Los Angeles Bus Accident Lawyer

Los Angeles Bus Accident Attorney

Thousands of people living and working in Los Angeles rely on bus transportation every day. Some ride public transportation for their daily commutes, while schoolchildren rely on school bus transportation to get to and from school each day. While most bus passengers reach their destinations safely, others are not so fortunate and suffer serious injuries in bus accidents. When these accidents happen, they often involve harm to multiple parties, and those involved are likely to have many pressing legal questions in terms of recovering their damages.

Helping Los Angeles, CA, Bus Accident Victims Recover

If you recently suffered injuries in a bus accident in Los Angeles, you need an attorney you can trust to help you recover your losses and ensure the at-fault party is held appropriately accountable for the harm they have done. Bus accidents can happen from many of the most common causes of car accidents, but they are also vulnerable to additional risk factors. An experienced Los Angeles bus accident attorney can assist you in determining fault for your accident, help construct a civil case against the at-fault party, and guide you through the process of securing compensation for your losses.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of professional experience handling a wide range of civil cases on behalf of Los Angeles clients. We know how challenging it can be to approach any accident claim and the many questions you are likely to have in the aftermath of your experience. Our firm has helped many past clients navigate all types of personal injury cases in Los Angeles, and we are ready to leverage this experience to your benefit in your bus accident claim.

Los Angeles Bus Accident Lawyer

How to Prove Liability for a Bus Accident

Most bus services in Los Angeles qualify as common carriers. These are businesses that offer transportation to the public as a paid service. All common carriers are required to ensure the vehicles they use are in proper working order and all drivers they employ have the experience and certifications necessary to operate their buses safely. Common carrier employers are also required to run background checks on the drivers they hire to ensure they do not pose safety risks to passengers.

The first step in success with any civil claim for damages in Los Angeles is proving the exact cause of your damages. Under the state’s personal injury statutes, the party responsible for injuring you is directly liable for all associated damages. Your Los Angeles bus accident attorney can help gather the evidence you may need to firmly establish fault for your bus accident. This may include traffic camera recordings, testimony from eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen in real time, and other forms of evidence as the situation dictates.

Common carriers have a greater duty of care to prevent accidents due to their status as common carriers. When a common carrier is responsible for an accident, liability could fall to the bus driver specifically or their employer may bear partial fault for the accident. It is also possible for a third party to bear liability for a bus accident. For example, if a drunk driver in their own vehicle hit the bus you were riding, liability falls to the drunk driver, and they would be responsible for the damages suffered by you and all other victims of the accident.

When you hire Easton & Easton as your legal counsel, we can immediately begin investigating the details of how your bus accident happened. We will work closely with law enforcement if necessary, securing a police report of the incident and taking statements from all parties involved in the accident as well as witnesses to the event. Once we have firmly established liability for the accident, we can proceed with helping you secure compensation for your damages.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim for a Bus Accident in Los Angeles

California law requires every driver to have auto insurance, and this insurance must cover property damage and bodily injury caused by the policyholder. This requirement extends to common carriers as well, so the bus company responsible for your recent accident will have auto insurance, and you have the right to file a claim against their policy to recover compensation for your losses. However, dealing with any insurance carrier can be very difficult, and you need to have legal counsel you can trust on your side if you want to secure an appropriate settlement offer.

Your attorney can assist you in drafting your demand letter to the appropriate insurance company, and they can address any disputes that arise with your claim. Insurance company representatives are trained to look for all the reasons they can find to reduce settlement offers or deny claims, but they are unlikely to attempt any bad faith tactics when they notice a claimant has legal representation. Once you secure as much compensation for your damages as possible through the insurance claim process, you can proceed with filing a personal injury claim, seeking compensation for any losses not covered by insurance.

Damages Available in Your Personal Injury Case

The state’s personal injury laws enable the plaintiff in a personal injury case to seek full repayment of all damages they suffered because of a defendant’s negligence or intentional misconduct. Your Los Angeles bus accident attorney can help recover compensation for:

  • Medical treatment costs. If a defendant physically injured you, they are liable for all medical expenses you incur for treatment of your injuries. This includes both immediate and future healthcare costs, so you can hold them accountable for your hospital bills as well as the cost of any ongoing rehabilitative care you need to fully recover.
  • Lost income. When a defendant’s actions have left you unable to work, they are responsible for the income you are unable to earn as you recover. Your Los Angeles bus accident attorney can help hold the defendant accountable for lost wages as well as lost earning capacity. If you cannot return to work in the future or cannot earn as much as you did prior to your accident, the defendant is liable for these future losses as well.
  • Property damage. If your vehicle or any other personal property was damaged or destroyed in the bus accident, the defendant is responsible for repair and replacement costs of your lost property.
  • Pain and suffering. State law does not limit pain and suffering damages in most personal injury claims. You have the right to seek however much you believe to be fair to reflect the severity of the physical pain and psychological trauma you suffered in your accident. Your Los Angeles bus accident attorney might seek compensation based on the time it takes you to fully recover, or they may aim for a large lump sum that reflects the severity of long-term or permanent harm you suffered.
  • Punitive damages. This type of compensation cannot be directly claimed by a plaintiff. Instead, a judge will award punitive damages at their discretion to punish a defendant for egregious negligence or intentional misconduct. The amount a defendant pays in punitive damages generally depends on the overall financial status of the defendant, so a wealthy defendant will pay much more than a defendant who has limited assets.

