The San Francisco Bay Area’s bus network is certainly an effective and generally eco-friendly mode of transportation. Throughout the nation there are over 360 million bus passengers each year. Usually, our city and school buses are safe and reliable as well; but not always. If you or someone close to you is injured by a bus or in a bus accident, the Righthand Law Office is available to consult with you. The initial consultation is always free of charge and cases are almost always handled on a contingency.

Public and private buses, hotel shuttles, and large, 15-passenger vans are some of the vehicles used most often to transport large numbers of people, and when a vehicle this size gets in an accident, passengers can be injured and of course pedestrians or other vehicle drivers can also be seriously hurt. Sometimes accidents are due to the negligence of the bus driver, who might be inadequately trained, inexperienced, momentarily distracted or even under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Sometimes, Bay Area weather conditions make it more difficult to operate such a large vehicle, requiring appropriate operator skill especially on the treacherous hills of San Francisco. Mechanical problems also may play a roll in these accidents, and if buses aren’t properly serviced and maintained there is a greater likelihood of serious injuries and damage.

Buses are colossal vehicles, with the capacity for many passengers. This means that they are extremely large, bulky and heavy. They are difficult to maneuver and require a trained and skilled driver because of their size and potential to injure many people simultaneously-- people who were just trying to get to work on time or make it home to their families for dinner. Buses tend to lack seatbelts and other safety restraint devices, making passengers more susceptible to injuries.

Buses may lose control on windy roads or due to tire blowouts on freeways, 15-passenger vans have the propensity to roll for a variety of reasons including weight distribution and road design problems or poor road maintenance may lead to bus accidents.

As we all know, the consequence of a heavy bus hitting any other motorist or pedestrian can be catastrophic, and the sheer force of a collision will cause much more damage than an ordinary car crash. With this in mind, bus accidents can injure the bus driver, the passengers on the bus, and whoever might be in the bus’ path, such as other cars, motorcycles, bicycles, other buses, and of course, pedestrians.

In the case of a school bus accident, usually most of the passengers are children, our most precious cargo, and consequences can be tragic. Injuries can range from minor scratches and bruises to serious head and spinal injuries, leading to paralysis or even death. The Righthand Law Office has represented many children over the years for whom we have obtained compensation used to aid them in receiving the medical care they need and the education and lives they deserve.

Time limitations for filing complaints arising out of injuries caused by public entities, including many bus accidents, may be short and in California require that a formal claim be filed within 6 months of the accident. This is a strict requirement and is excused only for narrow reasons. In a public bus, train, ferry, cable car, trolley or other public entity accident where the state of California, City, County or other municipality or public entity is involved, strict time constraints exist that typically require the claim filing deadline outlined above. In the case of a school bus accident, there may be a public school district involved, requiring this same strict claims compliance.

Regardless, if you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, contact the Law Office of Scott Righthand for your free consultation. Mr. Righthand has more than 30 years of experience in evaluating injuries and accidents with the care and knowledge unique in the industry. We will work hard to get you compensated for the hardships you have endured.