OCTA Bus Accident Attorney in Irvine

Irvine OCTA Bus Accidents Attorney

If you or a loved one have been involved in a bus accident in the city of Irvine, California, look no further. Our experienced bus accident attorneys have decades of experience making sure that victims who have been involved in a bus accident get the care and compensation they deserve. Metro accidents could result in all different types of injuries, from minor scrapes and bruises to broken bones and traumatic brain injuries.

What is a Metro Bus?

A metro bus is considered to be part of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority. 

But, the Orange County Transportation Authority has the OC Bus, which is Irvine’s largest public transportation network. 

Similar to Metros in Los Angeles, Irvine has its very own Transportation Authority with 14 different bus routes all throughout Orange County.

This is part of the government, which means that your lawsuit may have to be filed through the California Tort Claims Act. This could get very complex, especially because there are so many time limitations and restrictions involved with filing a tort claim. We recommend that you speak to our Irvine OC Bus attorneys as soon as possible to discuss the different options and to make sure that you meet all the time limits. If you fail to meet the time limits, you may have your entire claim denied and will lose your right to get compensated.

What types of Transportation are in Irvine?

 The various different types of Transportation include:

• iShuttle
• Metrolink
• Amtrak
• Park and ride
• OCTA 

What are examples of bus accidents in Irvine?

• Rear end collisions: when buses rear-end another vehicle, those in the vehicle in the front could sustain very severe injuries.
• Intersection accidents:  this is very common when a bus driver runs a red light or fails to yield and follow signs and lights.
• Pedestrian accidents: bus drivers who are driving through heavy traffic areas may not have enough time to come to a complete stop in the event that there is a pedestrian crossing the street.
• Bicycle accidents: because of the large blind spot that a bus may have, the bus driver may not completely see the oncoming bicycle, and this could result in a bicycle accident.
• Rollovers: rollovers are not as common with buses as they are with larger trucks. But, rollover accidents could still happen, especially when the bus driver is speeding.

There are also accidents that could take place on the bus, which include:

• Slip and fall accidents: if something wet is on the floor, and a passenger is walking through the bus aisle, they could slip and fall.
• Trip and fall accidents: if there was an object on the aisle, this increases the likelihood of a passenger tripping and falling.
• Assaults: from other third-party passengers: buses have a duty to make sure that all passengers are safe and free from danger from other passengers. This falls under a common carrier duty.
• Falls of large objects: large objects that are not properly fastened, such as wheelchairs and bicycles in the bus, could roll and fall onto other passengers seated in the bus.

What will our Irvine bus accident attorneys do?

The most important thing that a bus accident attorney could do is investigate the circumstances of the bus accident. An experienced attorney will be able to gather all the necessary key pieces of evidence to determine which parties were responsible. 

What causes bus accidents in Irvine? 

There are several different causes as to why a bus accident could occur in Irvine, the most common are:

• When a bus driver fails to follow traffic laws. For example, bus drivers may not completely stop at a red light and may drive through the intersection. When this happens, the likelihood of colliding with other oncoming vehicles is very high. A vehicle and bus collision could result in very severe injuries for the passengers and the driver in the regular-sized sedan.
• Texting and driving:  all Orange County bus drivers who work for the Transportation Authority are trained to refrain from texting while driving. But, in the event that a bus driver does text and drive, the likelihood of being involved in an accident increases, and they could be held responsible for negligent driving practices.
• Poor training:  the Orange County Transportation Authority is responsible for training all drivers and making sure that they are constantly maintaining their licenses. All bus drivers must have a commercial driver’s license. In the event that the bus driver was poorly trained, the Transportation Authority could be held responsible for their company practices.
• Poor bus maintenance:  buses must always be maintained. There are several parts of a bus that should be maintained, including tires and brakes. When these parts are not properly maintained, it could be very difficult for the bus driver to control the bus, and the risk of collision with another vehicle is very high.
• Fatigued driving: this is almost never thought of, but is a very common issue among truck and bus drivers. There are a specific number of hours that bus drivers are limited to driving. In the event that they drive above that limit, not only could they be held responsible for fatigue driving, but the Transportation Authority could also be held responsible for negligent practices.

What damages could I recover for my bus accident in Irvine?

There are two different types of damages. One of the types of damages is economic damages. Economic damages are those that could easily be calculated, and you have receipts to prove exactly how much was spent. Economic damages could include:

• Medical treatment
• Imaging
• Physical therapy
• Prescription medication
• At home care
• Nursing Care
• Medical supplies
• Hospital stay
• Emergency room stay
• Emergency room treatments
• Property damage
• Lost wages

Besides economic damages, a victim of a bus accident could also recover non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are those that are not so easily calculated because they don’t have invoices or receipts. Instead it takes a holistic approach and looks at the emotional toll the accident took on the victim. This includes:

• Emotional distress
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Panic attacks
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Wrongful Death Bus Accident Lawsuit 

If you have lost a loved one in a bus accident, you could also file a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim is asserted on behalf of the deceased family member. Wrongful death damages could include funeral and burial expenses, along with loss of consortium.