Anaheim Bus Accident Lawyer
Anaheim Bus Accident Attorney
The Anaheim metropolitan area is one of the busiest urban sectors of California. Many major companies operate out of Anaheim, and the area is home to some of the most popular tourist attractions on the West Coast. Traffic is a concern for everyone visiting, living in, and commuting to and from Anaheim every day. While consistent traffic congestion commonly leads to motor vehicle collisions, the heavy presence of public transportation vehicles means that bus accidents are likely to occur on Anaheim streets, too.
If you or a loved one has recently sustained a bus accident injury, an Anaheim bus accident attorney can help you hold the responsible driver accountable for their actions and assist you in securing compensation for your damages. Bus accidents are some of the most damaging motor vehicle accidents that occur in California, and they often involve multiple victims who each sustain severe damages. These accidents often lead to complex insurance claims, and determining liability in a civil suit for an Anaheim bus accident is not always simple or straightforward. You need reliable legal representation to navigate the complex legal issues your recent bus accident is likely to entail.
What to Do After a Bus Crash in Anaheim, CA
All drivers and bus passengers should know what to do after experiencing any kind of bus accident. The first steps you take immediately following a crash can have a significant impact on future legal matters arising from the incident, including your personal injury claim against the party responsible for causing the accident. After experiencing any vehicle accident, your health and safety should be your main priorities. Do not move if it is painful to do so and wait for paramedics to arrive. If no one else has already called 911, do so if you are able and report the accident.
If possible, try to document as much as possible from the accident scene. Use your phone’s camera to take photos of your injuries, the positions of the vehicles involved in the accident, and nearby landmarks. These photos could potentially help you prove the legitimacy of an insurance claim or help you establish liability for your damages in a future lawsuit. When the police respond to the accident, be sure that you do not say anything that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. If you are a bus passenger involved in the accident, it would be unlikely for any fault to fall to you, but if you are a driver of another vehicle that was struck by a bus, it is crucial that you do not give the police any reason to suspect that you caused the accident.
Once you are free to leave, seek medical attention immediately, even if you think your injuries are only minor cuts and scrapes. The experience of a motor vehicle accident can send your adrenaline levels surging, dulling pain sensations, and making it difficult to determine if you have been injured. It is not uncommon for people to walk away from vehicle accidents seemingly unscathed, only to be completely unable to move the next day. Err on the side of caution and see a doctor as soon as possible. This will also establish your personal responsibility if you later need to take legal action for the injuries you suffered.
Finally, once you have provided your statement to the police and received treatment for your injuries, contact an experienced Anaheim bus accident lawyer as soon as possible. The right personal injury legal team can help you determine liability for your losses and guide you through the personal injury claim process with confidence.
Do I Really Need an Anaheim Bus Accident Attorney?
If you believe another party’s negligence resulted in your bus accident, whether it’s the bus driver or the driver of another vehicle who caused the accident, you need legal representation you can trust to hold them accountable. Even in the event that fault is readily apparent, you should not risk your case on procedural errors or filing mistakes. The average person will find it very difficult to navigate the civil court system with no legal experience or training, and they may make avoidable errors that jeopardize their claims at the earliest stages.
Your Anaheim bus accident attorney will help you navigate the civil court system and meet all the procedural requirements your case entails. Ultimately, working with an experienced team of Anaheim bus accident lawyers like the attorneys at Easton & Easton offers the best chance of maximizing your recovery after a bus accident.
How Likely Is a Bus Crash?
You can evaluate motor vehicle crash statistics to determine the likelihood of experiencing different types of accidents. Available data from various government agencies and nongovernment organizations indicates that when using the metric of number of crashes per vehicle miles traveled, bus accidents are actually some of the rarest accidents to occur. However, this is generally due to the fact that there are far fewer buses on the roads of California than standard passenger vehicles. Bus accidents can and do happen in the Anaheim area on a consistent basis, and due to the size of these vehicles, such accidents tend to be much more damaging than collisions involving standard passenger vehicles.
What Does Common Carrier Mean?
The term “common carrier” is likely to come into play in any legal proceedings related to a bus accident. This term applies to any company that provides transportation to the general public as a paid service. A few examples of organizations that would qualify as common carriers include public bus companies, taxi services, and train services.
The laws of California uphold that common carriers have higher duties of care than standard drivers due to the fact that they provide public transportation as a professional paid service. If an employee of a common carrier causes an accident due to negligence or failure to adhere to an applicable common carrier regulation, you can hold them accountable for any resulting losses with the help of an Anaheim bus accident attorney.
Claiming Compensation for Bus Crash Damages
If you are involved in a bus accident as either a bus passenger or the driver or passenger of a vehicle struck by a bus, the incident can easily leave you with severe injuries and other damages. The personal injury statutes of California allow a person injured in a bus accident to claim several types of damages in a personal injury claim, including:
- Immediate medical expenses resulting from the crash and anticipated future medical costs if their injuries will require long-term treatment.
