Bus Accident Lawyers in Los Angeles

Although buses are one of the safest forms of transportation and ubiquitous in Los Angeles, bus accident lawyers are necessary when disaster strikes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that bus accidents represented 0.5 percent of fatal accidents in 2006; about two-thirds of these were collisions with other vehicles, while one-third were pedestrian accidents or rollover and roof crush-related. But when buses do get into accidents, like the fatal Colusa Casino Tour Bus Crash on October 5, 2008, the results can be catastrophic, because schools, bus companies, and transit agencies routinely offer no seat belts or other safety precautions at all. Passengers must simply trust their luck — and the bus driver — to keep them out of a serious bus accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, contact Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, Los Angeles bus accident lawyers. Our law firm offers free consultations. call 888-498-6487

The lack of standard safety measures is just part of what makes buses a potential hazard. Buses hit between 90 and 100 pedestrians in the United States every year, according to the NHTSA, in part because their routes take them to curbs and through pedestrian-dense areas. Bus drivers also tend to have poor visibility because of their vehicles’ large size and limited rear view. NHTSA statistics show that other vehicles are most likely to collide with the bus’s right side, suggesting problems with visibility during lane changes. In the case of school buses, impatient drivers may cause tragic accidents with young children if they fail to stop when the red lights are flashing. And buses’ extremely heavy weight — more than 10,000 pounds — means they’re much more likely to have a deadly rollover accident than a passenger car. If bus drivers or others on the road don’t take enough care, a group outing or everyday commute can turn into a massive tragedy.

The Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP Los Angeles personal injury attorneys are leaders in complex consumer litigation, including cases involving automotive defects and bus accidents, pharmaceutical litigation and very serious injuries. Our partners have been repeatedly nominated as Trial Lawyers of the Year, Most Influential Attorneys, and for other professional awards, and regularly speak and write about trial practice to other attorneys.

To learn more about bus accidents across the state, please visit our California bus accident attorney page for more details.

Bus Accident Verdicts & Settlements

1. Doe vs. Bus Company $32,500,000
   A bus accident caused severe internal injuries to a minor.
2. Sims v. Mountain Area Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) $7,000,000
   Settlement of $7 million for severe traumatic brain injury sustained by plaintiff who was struck by a bus while crossing a street in Big Bear and struck her head on the pavement when she fell to the ground.
3. Cellamare v. Laidlaw $5,600,000
4. Heaven v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $4,000,000
5. Staley vs. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $3,200,000
   Carolyn Staley, a 21-year-old UCLA student, was struck in an MTA Bus Accident. Brian Panish argued that the defendant (MTA) was responsible for the accident and his client’s significant injuries. Case Settled for $3,200,000.
6. Castillo & Perez vs. Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) $1,500,000
   A bus turning at 2:00 a.m. in the rain hits crossing pedestrians. Castillo & Perez both suffer significant injuries due to the California bus accident. Attorney Brian Panish represented clients who received a $1,500,000 settlement.
7. Altman v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $1,500,000
8. Pendegrass v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $1,250,000
9. Poulos v. Long Beach Transit (LBT) $1,200,000

To schedule a free consultation with one of our Los Angeles accident lawyers, please call us at (310) 928-6200.