San Diego Bus Accident Attorney

San Diegans are proud of the progressive actions they’ve taken to decrease car pollution and traffic jams through the use of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the North Country Transit District (NCTD). In fact, throughout 2012, over 50 million people used MTS.

Countless city buses, school buses, tour buses, and trolleys travel across San Diego County every day, and thousands of riders put their safety in the hands of the driver, mechanic, and other bus company employees and contractors. Unfortunately, bus accidents do happen in San Diego, and they occur more often than most people think. Under California law (Civ. Code § 2100), a “common carrier” in California must use “the utmost care and diligence for [passengers’] safe carriage, must provide everything necessary for that purpose, and must exercise to that end a reasonable degree of skill.”

If you have been injured in a bus accident, it is critical to contact a San Diego bus accident attorney immediately. At the Law Offices of Jason A. Rodenbo, located right in San Diego, we’ll aggressively pursue your public bus accident claim and diligently fight for fair compensation for your personal injuries.

Types of Bus Accidents

There are many reasons as to why a bus gets into an accident, including driver negligence, error, failure to follow traffic signs, inclement weather, poor driving conditions, and so forth. Collisions typically occur for most of the same reasons as other automobile accidents. However, maintaining “utmost care and diligence for safe carriage” also means that bus operators need to practice safe driving skills. Because buses lack standard safety equipment, such as seat belts, injury can also occur if the driver suddenly starts or stops, jostling passengers around, or if the driver doesn’t follow safety standards when letting passengers on or off.

Liability in a Bus Accident

Due to California’s common carrier rule, which states that drivers must exercise a higher degree of care than private parties, it is less difficult showing liability in a bus accident case. This does not mean that you are assured compensation if you’re injured, as bus accidents and injury claims are nonetheless complex. Insurance providers representing the bus company are diligent in these cases, and when the insurance company’s version of the accident becomes record, they tend to under-compensate for victims’ injuries.

Bus accidents that cause injury can happen in many different ways, and one of the challenges in recovering damages for your injuries is determining, exactly, who was responsible for the accident. In most cases, the party(s) responsible could include:

  • The company, such as MTS or NCTD
  • Bus maintenance companies
  • Tour operator
  • School district and school board
  • Bus driver
  • Driver of another vehicle
  • Manufacturer of the bus and/or its parts

What to Do in an Accident

If you are in a bus accident, the first thing you need to do is make sure that you and your loved ones receive prompt medical attention. Generally, the bus carrier will immediately call for medical help, and to be safe, make sure that the medical personnel provide a full evaluation, especially in relation to your head, neck, back, and spine. Once you are clear of medical injuries, the next step is to contact an experienced San Diego bus accident attorney as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that under California law (Cal. Code of Civ. Proc. §335.1), the statute of limitations for a bus accident is two years from the accident. If you do not file a lawsuit or if the claim is not resolved in a two year period, the chance for you to recover losses could be waived. With Attorney Jason A. Rodenbo representing your interests, you can feel safe that your case will be handled competently and that all filing deadlines will be met.

How a San Diego Bus Accident Attorney Can Help

Armed with substantial resources, including accident investigators, medical experts, accident re-constructionists, and more, Attorney Jason A. Rodenbo is fully prepared to uncover the circumstances surrounding the bus accident, determine fault, and get you the compensation you deserve from your injuries. Depending on you or your loved one’s injuries, we can identify possible claims for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Life care expenses
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Punitive damages
  • Vocational rehabilitation
  • Impairment of earning ability
  • Wrongful death
  • Loss of consortium

The Law Offices of Jason A. Rodenbo Can Help

Having recovered millions in damages for clients around San Diego and San Diego County, Attorney Jason A. Rodenbo stands as one of the top-rated personal injury attorneys in the city. With extensive accident experience, representing hundreds of different clients, we’ll make sure that no stones are left unturned. After a bus accident, you have to care for you or your loved one’s injuries. The Law Offices of Jason A. Rodenbo will take care of the rest. Feel free to visit our conveniently located office on 3rd Avenue, San Diego, or contact us for a free consultation at (877-241-0081) today.