Making use of a bus service, whether that be those operated by the municipality, school buses, or other privately-operated buses, it will be clear to you that this mode of transport offers a more affordable means of getting around Inglewood and nearby areas, as well as being more environmentally friendly than each of the passengers driving themselves from A to B. Of course, buses are simply larger road vehicles and, as such, can become involved in accidents and collisions from time to time. While bus accidents are significantly less frequent than car, motorcycle, or other types of traffic accidents, there can be some serious and even fatal injuries inflicted when one does occur.
At the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, our personal injury lawyers have over three decades of combined experience in successfully handling cases relating to bus accidents. While some bus accidents are, of course, genuine accidents, there are numerous others that happen only due to the negligent or deliberately dangerous actions of another motorist. If this applies to your case, we will do our utmost to ensure you recover the maximum compensation available to you.
COMMON CAUSES OF BUS ACCIDENTS
People throughout Inglewood rely on buses to help them get where they are going, whether that is running errands and shopping or heading to work or school. Bus accidents can occur at any time, although they are, luckily, pretty uncommon. Some of the most prevalent causes of bus accidents include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Violating traffic laws
- Poor road conditions
- Mechanical failure
- Poor bus maintenance
What Type of Injuries Are Caused by Bus Accidents?
When a bus crashes, the passengers, nearby pedestrians, and other motorists are all at risk of injury. As every scenario is different, there is no definitive guide to the potential injuries arising from a bus accident, but some of the most common ones we tend to encounter while representing clients just like you include:
- Head, neck & back injuries: These tend to be the most frequently occurring bus accident injuries. Passengers onboard the bus can be particularly susceptible, as the impact can cause their heads to snap backward or forwards suddenly, oftentimes striking the window, seat in front, or handrail. Some of the specific injuries in this category are whiplash, nerve damage, traumatic brain injury, and spinal damage
- Chest injuries: These injuries tend to be inflicted when a seat belt or similar restraint tightens to avoid more severe damage being sustained. Common chest injuries include fractured or broken ribs, collapsed lungs, or internal bleeding
- Emotional injuries: It is important to bear in mind that not all injuries are physical. When you hire an Inglewood bus accident attorney to handle your case, we will ensure that any emotional trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, is taken into consideration while pursuing compensation
Proving Liability Following a Serious Inglewood Bus Accident
This is the main question that your Inglewood lawyer will seek to answer definitively while investigating your case. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, liability may lie with the bus driver, another motorist, the municipality, or the manufacturers of a defective vehicle part or component. As you may imagine, proving liability can quickly become complicated and, as such, is best left to a qualified, experienced, legal expert.
COMPENSATION FOR INGLEWOOD BUS ACCIDENT INJURIES
Being hurt in a bus accident that is caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of another person can be devasting. And the injuries left behind by such accidents can alter the course of your life and leave you with lasting medical problems. How much you can recover in damages from your bus accident largely depends on what type of damages you suffered and who or what entity caused the accident.
While every bus accident case is unique, there are some common elements in any personal injury case, including bus accident cases, that have similarities. This includes the common recoverable damages for victims. These may include:
- Medical costs. The expenses that you incur as a result of your bus accident case are generally recoverable. This can be visits to the doctor, treatments, tests, X-rays, appointments with specialists, physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, assistive medical devices, prescriptions, and other related costs. Past, present, and future medical costs are typically included in a personal injury claim arising from a bus accident.
- Property damage. If you were involved in a bus accident while riding a bus and your property was lost or damaged as a result, then you have a right to recover the cost of that property. The same holds true for property damage that you sustained if you were driving a car or if you were a passenger in a car that was hit by a bus, causing damage to your vehicle.
- Lost wages. Missing work to recuperate from injuries sustained in a bus accident can put a dent in your finances. Past, present, and future wage losses are usually recoverable in a bus accident claim, including the loss of potential income if you are left unable to work or forced to take a lower-paying job due to your injuries, permanent disabilities, or deficits resulting from the accident.
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish. The physical pain caused by the bus accident, although harder to quantify, is also a recoverable loss. Emotional trauma and mental anguish are also recoverable, such as when a person begins having anxiety or panic disorder in the aftermath of a bus accident.
These are the most common forms of recoverable compensation that bus accident victims may be awarded as a result of bicycle accident claims. Awards may be the result of skillful negotiation by seasoned bus accident attorneys or hard won in a court of law by aggressive litigators. Whether by settlement or verdict, the ultimate goal of compensation in a bus accident case is to make you financially whole again so that you can move on with your life.
To discuss how an Inglewood bus accident attorney could recover the compensation you are entitled to, schedule your free initial consultation by calling us today at 310-997-0904.
