Car accidents are nothing new. Whether witnessed in traffic or broadcasted on the news, car accidents seem to be a part of everyday life in San Francisco. Bus accidents, on the other hand, are more of a rarity. When bus accidents do happen, it means that there are dozens of people’s lives on the line.
When we send loved ones on buses, whether public or privately owned, there is an assumption that all the necessary precautions are taken to ensure that your loved ones will stay safe in the event of an accident. Yet, buses can easily turn over in an accident. And most buses do not have seatbelts for their passengers. If you or your loved one has suffered injuries as a result of a bus accident, it is important to understand how exactly the bus driver is liable and what actions are necessary to take in a lawsuit with a bus accident lawyer.
An important aspect in understanding the liability in bus accidents is to know whether the bus driver involved in the accident is from a bus company (privately owned) or a government bus. The answer will change the way you approach the lawsuit. With privately owned bus companies, they are similar to any other company during a lawsuit in that that will fight to make sure that you receive little to no compensation for your injuries. You and your bus accident lawyer will be in correspondence with insurance companies and, usually, reach a settlement. Government buses, on the other hand, require you to file a claim with a government body. The claim must follow very strict guidelines involving filing deadlines as well as correctly filling out the documents required. If any of these requirements are not met, then your claim will be dismissed. Whether a private or public bus caused you or your loved one’s accident, the experience of a seasoned bus accident attorney in San Francisco can give you clearer insight on the guidelines for filing a lawsuit without issue.
