If you or a family member were injured in a bus accident in Vista, CA, you might be able to hold the at-fault party liable for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and more. A Vista bus accident lawyer with Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers can stand up for your rights beginning today, give us a call at (619) 344-0360.
Bus accidents are no laughing matter; they can cause serious harm to those involved. As common carriers, busses and bus companies are often held to a higher standard of care than most other motor vehicles.
Our personal injury lawyers possess over 20 years of experience, and our law firm has collected $40 million on behalf of our clients since 2012, when we were founded. Because of this track record, we’re confident that we can achieve a favorable outcome for your case as well.
To learn more or to start forming an attorney-client relationship, reach out online. We’re available 24/7 to take your call. We also offer a free consultation to go over your case.
How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Bus Accident in Vista
You and your family might be feeling overwhelmed after a Vista bus accident, which is more than understandable. There might be an insurance company asking you a laundry list of questions, and you might have mounting medical bills. If you’ve had to miss work due to the accident, this can be difficult to manage. And that’s not to mention your pain and suffering.
One thing is clear: you deserve to be compensated by the party responsible for the crash. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, our Vista personal injury lawyers can fight for compensation on your behalf. Some of the ways our law firm can help with your case in Vista, California, include:
- Hiring experts, such as accident reconstructionists, to analyze and strengthen your claim
- Internally investigating your case to determine the extent of your damages and to collect evidence
- Apprising you of your legal options at each stage of the process
- Filing a lawsuit and bringing your case before a San Diego County jury at trial if the other party won’t negotiate with us in good faith
Our award-winning personal injury attorneys are here to help you make it through this tough time. Reach out to us today for more information about how we can assist.
Are Bus Accidents Common?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road, and they are also some of the safest. The NHTSA indicates that school busses account for less than 1% of traffic fatalities.
California’s Department of Education (CDE) discusses school bus accidents as well, based on an NHTSA report. CDE notes that over the past 11 years, school busses have been involved in around 26,000 crashes on average, resulting in 10 deaths.
Of course, school busses aren’t the only type of bus on the road. But they are the most prevalent and the only type for which statistics are readily available.
What’s My Bus Accident Case in Vista Worth?
The value of your bus accident case in Vista is unique based on the circumstances and facts involved. Without that information, it is difficult to assess how much a case is worth. There are factors that do influence the value of most bus accident cases, which include:
- The severity of your injuries
- The types of injuries you’ve sustained
- How much evidence is available to support your claim
- Whether you will make a full medical recovery
- Whether you share any blame for the crash
The bus accident cases involving the most serious injuries and those that most significantly impact the victim’s life tend to be the most valuable. Our lawyers will aim to maximize the value of your Vista bus accident claim when you hire us to represent you.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Victims of Bus Accidents?
Victims of bus accidents in Vista, California, can claim economic damages as well as non-economic damages. Punitive damages may be available in rare cases, too.
Economic damages make up for your financial losses. A few examples of this type of damages are:
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Medical bills
Non-economic damages make up for your other types of losses. Some examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Scarring
Punitive damages could be available if the at-fault party acted egregiously, such as with malice or recklessness. These damages are meant to punish the defendant for their behavior.
May I Still Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Bus Accident in California?
Yes. California works under a pure comparative negligence doctrine when it comes to the issue of contributory fault. California law allows you to recover damages even if you are partially to blame for the bus accident, but your damages award could be reduced according to your level of fault.
You’ll be assigned a percentage of fault, and your compensation award could be reduced in proportion to that percentage. For example, you are awarded $100,000 by a jury, but you’re found to be 20% at fault. In that circumstance, your award could drop to $80,000, which is the full amount minus your percent of fault.
Contributory fault can significantly reduce the amount of money you receive for your claim, so it’s critical to have an attorney to represent your interests and ensure that you aren’t assigned more blame than is fair.
We’ll Work Hard To Recover Compensation for All of Your Vista Bus Accident Injuries
Bus accidents can result in serious injuries. Some of the more common include the following:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Leg injuries
- Chest injuries
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Whether or not your injury is mentioned above, our Vista bus accident attorneys are more than up to the task of helping you pursue compensation. Get in touch with us today for trusted legal advice and guidance.
What Causes Most Bus Accidents in Vista, CA?
Most bus accidents are caused by things like:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or intoxicated driving
- Fatigued driving
- Improper turning or braking
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Poor weather conditions
- Defective machinery
- Road defects
- Improper lane changes
Have you been involved in a bus crash in Vista, California? Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers can help; call today to schedule a free case evaluation.
How Do I Establish Fault After a Bus Accident in California?
The majority of bus accident cases will entail proving negligence in order to establish fault. Negligence is a legal term that means something similar to “carelessness.” There are four legal elements required to prove negligence, which are duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
Because busses are considered common carriers, the breach of duty element can be easier to prove. Common carriers are held to a higher duty of care than the average motor vehicle, so it is easier for them to violate that duty.
The personal injury victim has the burden of proof to establish each element by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning each must be more likely true than false. You’ll assert these elements with evidence, such as medical records, photos and videos of the accident scene, and witness testimony.
How Long Do I Have To File a Bus Accident Lawsuit in California?
California’s statute of limitations is a law that establishes when lawsuits must be filed by. It is important that you file your lawsuit on time. Otherwise, you’ll forfeit your ability to pursue compensation, and a court of law won’t hear your case.
For most bus accident cases, you will have two years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. However, this is just the general rule – there are exceptions. One exception is that you’ll have less time to file your lawsuit if you intend to sue a governmental entity. Another is that you could have more time if you can’t file your lawsuit because the defendant has fled the state.
We recommend promptly reaching out to our legal team if you have any questions about how the statute of limitations applies to your case.
Reach Out to an Experienced Vista Bus Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Review
If you have sustained an injury in a bus accident in Vista, California, you might have a case for compensation from the party responsible for the wreck. While you take the time you need to rest and heal from the accident, our Vista bus accident lawyers will zealously represent your legal rights. We’ll work hard to maximize the value of your compensation award.
In addition, our personal injury law firm works on a contingency fee basis. That means you can hire us even if you are in a difficult financial situation; it won’t cost you anything upfront to hire us. Instead, we only win when you do – we’ll receive payment as a percentage of the financial award we collect for you.
Ready to get started? Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Our personal injury law firm in Vista, CA also provides:
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