Orange County Bus Accident Lawyers
Bus Accidents Attorneys in Orange County, California
Bus transportation in California is widely used and includes school buses, church buses, tour buses, mass transit buses, airport shuttles, trolleys, and even interstate carriers, such as Greyhound buses. While buses provide a service to the public, accidents can happen, and buses can also be involved in collisions. If you were injured in a bus accident in California, knowing your rights can help you understand how to move forward with your claim.
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Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Orange County, CA
Each day, thousands of passengers in California use buses as their primary means of transportation. Common causes of bus accidents include driver fatigue, driver negligence, distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, aggressive driving, other drivers’ negligence or recklessness, dangerous roadways, bad weather, or mechanical defects of parts or components of the bus.
Under the California Civil Code Section 2100, a bus driver has a heightened duty and responsibility for the safety of the passengers as a “common carrier”. With this higher standard comes a greater responsibility, and greater liability if there is an accident. Each bus accident will be different and will require substantial and serious investigation.
Common Types of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents happen in many different ways. Many of which are similar to the common causes of traffic accidents involving passenger cars. However, due to the large size and heavy weight of most buses, accidents involving these large vehicles typically cause significantly more damage.
Some of the most common types of bus accidents in the Orange County, California area include:
- Distracted driving. Bus drivers have a greater duty of care on the road compared to other drivers due to the inherently dangerous nature of their vehicles. Since they drive as part of their job duties, they have a professional responsibility to use the utmost care and good judgment on the road. When bus drivers become distracted or do not provide their full attention to the road ahead, they can cause serious accidents.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Any type of driving under the influence is dangerous in any vehicle, but the danger is exponentially higher when a bus is involved. A bus driver or third party who causes a bus accident due to driving under the influence may not only absorb liability for civil claims from injured victims but also criminal penalties under California’s DUI laws.
- Moving violations. When a driver commits a moving violation, such as speeding, running through a stop sign, or disregarding a red light, they place all other drivers nearby at serious risk. Bus drivers who commit moving violations threaten the safety of other drivers in the vicinity as well as their passengers.
- Tip-overs and rollovers. Bus drivers must use caution when making tight turns. Taking a turn at too high of a speed can cause the bus to tip over on its side, seriously injuring the passengers inside as well as other motorists or pedestrians in the way. Additionally, serious tip-over accidents can potentially escalate to rollover accidents that are even more damaging.
- Improper passing. Drivers who attempt to pass too close to a large bus may cause a serious accident. Bus drivers must also take the size of their vehicles into account when attempting to pass other vehicles.
- Bus overcrowding. All buses have weight limits. Exceeding these limits alters the bus’s center of gravity and makes it harder for the driver to fully control the vehicle.
- Poor driver training. Bus companies must ensure the drivers they hire are fully trained and experienced enough to handle driving large buses safely. If a bus accident occurs due to a driver’s poor training, the bus company that hired the driver could absorb liability for the resulting damages.
Bus accidents are inherently dangerous. It’s vital for anyone who experiences such an accident to know their legal rights to recovery.
Possible Injuries and Damages in a Bus Accident
Bus accidents have a high probability of causing serious injuries. Some of the injuries reported by past bus accident victims include:
- Traumatic brain injuries. When the head sustains a severe impact, such as a bus passenger’s head being thrown against the inner wall or window of a bus during a crash, the impact can cause a concussion or worse. Some traumatic brain injuries result in permanent disabilities.
- Spinal injuries. Sudden momentum shifts can cause the spine to twist in unexpected ways, and a severe impact can damage the spine. Injuries to the spinal cord cannot heal on their own like injuries to other parts of the body. If a bus accident victim suffers a complete spinal cord injury that severs the spinal cord, they will face permanent paralysis and may require constant in-home medical assistance indefinitely.
- Bone fractures. Any vehicle accident can involve forceful impacts that cause bones to break. Depending on the severity of a fracture, the victim may face months or even years of recovery before they regain full functionality in the affected area. Some fractures may require multiple surgeries to correct.
- Amputations. A bone fracture is just one type of injury a person can sustain to the limbs. If an individual sustains a crushing injury severe enough, amputation may be necessary to save the person’s life. These injuries are physical and psychologically painful. A bus accident victim who must endure an amputation as life-saving medical treatment should consult with a personal injury attorney in Orange County, California as soon as possible to determine the best method for pursuing compensation for such a grievous injury.
