Bus travel is a convenient way to get where you need to go without spending much money. Hundreds of buses run through San Francisco each day.
Not surprisingly, San Francisco and the surrounding areas have their share of bus accidents. Due to their enormous size and weight, lack of seat belts, and clumsy maneuverability, buses often result in serious injuries.
Being involved in a bus accident can be devastating whether you are a bus passenger, driver, or passenger of another vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist.
Bus accident cases are unique, and recovering compensation for injuries can be complicated. You need an experienced San Francisco bus accident attorney with a proven record of recovering maximum client compensation.
Our accident attorneys have the experience and skill to thoroughly investigate each accident, determine its causes, and identify all potentially liable parties. At Jacoby & Meyers, we have been winning big for our clients for over 50 years, and we want to do the same for you.
Contact us today at (415) 855-4289 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free case evaluation. We will listen to you, answer your questions, explain your rights, and help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Who is Responsible for My San Francisco Bus Accident Injuries?
Proving liability in a bus accident case can be tricky. There are numerous potentially liable parties, including:
- The bus driver
- The owner of the bus
- The driver and owner of another vehicle that was involved in the accident
- The bus maintenance company
- The manufacturer of defective equipment or parts
- A government entity for hazardous road conditions
Multiple parties could be at fault for the accident. For example, if the driver was speeding but the brakes failed due to negligence maintenance, both the driver and the maintenance company could be liable.
Jacoby & Meyers attorneys are highly skilled at investigating accidents, determining their causes, and ensuring that at-fault parties are held responsible.
California follows a pure comparative fault rule which means that multiple parties may be assigned responsibility for an accident. If you think you were partially to blame in the accident, you can still recover damages from the other at-fault parties.
However, your compensation would be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example if you are found to be 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would receive $80,000 because your 20% of fault is deducted from the total.
How Long Do I Have To File A Claim?
The statute of limitations for most California personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident or incident that caused your injuries. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and these exceptions are likely applicable to bus accident cases.
For example, if you have a claim against a government entity, you have a much shorter deadline for filing your claim. All claims against public entities are governed by the California Government Claims Act, which mandates how and when you must file these claims.
You must act quickly because the city or other government entities own or operate many buses. Additionally, bus accidents could be caused by other conditions that a government entity is responsible for, such as road hazards.
Another important reason to act quickly is to preserve vital evidence. Evidence can be lost, destroyed, or diminished over time, so your attorney needs to gather and maintain the best evidence to support your claim promptly.
When we take a case, our personal injury attorneys immediately investigate the accident, identify potentially liable parties, and use aggressive discovery techniques to get the evidence to build your case.
Common Types of Injuries in San Francisco Bus Accidents
Bus accident injuries can range from minor to catastrophic. Some of the most common San Francisco bus accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Back and neck sprains and strains
- Broken and crushed bones
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Cuts and lacerations
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Some injuries can result in the need for long-term medical care, disabilities, and chronic pain. Be sure you know the total value of your case before accepting a settlement offer. Your experienced San Francisco bus accident attorney can properly assess and value your claims so you know whether a settlement offer is reasonable.
What Damages Can I Recover in a San Francisco Bus Accident Case?
The type and amount of damages you may recover depend on your case’s specific facts. Generally, there are three types of damages you may be able to recover. They are economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
Economic damages are objective and usually easy to prove. They include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future lost wages
- Current and future therapy expenses
- Cost for necessary modifications to your home or vehicle because of your injuries
- Other necessary expenses caused by your injuries
Non-economic damages are more subjective and can be challenging to prove. However, they can be just as severe as economic damages. They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent disability
Both economic and non-economic damages aim to compensate the injury victim for their losses.
Punitive damages, also called exemplary damages, are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter future similar behavior. This type of damages is rarely granted.
Only a jury can award punitive damages after finding that the plaintiff has proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with malice, fraud, or oppression.
Contact a San Francisco Bus Accident Attorney
Bus accident cases can be complex. If you have been injured in a bus accident, you need the help of an experienced San Francisco bus accident attorney.
The bus accident attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers have protected the rights of personal injury victims for over 50 years. We have a proven history of recovering maximum compensation for our clients, and we want to do the same for you.
Contact us at (415) 855-4289 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free case evaluation. We look forward to meeting you, answering your questions, explaining your rights, and helping you get every dollar you deserve.