Los Angeles Bus Accident Attorney

While buses are generally a safe form of transportation, when they are involved in accidents, the results can be catastrophic. Pedestrians, occupants of smaller passenger vehicles, and passengers of the buses themselves are all at risk of serious injury or death in collisions involving buses. When that happens, those responsible for the crash can be held accountable.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident in Los Angeles, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can help. Our Los Angeles bus accident lawyers have significant experience handling collisions involving buses and understand how to succeed in complex cases.

Whether the bus involved was operated by a school district, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), or a private bus company, our attorneys are ready to build a strong case on your behalf. We handle all Los Angeles bus accident claims on a contingency fee basis, and the consultation is absolutely free. Call (310) 928-6200 to speak with an attorney today.

Our Experience in Bus Accident Cases

The law firm that you choose to represent you can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. Not all law firms have deep experience handling bus accident cases. The reality is that these claims can be extremely complex, both because of the severity of the resultant injuries and because of the potential defendants involved.

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars fighting for justice on behalf of those injured in bus crashes. We have held both public and private entities responsible for the damage their drivers and vehicles have caused. We can and will leverage this experience and expertise on your behalf. Some relevant cases include:

• Doe vs. Bus Company $32,500,000 A bus accident caused severe internal injuries to a minor.
• Sims v. Mountain Area Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) $7,000,000 Settlement of $7 million for severe traumatic brain injury sustained by the 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.
• Cellamare v. Laidlaw $5,600,000
• Heaven v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $4,000,000
• 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.
• Castillo & Perez vs. Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) $1,500,000 A bus turning at 2:00 a.m. in the rain hits pedestrians crossing. Castillo & Perez both suffered significant injuries due to the California bus accident. Attorney Brian Panish represented clients who received a $1,500,000 settlement.
• Altman v. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $1,500,000
• Pendegrass v. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $1,250,000
• Poulos v. Long Beach Transit (LBT) $1,200,000

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys are leaders in complex consumer litigation, including cases involving automotive defects, bus accidents, 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.

How Our Bus Accident Attorneys Can Help You

No matter how you sustained it, a serious injury dramatically – and often permanently – impacts your life. Victims who are injured in these crashes will be forced to handle a wide range of difficulties they have likely never faced before, including physically recovering from their injuries, paying for their medical bills, and finding a way to return to their normal lives.

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we understand how challenging this time can be, and that’s why we are here to help. We can be the strength by your side and build a strong case for justice, while you focus on recovery. If you retain our attorneys to represent you, we will begin working on your behalf immediately. Our attorneys can:

• Begin an investigation into the facts of the crash
• Locate and interview the witnesses to the collision
• Gather your medical records from relevant healthcare providers
• Locate and acquire all of the physical evidence of the crash, including bus maintenance records,
• Identify the responsible party or entity to ensure they pay you the money they owe
• File a lawsuit and litigate your case in court if no fair settlement can be reached

You don’t have to go through the aftermath of a serious injury on your own. Our attorneys are knowledgeable, compassionate, and have developed a deep understanding of how to handle these cases. To schedule a free consultation with our Los Angeles bus accident attorneys, call (310) 928-6200, or fill out our contact form today.

How Safe Are Buses in Los Angeles?

In Los Angeles County, hundreds of buses are involved in collisions each year. From 2019-2025, there were over 1,900 bus crashes in the county, leaving nearly 1,450 injured and over 50 dead.

As previously mentioned, bus travel is relatively safe – especially for bus occupants. However, the size and design of buses that help protect passengers also puts occupants of smaller vehicles or non-motorists at risk. In fact, over 100 of those crashes involved a pedestrian or bicyclist.

While just under half of those crashes occurred in the city of Los Angeles, nearly every city in Los Angeles County saw at least one bus crash during this time period. The top 10 include:

• 1. Los Angeles 919 bus crashes
• 2. Long Beach 80 bus crashes
• 3. Santa Monica 39 bus crashes
• 4. Pasadena 33 bus crashes
• 5. Pomona 33 bus crashes
• 6. Lancaster 30 bus crashes
• 7. Inglewood 27 bus crashes
• 8. Downey 26 bus crashes
• 9. West Covina 23 bus crashes
• T-10.Norwalk 21 bus crashes
• T-10. Palmdale 21 bus crashes

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

Liability in Bus Crashes

The vast majority of bus collisions in Los Angeles County involve public entities such as transit agencies, school districts, and cities. In fact, nearly 46 percent of L.A. County bus crashes over the past 7 years – 876 of 1,911 crashes – involved a Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (LACMTA) vehicle.

