Sacramento Bus Accident Lawyer

Bus accidents pose a unique risk to the public because numerous innocent people on or around the bus are likely to be seriously injured in a crash. When a bus collides with a car or a pedestrian, the result is often catastrophic, if not fatal, injuries. However, determining who is responsible for a bus accident in a metropolitan area like Sacramento or elsewhere in Northern California can be a complex legal task.

At Demas Law Group, our knowledgeable Sacramento bus accident attorneys have more than two decades of experience working with injured victims and their families. Our law firm is well-versed in how public transportation agencies and private enterprise bus lines operate, and we know what the law requires them to do to keep passengers and the public safe.

Clients across Northern California have come to trust Demas Law Group for:

We have a 99 percent rate of success in obtaining settlements and verdicts for individuals and families harmed in accidents or by other types of negligent acts
We treat clients like VIPs ─ with compassion, respect, and one-on-one attention
We pursue justice for the unjustly injured and what we see as our duty to fight for what’s right
“No Win, No Fee” Guarantee – you will not be charged a cent unless we have recovered compensation for you

After a serious bus accident, you need an experienced legal team with the knowledge and the resources to handle this type of complex claim. Schedule a free consultation with our respected Sacramento bus accident lawyers today. We will review the accident that you were injured in and go over all the legal options available to you. Contact us now.

How Our Law Firm Investigates Passenger Bus Accidents

A thorough investigation of a bus accident is extremely important for determining why a crash occurred and who should be held responsible. Overworked law enforcement and government agencies cannot devote the time and resources required to fully investigate even the worst accidents. When they do investigate, law enforcement agencies focus on potential criminal charges, and government agencies are concerned about public opinion.

Only a personal injury law firm working for you will conduct a thorough, independent investigation of the bus accident you were injured in to determine whether you are owed compensation for your losses.

Our professional accident investigators have the field experience necessary to conduct a proper crash investigation. We also have the know-how to dig through the mountains of regulatory paperwork that bus companies are required to complete and maintain. In addition to police accident reports and other public accounts of the accident, among the evidence we want to obtain are:

Personnel records of the bus driver’s employment, licensing, driving experience, alcohol testing, performance, etc.
Dispatch records to identify the bus’s intended route, intended vs. actual departure and arrival times, communications with dispatchers, etc.
The crashed bus and its event data recorder (EDR). These “black box” devices are found on most commercial buses and record crash data such as speed, engine throttle, brake use, measured changes in forward velocity (Delta-V), steering angle, GPS data, collision warnings, and Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) warnings of problems in bus systems.
Bus inspection and maintenance records, which may suggest a mechanical problem that was improperly repaired, or neglected work. Maintenance records may also point to a liable third-party service provider.
Surveillance video from public or private sources, such as stoplight cameras or store security cameras.
Footage may show the bus prior to the accident or even show the crash.
The bus driver’s cellphone records, which could show use at the time of the accident, and therefore distracted driving.
Bus and/or bus component recall notices, which could indicate that a motor coach company or transit agency ignored a known defect and negligently put an unsafe vehicle on the road.

To investigate complex bus accidents, we often work with accident reconstruction specialists who use advanced forensic techniques to determine how a crash occurred. These professionals prepare detailed reports for us that serve as evidence in a claim, and they can testify as expert witnesses in cases that go to trial.

Our law firm will work quickly to identify what caused the crash and which party(s) should be held liable. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a bus accident, schedule a free consultation today to get started on your claim.

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meet our team

John Demas

Founding Partner

Brad Schultz

Personal Injury Attorney

Jacqueline Siemens

Personal Injury Attorney

Kate R. Ebert

Personal Injury Attorney

Tim Spangler

Personal Injury Attorney

Erik Gutierrez

Personal Injury Attorney

We’ve all seen it, crazy driver on the road. Driving too fast, texting & driving, weaving in & out of traffic. How many times over the years, all of a sudden everyone is breaking. So close, but you continue unscathed. Then, one day, it happens, you become the statistic, the one everyone slows down to look at. You’re in shock, what do you do? No one seems concerned, not the police, not the doctors. You need support, guidance, and protection. Who do you call? Lucky for me, that was Demas law. From day one they provided all the help, guidance, compassion, & support that lead me from A to Z. The entire team was professional and kind. My gratitude and appreciation for all they’ve done for me far exceeded my expectations. If you’re in need, don’t waiver, go with Demas law group, it’ll be the best thing you could ever do for yourself!

Matt Young at Demas Law did a fantastic job representing our car accident case. Matt was very knowledgeable, kind, and very thorough. He was very flexible with his time, made sure all our questions were answered, and was able to secure a settlement in a really difficult situation. The insurance company we tried working with before hiring an attorney pretty much told us “sorry we can’t help you”. Matt turned that around quickly and got the highest payout for an uninsured motorist case. The rates were more than reasonable and we would not only recommend the firm but also use them again if the unfortunate happens. M.A.

Who Could Be Held Responsible for a Bus Accident?

Driver negligence accounts for nearly 80 percent of bus accidents. Therefore, the bus driver and the bus company or agency are likely to be defendants in a bus accident claim.