- Lost income and lost future earning potential if their injuries will prevent them from returning to work in the future.
- Property damage. If an accident results in damage to your personal property, you can claim the value of your damaged property in your lawsuit.
- Pain and suffering. Physical pain and psychological trauma are compensable losses in a vehicle accident claim. The amount received will reflect the overall severity of the victim’s injuries.
The potential compensation a bus accident claim plaintiff could secure can be substantial, which is another reason why it is so crucial to work with experienced Anaheim bus accident attorneys if you decide to pursue such a claim. Your legal team will have the experience to identify every available channel of compensation available to you, ensuring you maximize your recovery. If you attempt to represent yourself in a bus accident claim, you could mistakenly overlook valuable avenues of compensation and settle your claim for much less than you could secure with the help of an attorney.
What to Expect From Your Anaheim Bus Accident Attorney
When you hire an experienced team of Anaheim bus accident lawyers like the attorneys at Easton & Easton to represent your bus accident claim, you should expect your legal team to help you understand all of your available options for legal recourse. Your attorney should begin your case by thoroughly reviewing all available evidence to determine liability for your losses. It’s possible that your bus accident claim could involve more than one defendant, and the average person may not know how to secure the evidence they need to establish each defendant’s liability.
An experienced Anaheim injury lawyer can help their client by securing traffic camera footage, internal camera footage from the bus itself, vehicle computer data, and even CCTV footage from nearby businesses that may have recorded the accident as it occurred. An attorney can also help their client obtain eyewitness statements, obtain a copy of the police report of the incident, and identify persons of interest in the case that may be able to help the client establish liability for their losses.
Determining liability is just one phase of legal representation for a bus accident claim. Your Anaheim bus accident attorney must also help you review your claimable damages to ensure you maximize your recovery.
Potential Injuries in a Bus Accident
Buses are large, heavy vehicles, and when they are involved in accidents with smaller cars, the resulting damage can be devastating. Some of the most commonly reported injuries from bus accidents include:
- Bone fractures. Minor fractures may only require a few weeks or months of healing time, while severe fractures can involve nerve damage and require surgical intervention. Additionally, the large size of most public buses makes crushing injuries more likely, and severe crushing injuries to the limbs can potentially lead to amputation or permanently diminished range of motion.
- Head injuries. A traumatic brain injury can be a life-changing experience for the victim of a bus accident. Even a seemingly mild concussion can entail long-term symptoms that disrupt the victim’s life for months or even years. Severe head injuries can result in permanent disabilities.
- Spinal injuries. If the human spine suffers a serious injury, the damage could be permanent. The spinal cord allows the brain to communicate with the rest of the body. If the spinal cord is damaged, the brain may be unable to transmit neurological signals to the region of the body connected below the injury site.
- Soft tissue injuries. Crash impact forces can damage muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues, sometimes to the point of requiring surgical correction. For example, whiplash is a commonly cited injury in many vehicle accident claims and describes soft tissue injuries in the head, neck, and upper back, some of which may take months or years to fully heal.
- Facial and dental injuries. If a bus accident victim is hit in the face, they may suffer permanent dental damage or facial disfigurement.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the injuries a bus accident might cause, and some bus accident victims will sustain multiple types of injuries that lead to complex prognoses and permanent disabilities in some cases.
Determining Liability for Your Losses with a Bus Accident Lawyer
If you intend to take legal action for the injuries you sustained in a bus accident, your Anaheim bus accident attorney will assist you in determining who is to blame for the incident. In the event your accident occurred due to the negligence of a bus driver, it is possible for liability to fall solely on the bus driver if they acted outside the scope of their employment in a way that resulted in your accident. It is also possible for the bus company to absorb liability through the legal concept of “vicarious liability,” which allows employers to face liability for their employees’ actions in some cases.
It is also possible that your bus accident occurred due to the actions of a passenger vehicle driver or a combination of factors. Your attorney will help you identify the parties responsible for causing your bus accident and establish the four main elements of negligence to hold them accountable for your losses:
- Duty of care. All drivers have a duty of care to operate their vehicles safely.
- Breach of duty. Your attorney must show the court how the defendant or defendants breached their duty of care in the given situation.
- Damage. You can only file a personal injury claim if you suffered actual harm. Your attorney will help you prove the full scope of your damages.
- Causation. You must prove your claimed damages resulted from the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause.
If you are able to establish these four elements of negligence, success with your bus accident claim is likely.
At Easton & Easton, we understand that bus accidents can easily cause devastating injuries, and your experience may have resulted in complex financial problems for you and your family due to medical bills and lost income. Our goal is to help you maximize the compensation you receive from your bus accident claim. If you are ready to discuss your options for legal recourse with an experienced and compassionate Anaheim bus accident attorney, contact Easton & Easton today to schedule a consultation with our team.
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The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.
Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.
Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern Califonia, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.
Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.
Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.
Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.
Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
What Our Clients Say
Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…
I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…
Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…
What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…
I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee
Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.
I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!
They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.
Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!
I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.
I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way
The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!