Ventura Bus Accident Lawyer  

If you were recently injured in an accident involving a school bus, private bus, charter bus, tour bus or a Ventura County public bus, legal representation is available at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP. Our team of experienced bus accident lawyers can represent you during an insurance claim or bus accident lawsuit to help you pursue a positive case outcome. 

We care about our personal injury clients and have recovered more than $5 billion in successful settlements and verdicts. Find out how we can help you during a free case consultation with one of our lawyers in Ventura. Contact us today.

Why Choose Us?

• Our Ventura personal injury lawyers have represented clients in California since 1936. We are regarded as being at the top of our field and have won numerous legal awards and honors.
• You will benefit from the undivided attention of your attorney, not a paralegal or associate. Your lawyer will craft a custom legal strategy suited to your unique case and goals.
• We accept Ventura bus accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t charge a dime for our services unless we secure financial compensation on the client’s behalf.

Who Is Liable for a Bus Accident in Ventura?

 Bus accident cases in California involve complex legal principles, such as federal bus safety laws and liability issues. Unlike a standard car accident case that only involves two drivers and their respective insurance companies, a bus accident claim could involve multiple passengers, the bus company or a government agency, a third-party driver, or a bus manufacturer. Determining liability can be difficult in these complicated cases.

 If a bus driver is at fault for causing a traffic accident in Ventura, the driver’s employer can most likely be held vicariously liable. This could mean a school, school district, private bus company or government entity is responsible for paying for victims’ bills. At-fault parties could also be held directly liable for their own acts of negligence that result in a bus accident, such as poor fleet maintenance or the failure to properly train bus drivers.

 If a bus driver was off-duty at the time of a crash, however, he or she may be held personally liable. The driver of a vehicle outside of the bus could also face personal liability if he or she crashed into the bus. All drivers in California are required to carry liability insurance to pay for at-fault auto accidents. In some bus accident cases, multiple parties can be held liable – each for his or her allocated percentage of fault for the crash.

Pursuing Fair Compensation for a Bus Accident in Ventura

 If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a Ventura bus accident, you may be eligible for financial compensation for your related economic and noneconomic damages. One or more parties may be financially responsible for all of the losses you suffered because of the bus accident and your subsequent injuries.

 Available compensation in a bus accident case may include:

• Past and future medical bills
• Lost wages and earning opportunities
• Lost capacity to earn due to a permanent disability
• Property damage repairs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages, in a fatal bus accident case
• Punitive damages to punish the defendant, in some cases

 Unfortunately, you cannot trust an insurance company to initially offer you fair financial compensation for your losses as a bus accident victim. Insurance companies are notorious for undervaluing losses and rejecting valid claims in an attempt to save money on payouts. Before you accept a fast insurance settlement, consult with a lawyer to discuss the value of your case.

How Long Do You Have to File a Bus Accident Claim in Ventura? 

In California, a law known as the statute of limitations gives claimants no more than two years to file a personal injury case (or three years for a case only involving property damage). In general, the statute of limitations starts on the date of the bus accident. However, if you did not discover your injuries right away, you may have two years from the date of reasonable injury discovery to file.

 If the defendant in your bus accident case is a government entity, such as if you need to sue Ventura County for a public transit accident, you will have a shorter statute of limitations. In California, plaintiffs have just six months to one year to file a claim against the government under the California Tort Claims Act. This is why it is critical to contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Common Causes of California Bus Accidents

After a motor vehicle accident in California, fault must be determined before an injured victim can seek financial compensation. This is the rule under California’s fault-based insurance law, which states that drivers or other parties who are at fault for causing auto accidents must pay for victims’ related damages. In a bus accident case, fault could go to one or more parties for causing or substantially contributing to the crash.

Common causes of bus accidents include: 

• Distracted and negligent bus drivers
• Driving too fast for road or traffic conditions
• Following other vehicles too closely
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Driving while intoxicated
• Driving while drowsy or fatigued 
• Violated hours-of-service rules
• Broken traffic laws or federal bus regulations
• Inexperienced or unlicensed bus driver
• Lack of proper bus driver training
• Inadequate bus maintenance 
• Bus part or equipment breakdowns
• Bus defects
• Unsafe road conditions

Proving fault in a bus accident case requires clear and convincing evidence. An injured crash victim or plaintiff must establish based on a preponderance of the evidence (more likely to be true than not true) that the accused party or defendant caused the bus accident. Identifying the cause of a bus accident in Ventura and naming the liable party/ies are tasks that an attorney at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP can help you complete.

Speak to a Ventura Bus Accident Attorney Today | Free Case Reviews

 Pursuing legal action for a bus accident in Ventura can be difficult – especially while you are also dealing with a serious injury or the tragic loss of a loved one. When you hire an attorney at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP, you can enjoy greater peace of mind by allowing a knowledgeable legal professional to advocate for you in the fight for justice and fair financial compensation.

 Contact us today to find out how we can help with your Ventura bus accident case. Call (805) 642-7101 or send us a secure message online to schedule a free consultation.