Who Can Be Held Liable in a Los Angeles Bus Accident?
Every year, Los Angeles County reports dozens of accidents involving city buses, school buses and private buses. Bus accidents can lead to dozens of injuries among bus passengers as well as other road users. Understanding who is liable, or financially responsible, when filing a bus accident lawsuit in Los Angeles can help you recognize your rights if you get hurt in this type of crash.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Los Angeles?
As is the case with most motor vehicle accidents in Los Angeles, bus accidents are often traced back to human error. This includes mistakes made by the bus driver. The entity responsible for bus driver hiring and training can often be held responsible for the negligent actions of a bus driver in Los Angeles.
Common causes of bus accidents include:
- Bus driver distraction
- Driver fatigue or drowsiness
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Violated federal hours-of-service rules
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Reversing without looking
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Failing to check blind spots
- Inadequate bus driver training
- Lack of familiarity with roads and routes
- Poor bus maintenance and part breakdowns
Understanding who is liable for your bus accident takes learning who or what caused the crash. Since California is a fault-based state, the at-fault party will be responsible for paying for victims’ losses.
The Bus Driver
Bus drivers are held to higher standards of care than typical motor vehicle drivers in Los Angeles because they are responsible for the safety of passengers. Bus drivers in California must obtain special commercial driver’s licenses and receive training before they can operate buses in LA.
In most cases, the bus driver’s employer will be held vicariously responsible for a negligent bus driver. This is how liability works under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior (“let the master answer”). If a bus company hired an independent contractor to operate the bus, however, the driver could be held individually liable.
The City of Los Angeles
The city government could be held liable for an accident involving one of its buses, such as an LA Metro or LADOT Commuter Express bus. It’s important to take action quickly if you believe you have a case against the government, as state law only gives you six months from the date of the accident to file your claim.
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Injured in a Los Angeles Public Transit Accident?
A Bus Company
If the bus was owned by a private company, such as a shuttle, charter, tour or party bus in Los Angeles, the business could be held responsible for an accident involving its driver or bus. A bus company could be held vicariously liable as the employer or directly responsible if it contributed to the crash itself, such as through inadequate bus maintenance or poor driver hiring practices.
A School District
If your accident involves a school bus, then a private school or the city could be held accountable. With a private school bus, the school responsible for owning, maintaining or operating the school bus can be required to pay for victims’ injuries. If the bus is part of the public school system in the Los Angeles County Unified School District, the city could be held liable.
Bus accident cases in Los Angeles can be complex, with many parties to potentially hold accountable for your losses. Discuss your case in detail with a top-rated Los Angeles injury lawyer at Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP for more information about your legal options.