Even though bus drivers are often found at fault, other third parties may also share partial responsibility for an accident. It is not unusual to find that improper maintenance or a defective automotive system, part, or component on a bus failed and contributed to an accident. In some cases, problems with the roadway itself may contribute to a bus crash.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may be able to pursue a personal injury claim against one or more parties, such as:

The bus driver. In most bus accidents, the driver was negligent in one way or another and caused or at least contributed to the crash. Two common causes of bus accidents are distracted driving and, in interstate bus transportation, fatigued driving.
The agency and/or corporation that owns the bus and employs the bus driver. In both the private and public sectors, employers can be held liable for the actions of their employees, particularly commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This includes municipalities, other local governments, and school districts that operate transportation systems. Bus owners / operators may also be held liable if systemic negligence or other employees’ failures contribute to an accident, such as having hired an unqualified or unlicensed driver, failing to drug test an employee who is found to have been impaired, neglecting maintenance needs, or pushing a driver to violate hours-of-service rules for passenger-carrying CMVs.
A service vendor, such as a firm hired to maintain a bus fleet. If contracted mechanics performed inferior work or failed to adhere to maintenance schedules, and this is found to have contributed to the accident, it may be the basis of a claim.
Manufacturers and retailers of buses and/or bus components and parts. If a defective product – brakes, tires, steering systems, etc. – failed and caused a crash, this would be cause for a product liability claim.
The federal, state, or local governmental agency responsible for building and maintaining roads where a bus accident happened. If faulty road design or maintenance contributed to a bus accident, the responsible government body and possibly its contractors hired for such work could be liable for their negligence. If a badly designed or erected highway work zone contributed to an accident, such as by not providing adequate warning and space for a bus to slow down, this could be cause for a claim.

Additionally, commercial bus operations are governed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and requirements, which are extensive and specific. At the state level, multiple agencies are responsible for setting or enforcing requirements for school-bus driver qualifications and training, vehicles, inspections, and other operational aspects not covered by the FMCSA. Bus companies and local transportation agencies are also legally required to maintain rigorous documentation of their adherence to federal regulations.

When oversight is lax and regulations aren’t followed, accidents happen. Our skilled Sacramento bus accident lawyers can identify any violation of federal, state, or local regulations by a motorcoach company, a local transit agency, their bus driver, and/or another party. However, we need to launch an investigation as soon as possible after a crash.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our knowledgeable legal team. Our law firm has the resources to conduct the investigation required of a serious bus accident and to take on multiple, potentially powerful defendants.

Contact Us Now For A Free Case Evaluation!

Related Information

Compensation for Your Injuries in a Bus Accident

To calculate what you are owed for injuries in a motor vehicle accident, we will obtain copies of your medical records and have them reviewed by independent professionals who can assess your treatment and prognosis. In cases of disabling injuries, we work with medical specialists and life-care planning experts to project your future medical requirements and their probable costs.

We will also talk to you about documenting your injuries, medical care, and recovery. Written accounts, photos, video, etc., can show your pain and suffering, and the impact of the accident on your day-to-day life.

Our Sacramento bus accident lawyers will file all the necessary insurance claims, which may demand compensation for:

Medical bills, including the cost of emergency medical care, hospitalization, diagnostic tests, surgery, physical therapy, medication, etc.
Future medical costs, such as for anticipated medical treatment or for in-home assistance, such as nursing care; assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, etc.; or household modifications, like ramps or widened doorways, necessitated by disabling injuries
Lost income during your recovery, including for work missed due to doctors’ appointments, physical therapy, etc.
Future income losses caused by diminished earning capacity due to your injuries
Property damage, such as, but not limited to, motor vehicle repair or replacement costs
Pain and suffering, which includes your physical pain, emotional turmoil, stress, disruption of lifestyle, and/or loss of enjoyment of life

After we file insurance claims, we follow up with aggressive negotiations for full payment to our clients. In bus accidents with catastrophic and/or multiple injuries, the agency or company responsible for the bus’s operations will often settle to avoid additional negative publicity, as well as the cost of unpromising litigation.

However, our respected litigators prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. So if the defendants and their insurers refuse to do the right thing, they will soon find out that they have an uphill battle ahead of them.

Why Bus Accident Injury Claims Are So Complex

Whether it’s a city bus run by Sacramento Regional Transit, a school bus, or a large or small motorcoach company, when a bus gets into an accident, it is likely to be a more involved matter than a simple car accident. Consider that:

The physical size of a passenger bus compared to passenger cars means car occupants are likely to suffer serious injury if a car is hit by a bus. Pedestrians and cyclists are likely to suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries if hit by a bus.
There may be multiple passenger injuries in a bus accident. Many buses – including school buses – lack seat belts and other safety equipment. When a collision occurs or a bus rolls over in an accident, passengers are thrown about the interior of the bus, resulting in broken bones, head and brain injuries, and other serious injuries.
Buses are operated by government or private organizations, or public-private partnerships, and may be serviced and maintained by additional “third parties.” This can complicate assigning responsibility for accidents.
Buses are regulated as commercial motor vehicles by technically dense federal, state, and local laws.

Don’t let the complexities of a bus accident claim prevent you from pursuing the compensation you need to recover from a crash. Our dedicated California bus accident lawyers at Demas Law Group have the experience and resources necessary to fight for you.

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