The next closest operator was Foothill Transit, which services San Gabriel Valley, Pomona Valley, and downtown Los Angeles, with 88 crashes, followed by the Los Angeles Unified School District with 54, the Long Beach Public Transportation Company with 51, the City of Los Angeles with 48, and the City of Santa Monica with 35 crashes.

In California, bus operators are classified as common carriers, and their vehicles and drivers are held to a higher standard than other passenger vehicles. California Civil Code requires them to exercise the utmost care and diligence for the safety of passengers and that they provide safe vehicles, conduct regular maintenance, and adequately train employees, such as bus drivers.

If a collision was the result of negligence, the operator of the bus can be held liable for the damage and injuries they cause. This includes errors or negligence on behalf of their drivers, such as:

• Carelessness or inattention
• Distracted Driving
• Driver Fatigue
• Speeding & Aggressive Driving:
• Driving Under the Influence
• Following too closely
• Failure to signal
• Ignoring or disregarding traffic signals

It can also include other negligence or inadequacies in training, hiring, maintenance, and even defective mechanical parts, such as:

• Inadequate training or negligent hiring
• Inadequate or negligent maintenance
• Brake failures due to malfunctioning or worn-out brakes;
• Tire failures and blowouts;
• Steering system issues;
• Faulty lights or signals, such as defective headlights, taillights, or turn signals; or
• Mechanical failures in the engine or transmission.

Common Injuries in Bus Accidents

Injuries sustained from bus crashes can be severe and can differ drastically depending upon the type of road user or class of vehicle a victim is an occupant of.  Of course, pedestrians and cyclists who are struck by buses are at the highest risk of suffering a fatal injury, but are also vulnerable to severe crush injuries and major brain or spinal cord injuries.  Occupants of passenger vehicles are also extremely vulnerable to serious injury and typically bear the brunt of the damage when involved in a crash with a much larger bus.  Severe injuries can include:

• Death
• Spinal cord injury
• Head and brain trauma
• Crushing injuries that can require amputation or leave victims with permanent disability
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Chest injuries
• Injuries to the lower extremities
• Wrist and arm injuries, particularly for bus occupants who are thrown around the vehicle in a crash
• and more

Damages We Can Help You Recover After a Bus Accident

If you were injured in a bus accident, you may be entitled to damages under California law. These damages are financial compensation that must be paid to an injured person by the person, people, or entity responsible for their injury. Under the law, damages are intended to make an injured person “whole,” meaning that the purpose of an award of damages is to put the injured person in as close to the place they would have been in had they not been injured. Importantly, the only type of damages that are intended to punish the responsible party are punitive damages, and they are rarely awarded. California juries commonly award the following types of damages in bus accident cases:

1. Medical Expenses: Damages are awarded to compensate an injured person for the medical expenses he or she incurred as a result of their injury. These damages are awarded for the medical expenses incurred by the injured person in the past and those that they will incur in the future as a result of the injury.
2. Lost Wages: People injured in bus accidents are also entitled to receive damages for the wages they lost due to their injuries. These damages compensate the injured person for the wages they have already lost as well as those that they will lose in the future due to their injury.
3. Diminished Earning Capacity: Damages awarded for diminished earning capacity may sound similar to lost wages, but it differs slightly. Lost wages are awarded for the wages that the person lost, but diminished earning capacity refers to the lost or decreased ability too earn wages as a result of the injury.
4. Pain & Suffering: Damages for pain and suffering are those damages awarded to compensate the injured person for the physical sensation of pain that he or she experienced due to the injury. These damages also include hedonic damages as a subset of pain and suffering damages, compensating the person for their lost ability to enjoy their daily life.
5. Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are awarded for the sole purpose of punishing a defendant’s conduct and are not compensatory in nature. While an injured person is always entitled to the compensatory damages they can prove, they are never entitled to punitive damages even if they have sufficient evidence for the jury. These damages are a question solely for the jury.

Call Panish | Shea |Ravipudi LLP for a Free Consultation

You don’t have to deal with the aftermath of a serious injury alone.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a collision involving a bus anywhere in Los Angeles County, please contact us as soon as you are able. We will listen to the facts of your case, thoroughly explain your legal options, and, if you decide to retain our attorneys, work tirelessly on your behalf to hold the bus company, public entity, or other drivers who were responsible for your injuries.

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