When you hire an experienced Los Angeles bus accident attorney to represent you, they may reveal that your case is worth much more than you initially expected. The right attorney is an invaluable asset for maximizing your recovery, and the sooner you secure trustworthy legal counsel, the sooner you can start working toward the recovery you deserve.

Easton & Easton can assist you in building a compelling civil suit against the party responsible for causing your bus accident. The majority of civil cases filed end in settlement, which allows both the plaintiff and the defendant to avoid the stress, expense, and time commitment required for litigation. We will guide you through the settlement negotiation process as swiftly as possible, but if settlement is not an option for any reason, we are ready to represent you in litigation.

Our team has a strong record of successful cases because we take time to learn each client’s story and listen to their unique concerns for their cases. Whatever your situation entails, you can trust our team to provide compassionate and responsive legal counsel through all stages of your recovery efforts. You have a limited time in which to seek compensation for your losses, so it is important to reach out to our team as soon as possible after your accident.

Bus Accidents FAQs

Q: How Can a Los Angeles Bus Accident Attorney Help Me Recover?

A: Your attorney can handle the procedural requirements of your bus accident claim, ensuring the case proceeds efficiently through the court system. When it comes to collecting compensation for your losses they will know the optimal ways of maximizing your case award, uncovering all the various damages you can seek from the defendant. You are not only more likely to win your case with an attorney’s help but also more likely to secure more compensation than you could manage on your own.

Q: Who Is Liable for a Los Angeles Bus Accident?

A: Liability for your recent bus accident could fall to one or more parties depending on how it occurred. If the bus was owned and operated by a private company, they fall under common carrier designation, and the driver and/or their employer may bear fault for the accident. If you are filing a suit in response to a school bus accident that injured your child, it is possible for liability to fall to the bus driver, the bus company, and/or the school district. Your Los Angeles bus accident attorney can help identify each liable party in your claim.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Win for a Bus Accident in Los Angeles?

A: If you can successfully prove fault for your recent bus accident, you should be able to secure full repayment of all the economic losses you suffered from the accident. These may include your medical expenses, your lost income, and any property losses you suffered. You also have the right to seek pain and suffering compensation from the defendant responsible for the accident. An experienced Los Angeles bus accident attorney can help maximize your recovery.

Q: Will I Win a Larger Case Award if I Hire a Los Angeles Bus Accidents Attorney?

A: You might be able to accurately assess immediately recognizable damages like your hospital bills and the income you couldn’t earn during your recovery, but you are likely to struggle when it comes to calculating long-term damages. These may include future medical expenses, lost future earning capacity, and your pain and suffering. Even after accounting for your legal fees, you may discover that hiring an attorney significantly improves the overall quality of your case award.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Los Angeles Bus Accident Attorney?

A: The attorneys at Easton & Easton accept personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis to ensure our legal services are accessible to injured clients who need them most, regardless of their financial situations. With a contingency fee agreement you are not required to pay upfront or ongoing legal fees for representation. Your attorney takes a percentage of your final case award as their fee, but only if they win your case. There is no fee if your legal team is unsuccessful in securing compensation on your behalf for any reason, so there is no risk to choosing our team as your legal counsel for your bus accident case.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of successful cases behind us thanks to our commitment to client-focused legal counsel. Our firm will take the time necessary to carefully review the details of how your accident happened and identify every party liable for your damages. Bus accident cases tend to be some of the most complex vehicle accident claims in Los Angeles, but our firm has the resources and experience you need on your side to approach your case with confidence and peace of mind. Contact us today and set up a consult with a Los Angeles bus accident attorney you can trust with your recovery.

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Firm Awards
Accredited Business Bbb Rating A+

The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Best Law Firms Orange County 2020

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.

Reader's Choice 2019 Best Law Firm

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.

Top 100 Trial Lawyers

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.

The Best Lawyers in America

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.

Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California 2016

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.

Super Lawyers

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.

10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms in all of Southern California

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.

People Love Us On Yelp

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.

Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for 2015

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.

Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum

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.

Top Rated Lawyers AV Preeminent

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.

10 Best 2015 Client Satisfaction

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.

American Board of Trial Advocate

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.

The National Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40

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.

Avvo Rating Top Attorney Personal Injury

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.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

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.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

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.

Nation's Top One Percent

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.

Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer | Costa Mesa Auto Accident Attorney | Catastrophic Injuries

“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…

Sara McClelland
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…
Caila Dean

Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…

Lisa Bluemel

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…

Sofia Sanchez

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…

Dan Campbell

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…

Kyle Keith

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…

Logan Ross

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

Ashlee A.

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.

Jeffrey N.

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!

Mark B.

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.

Vamsi P.

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!

Jennifer P.

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.

Claudia C.

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

Linda M.

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!

Ericka P.

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