Long Beach Bus Accident Attorney

Do you regularly ride on the Long Beach Transit bus to travel down Cherry, Orange or Atlantic Avenue? Does your child ride a school bus every weekday? Do you ever use the Long Beach Passport bus to get to the Long Beach Museum of Art, 4th Street's Retro Row or the Aquarium of the Pacific?

If riding the bus is an integral part of your life in the city of Long Beach, it would be in your best interest to know your rights and understand the steps to take if you are ever involved in a bus crash. One of the first steps to take is to contact a knowledgeable Long Beach Bus Accident Attorney. Call 323-238-4683 for a free consultation. If we don't win your case, you don't pay!

Is Bus Travel Safe?

First, it is important to know that riding a bus is generally safe. Many bus collisions that may result in major injuries to occupants of other vehicles, may only result in minor injuries to bus occupants because the size and weight of the bus. It is important to remember, however, that many buses do not have seatbelts or other safety devices such as airbags that passenger vehicles normally do. Therefore, when a high-speed bus accident occurs, there is the potential for serious or even fatal injuries to occur. In the event of a powerful impact or rollover, bus passengers may suffer broken bone injuries. There is also the potential for other serious injuries such as brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, whiplash, neck and back injuries, lacerations and internal injuries.

What to do After a Long Beach Bus Crash

If you are an injured bus passenger or the occupant of another vehicle who has been injured in a bus collision, it is important that you take several important steps in order to protect your rights. First, the authorities must be notified right away. If the bus driver is unable to call the police, make sure that someone notifies the authorities immediately. If your neck, head or back hurts, it may be in your best interest to stay put until emergency crews arrive. If, however, you are able to move around, there are a few steps you can take to help protect your rights.

• Get contact information. Write down the bus line, bus company and the contact information for the bus company. Write down the bus driver's name as well and his or her commercial driver's license number. You may also want get the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident whose testimony may prove invaluable in the future.
• Get on the police report. If many people were injured, you could get lost in the shuffle. Having your name on the police report as someone who was injured in the crash will help bolster your case.
• Write down the details. You never know what piece of information will prove useful. Write down where and when the accident occurred. Where were you seated? Where were you going? What happened when the collision occurred?
• Take photos. If you have a phone that can take photos, use it. Photograph the bus, other damaged vehicles, the crash site and your injuries.
• Seek medical attention. Seeing a doctor right away will increase your chances of a full recovery. Your medical records will also serve as legal documentation of your injuries.
• Keep a journal. Write down your day-to-day struggles since the accident. In what ways are you suffering? How has the accident negatively affected your life? Are you in significant pain? Have you missed out on financial or career opportunities because of your injuries?
• Speak with an attorney. Bus companies have a legal obligation to provide the utmost duty of care to their passengers. Unfortunately, it is common for bus companies to shirk this duty by offering a quick and cheap settlement that does not cover the cost of the medical bills and lost wages.

Compensation for Bus Crash Victims

The Long Beach bus accident lawyers at our personal injury law firm fight hard to ensure that injured victims and their families are fairly compensated for their injuries and losses. Bus accident victims can seek compensation to cover damages including but not limited to medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of earning potential and emotional distress. Please contact us for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.