Transportation by bus is a necessary method of travel for many Californians, including those living in Tulare, named after Tulare Lake and situated in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. In spite of the affordability and convenience provided by buses, there is a risk of severe injuries and damage to vehicles and other property in the event of an accident.
Did you or your family member end up with injuries from a bus accident in Tulare, California? You and your family may have grounds to seek monetary damages by filing an injury claim with the city of Tulare, a private bus company, or another entity altogether. Our attorneys are here to guide you through the legal system and ensure that your finances are restored, along with your physical and mental health.
Please note that bus accident claims and lawsuits involve nuances and complication that you won’t find in the average passenger vehicle accident case. That’s why help from a personal injury lawyer is critical right from the start, which you will find here at Normandie Law Firm.
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Why Bus Accidents Happen in Tulare, CA
There are many different variables that can lead to a bus accident, whether you are on a school bus, or a public transportation vehicle operated by the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency, often referred to as TCRTA or the Transit Agency.
The truth is, accidents are not 100% preventable, but companies that own and operate buses have a duty of care to minimize the potential for an accident. Sadly, the majority of bus accidents in Tulare are traced to acts of negligence or misconduct, such as:
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Distracted driving
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Driving a bus while drowsy or fatigued
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Engaging in dangerous conduct, like speeding or cutting people off in traffic
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Bus company failing to schedule repairs
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Inadequate maintenance by auto mechanics
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Hazardous conditions on the bus (wet floors, broken handrails, falling objects)
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Driving while intoxicated
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Defective or missing seatbelts
Injuries You can Sustain in a Bus Accident
Due to the weight and size of the average bus, it’s likely that people involved in an accident will suffer significant injuries with long-term or permeant complications. Victims may also die from life-threatening injuries, which is why immediate medical attention is so important. Possible injuries caused by bus accidents include:
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Traumatic brain injury from a concussion or skull fracture
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Neck and spinal cord injury
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Broken bones
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Deep cuts that put you at risk of infections and permanent scarring
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Dislocated joints in the knee and shoulder
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Wrist or ankle fracture
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Damage to internal organs (rupturing or puncturing)
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Torn ligaments and tendons
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Eye injuries, like retinal detachment
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Hearing loss due to injury of the ear canal
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Complex regional pain syndrome
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Loss of consciousness / coma
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Paralysis
Your Right to Sue for a Bus Accident
Government entities and private companies that operate public transportation vehicles have a duty of are to the public. This includes hiring responsible drivers and providing them with through training, and firing drivers that are careless or reckless. Bus companies must also adhere to government regulations and ensure that their vehicles are maintained on a regular basis.
When a bus company fails to exercise reasonable care, the injured victims may qualify for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages from an accident claim. The key is to prove that conduct by someone other than yourself (the bus driver, for example) meets the legal standard for negligence. This is not the same thing as a bus company’s failure to prevent an accident, which is inevitable to some degree. Instead, the right to sue is based on whether the company, their employee, another driver, etc., failed to take reasonable measures for the sake of preventing harm to others.
Please note that bus accident investigations can take weeks or months, depending on the severity of the accident, how many people are involved, and many other factors. The bus company will try to minimize their role in the accident as much as possible, so it’s important to hire an attorney, who will conduct their own investigation. This is the only way to uncover who is truly responsible and fight for payments you are entitled to.
Deadline to Sue a Private Bus Company
The Greyhound bus depot is a major transportation hub in Tulare, and this is a private company that offers bus travel to many locations in the Western U.S. If you are filing an injury claim against Greyhound or another private bus company, you must file a lawsuit no later than 2 years from when the accident occurred. Failure to do so will cost you the right to financial restitution, even if all the evidence points to the fact that the defendant is responsible for the accident.
Contact a bus accident attorney in Tulare, who can help you file a compensation claim. Our attorneys can also represent you in a wrongful death lawsuit against Greyhound, meaning that you lost a loved one to a bus accident. Please note that clams for wrongful death benefits must be filed within 2 years of when the victim passed away.
Seeking Damages from the City of Tulare
As we mentioned before, Tulare has its own local transportation system, known as the Transit Agency or TCRTA. Government entities, like the city of Tulare, are bound by a 6-months statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. That means you have 6 months from the accident date (or date of death) to submit a liability claim with supporting evidence and proof of why you are entitled to certain payments.
Because of the tight deadline and various complications that are specific to public entity lawsuits, we strongly recommend that you hire an experienced bus accident injury lawyer.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Legal advice and guidance on what to do are essential when you have been injured in a bus accident. Our legal team is available to you 24/7, and we are more than ready to fight for the settlement you deserve.
Along with decades of experience in bus accident injury claims, we have a Zero Fee Guarantee that you will be offered from day one. This policy allows you to hire an experienced attorney for $0 upfront. Upon our receipt of your payment from the negligent party, we will deduct a percentage of the funds to cover the cost of representing you. That way, you can be sure that no payment will be expected from you unless we bring about a successful resolution to your case.
Contact the offices of Normandie Law Firm and schedule a free consultation on your rights and legal options.
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