medical treatment, rehabilitation, and emotional trauma, ensuring that every claim meets both the procedural and emotional needs of the child and their parents.
Common Injuries from Bus Accidents
Because buses lack standard car safety features like airbags and seat belts, even minor collisions can cause severe harm. Common injuries in California bus accidents include:
- Whiplash and neck strain from sudden braking or sharp bus turns.
- Back and spinal cord injuries caused by passengers being thrown against hard surfaces.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions from head impact inside the bus during a crash.
- Broken or fractured bones due to falling or being struck by interior bus structures.
- Amputations and crush injuries in collisions involving large commercial buses or rollovers.
- Soft tissue injuries and severe bruising from being jolted against seats or railings.
- Internal bleeding or organ damage resulting from high-impact bus collisions.
- Post-concussion syndrome following repeated head trauma in a bus crash.
- Burn injuries or scarring from bus fires or contact with hot engine components after impact.
- Nerve damage or paralysis linked to spinal compression or severe trauma during the crash.
- Psychological trauma, including PTSD, from witnessing or surviving a catastrophic bus accident.
These injuries can be life-changing, especially when they limit your ability to work or care for your family. Our attorneys help clients recover compensation for medical care, rehabilitation, therapy, and lost income after serious bus accidents. We also work with medical experts to document long-term effects such as chronic pain or permanent disability, ensuring your claim reflects the full impact of your injury.
What To Do After a Bus Accident
After a bus crash, every decision matters. Follow these steps to protect your health and your legal rights:
- Call 911 immediately and report that a bus accident has occurred. Request both police and medical assistance so an official record is created.
- Seek medical care right away, even if injuries seem minor. Many bus-related injuries like whiplash or head trauma appear hours later.
- Collect contact information for all witnesses, passengers, and the bus driver or operator, including the bus number and bus company name.
- Take photos or videos of the bus, damage, license plate, roadway conditions, and your injuries to preserve key evidence.
- Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters or transit representatives until you have legal guidance. Anything you say may be used to minimize your claim.
- Contact an experienced California bus accident lawyer before signing any documents or accepting any bus accident settlement offer.
Our team helps clients gather evidence, preserve bus company records, and ensure all claims are filed before state or local deadlines expire.
How We Handle Insurance and Settlement Negotiations
After a serious bus crash, dealing with insurance companies can be overwhelming. Our legal team manages all insurer communications, protecting you from low offers and claim delays. We coordinate medical liens and provider billing so you can continue treatment without financial stress. From filing your claim to negotiating a full settlement, we ensure every insurer and at-fault party is held accountable for your recovery.
How We Build a Strong Bus Accident Case
We begin every bus accident claim with a focused investigation designed to preserve critical evidence and prove liability. This includes:
- Reviewing bus driver logs, maintenance schedules, and inspection reports to identify safety violations or missed repairs.
- Obtaining onboard bus surveillance footage and GPS data to track speed, braking, and route activity before the crash.
- Interviewing passengers, witnesses, and first responders to establish what happened in the moments leading up to the accident.
- Consulting accident reconstruction experts who specialize in commercial and municipal bus collisions.
- Assessing all insurance coverage layers both public, private, and excess policies to determine every potential source of recovery.
We act quickly because bus accident evidence can disappear within days, and public transit agencies often have strict notice deadlines under California’s Government Claims Act.
Recent Bus Accident Cases Won by GJEL Accident Attorneys
Our bus injury legal team has successfully handled numerous bus accident lawsuits throughout California, achieving significant settlements and verdicts:
A pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk was hit by a mini-bus in Concord. GJEL proved bus driver negligence and secured a $420,000 recovery for the victim’s family.
$625,000 Transit Bus Accident Settlement – Oakland, CA
A pedestrian was hit by a city transit bus in downtown Oakland. GJEL proved bus driver negligence and recovered $625,000 in compensation for the injured pedestrian.
$730,000 Hospital Shuttle Bus Accident Verdict – Alameda, CA
A hospital shuttle bus hit a pedestrian at Alameda Hospital. GJEL proved hospital negligence and won a $730,000 verdict covering medical bills, lost wages, and nerve damage.
$1.9 Million Public Bus Accident Verdict – San Francisco, CA
A retired General and spouse were struck by a public bus in a San Francisco crosswalk.
GJEL proved operator negligence and secured a $1.9 million verdict for severe injuries and long-term medical care.
Damages You Can Recover
Our bus accident attorneys fight to recover the full value of your losses after a bus accident, ensuring both financial and personal impacts are addressed. There is no standard or average settlement amount in bus accident cases, because the value of your claim depends on your injuries, long-term limitations, and who is legally responsible.
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses (past and future) for treatment and rehabilitation after a bus crash.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if injuries prevent you from working.
- Property damage to vehicles or personal items involved in the bus collision.
- Out-of-pocket costs such as medication, transport, and mobility aids.
Non-Economic Damages
In cases involving extreme misconduct, you may also be eligible for punitive damages designed to punish reckless behavior and discourage similar conduct in the future.
- Pain and suffering from lasting bus-related injuries.
- Emotional distress and trauma from the crash experience.
- Loss of enjoyment of life due to reduced mobility or chronic pain.
- Disfigurement or disability caused by severe injury.
- Loss of consortium when family relationships are affected.
If a loved one was killed in a California bus accident, we also pursue wrongful death compensation for surviving family members to cover funeral costs, lost support, and emotional loss. Your eligibility to file may depend on your relationship to the deceased, such as whether you are a spouse, child, parent, or legally authorized representative of the estate.
Recognized Leaders in California Bus Accident Law
At GJEL Accident Attorneys, our record speaks for itself. Our firm is consistently Top Rated by Super Lawyers, holds the prestigious AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has recovered over $950 million for injured clients across California. Each of our attorneys is an active member of the State Bar of California and focuses exclusively on serious injury and wrongful death cases.
Our partners have been featured in leading legal publications and have received recognition for excellence in trial advocacy, client service, and ethical standards. With more than 40 years of litigation experience, our team brings proven expertise, integrity, and compassion to every bus accident case we handle.
Why Choose GJEL Accident Attorneys
For more than 40 years, GJEL Accident Attorneys has helped injured Californians recover over $950 million in verdicts and settlements. Our California bus accident lawyers are recognized statewide for excellence in bus injury litigation and complex transportation cases.
We handle every bus accident claim on a no win, no fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Every client also receives a free bus accident case review with no pressure and no obligation.
We treat every client like family. From the moment you contact our bus injury legal team, we manage everything for you, including medical coordination, claims handling, insurance communication, and settlement negotiation, so you can focus on recovery and rebuilding your life after a bus crash.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin is a founding partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has practiced personal injury law in California state and federal courts since 1970. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School and co-founded GJEL in 1972. Over the course of his career, Andy has helped hundreds of injured plaintiffs recover compensation, including multiple seven-figure settlements and verdicts. He specializes in serious injury and wrongful death cases and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, with recognition from Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.
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