California Bus Drivers Owe Their Passengers a Duty of Care
The law demands that those responsible for public transportation (“common carriers”) be well-vetted and appropriately trained, and that they remain alert and obey all traffic laws. Bus drivers and the companies that employ them can be held accountable if they fail to comply.
If you have suffered serious injury due to the extreme fatigue or sleepiness of a bus driver, you are entitled to substantial damages. Our bus accident attorneys will work doggedly to see that you receive compensation for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. Whether you were riding a bus to commute, shop, get to a medical appointment, visit a friend, or for some other reason, you were entitled to expect safety as well as convenience.
Reasons for A Fatigued Driver
There are a great many reasons for fatigue. Though these reasons are understandable, and at times inevitable, there is no excuse for taking the wheel when fatigue interferes with your ability to drive. This is even more important when you are a professional driver. Reasons your bus driver may have been fatigued include:
- Extreme physical exertion
- Inadequate sleep or sleep disorders (e.g. sleep apnea)
- Elongated work hours (perhaps at more than one job)
- Underlying illness
- Side effects of medication
Whatever the reason for your bus driver’s fatigue, she or he should not have been driving in a fatigued condition.
Fatigued Drivers Have a Variety of Potential Victims
Bus passengers not only have a range of destinations, but may be using public, private or school buses for many different reasons, such as:
- Commuting, shopping
- Engaging in social or recreational activities
- Getting to and from public school or college
- Attending a destination wedding or family reunion
- Attending a company or club activity or a religious retreat
Whether you are a frequent bus passenger, taking the bus for a special outing or vacation or because your car is in the shop, you have the right to expect safe transport. If you have unwittingly stepped onto a bus being driven by a fatigued bus driver, you may be entitled to compensation.
Our bus accident attorneys are here to support you whether you were a passenger on the bus, the driver or passenger of another vehicle, a bicyclist or a pedestrian. We will also provide strong legal advocacy if you have lost a loved one in a wrongful death resulting from the erratic driving of a fatigued bus driver.
Buses May Not Be as Safe as You Think
Although buses are large, typically move slowly, and look protective, they are cumbersome to maneuver and more likely to tip over in a collision because of their height. Also, in spite of the fact that school buses in California are now required to have seat belts and laws are in place for seat belts to be mandated in all buses by 2035, riding a bus currently presents several risks not found in cars, including:
- Passengers in public buses often stand with only hanging straps to help them balance
- In a crash, bus passengers can collide with metal poles, grab rails or other people
- Even seated bus passengers may stand in preparation for disembarking, making themselves more vulnerable to injury
- Passenger in buses are not typically engaged in conversation with the bus driver,
and so are not in a position to pick up signs of the driver’s fatigue or lack of attention to the road
Our Fatigued Driver Bus Accident Attorneys Will Determine the Target(s) of Your Lawsuit
Under California law, the bus company (public, chartered, or school), as well as the fatigued bus driver, may be liable for damages. It is also possible that blame is shared more widely, for example with the driver of another vehicle involved in the collision or with a government agency that has failed to properly maintain the roadway or traffic signals. In some cases, a mechanical defect may have contributed to your injury, in which case we can target the vehicle’s manufacturer.
Whatever the circumstances, you can rest assured that Compass Law Group will investigate all evidence thoroughly, interview witnesses, and consult with any necessary experts to determine where fault lies. In many cases, we will be suing more than one party.
Injuries that May Result from Bus Driver Fatigue
For reasons previously noted, bus passengers can be seriously hurt, sometimes even in “minor” collisions, particularly if they are standing. Another problem is that if a bus driver falls asleep at the wheel and the bus turns over, the number of passengers and the size of the area in which they may be thrown or toppled makes the situation worse. They may have to be mechanically extricated from the vehicle, delaying medical treatment.
Bus accident victims may suffer long-term disabling injuries, including:
- Organ damage
- Bone fractures
- Amputation
- Neck and back injuries
- Burns
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Damages Our Bus Accident Attorneys Will Fight to Win
Because we understand that the injury you have suffered in a fatigued driver bus accident is undoubtedly taking a huge toll on you and your family — physically, emotionally, and financially — we will do everything in our power to obtain maximum compensation for your:
- Medical, rehabilitation, and nursing costs
- Lost income, present and future
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological counseling
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you are mourning a loved one’s wrongful death in a fatigued driver bus accident, we will fight aggressively to obtain damage to cover final medical costs, funeral/burial/cremation costs, and loss of financial and emotional support.
Contact Our Esteemed Bus Accident Attorneys Now
We know how overwhelming a serious injury can be, all the more so when it’s due to someone else’s negligence. Become our client and we will become your loyal ally. We will protect your right to substantial compensation and never charge you any attorneys’ fees until we win your case. Contact us today.