- Internal organ injuries. Severe impacts can easily damage a bus accident victim’s internal organs, and some of these injuries may result in long-term medical complications.
It’s easy to see how damaging a bus accident can be. Depending on who caused the accident, the defendant could face liability for multiple victims’ injuries. A bus accident injury lawyer in Orange County, California can help the victims of a bus accident determine the defendant or defendants responsible for causing their injuries.
What to do After a Bus Accident
If you were involved in a bus accident in California, make sure to follow as many of these steps as possible:
- Seek immediate medical care. If you are unable to seek immediate medical care, receive an evaluation by a medical professional as soon as possible.
- Obtain the name, driver’s license number, employee number, and contact information of the bus driver, and any witnesses (including other bus passengers)
- Obtain the license plate number and identification number of the bus
- Take photographs of the inside of the bus as well as the outside of the bus, and every angle possible of the accident.
Look to see if there are any video cameras that would have captured the accident, either on the bus or traffic/security cameras in the vicinity.
Who is Responsible?
Multiple parties could be responsible for your accident, depending on the circumstances. The following are potential parties that could be liable for your injuries.
- The bus company. If the bus company hired an unqualified or reckless driver, it may be liable for your accident. Additionally, if the bus company used a bus with defective parts or components, it may be found at fault for the accident.
- The bus maintenance company. If the bus company hires an independent third-party company to regularly maintain its buses, and it failed to keep the bus in a safe mechanical condition, then the bus maintenance company may be liable for the accident due to negligence.
- Governments (state or local). If the bus was a government-owned bus, then the state or local government may be responsible for the accident.
- Another automobile driver. If the driver of another vehicle caused an accident with the bus, the other driver and vehicle owner may be liable for the accident due to negligence.
Bus accident claims often bring up the legal concept of a “common carrier.” Common carriers are businesses that provide passenger transportation as a paid service. Some buses, such as public transportation buses and school buses, fall under the jurisdiction of a local government. Others, such as privately owned and operated tour buses, are common carriers under California law and beholden to the rules and regulations for common carriers operating in their service areas. The rules for common carriers are a bit different than the rules for accident claims against private individuals. An auto accident attorney in Orange County can explain if and how common carrier liability will come into play in a bus accident claim in Orange County.
When it comes to school bus accidents, parents of children who suffer injuries in school bus injuries are likely to be outraged and shocked at such an event occurring, and they may not know who to blame for their child’s injuries. Some of the possible defendants in a school bus accident claim include the bus driver, the bus company, the school district, or the state of California. An experienced school bus accident attorney in Orange County, California can help parents in this situation determine their best available options for legal recourse.
Experienced Orange County, California Bus Accident Attorney
While bus accidents are rarer than car accidents, when they happen, they can be devastating and life changing. Personal injuries can be severe and permanent. Because buses often do not have seat belts for passengers, even minor bus accidents can often cause serious injuries. Knowing who is responsible and liable for your personal injuries, medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering can require a legally complex investigation.
For a free evaluation of your case, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Easton & Easton at 800-461-8259 today.
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Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — the fifth time the firm has appeared on a TopVerdict list across nine years, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.
Easton & Easton holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau — the highest rating available. Trust is earned. We've earned it.
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 was voted #1 in 2025 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — an invitation-only organization recognizing the nation's premier trial attorneys. Selection is based on case results, leadership, and reputation. When you need attorneys who are ready for the courtroom, you want a team that's already proven they belong there.
All five partners of Easton & Easton — Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Gabe — were selected to Best Lawyers in America® 2025. This is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Selection is based entirely on peer review, representing the consensus opinion among leading lawyers in the community. When other attorneys are asked who they trust, they name us.
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton was named a Tier 1 firm in Southern California by U.S. News & World Report — the highest ranking a law firm can achieve. Selection is based on client feedback, peer reputation, and professional excellence. When independent evaluators rank the best, we're at the top.
Gabe Mendoza, Alexandro Garza, John Oney, Billy Seidlitz, and Aaron Sinfield were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California. Three attorneys — John, Billy, and Aaron — were selected for the first time in 2027. The next generation of Easton & Easton is already among the best in the state.
Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve
Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Saul were selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. Doug Easton has been selected for 19 consecutive years. Matt Easton was also named to the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers for 2027. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton received the "People Love Us On Yelp" award in 2016 due to exceptional client satisfaction reviews.Our clients don't just hire us — they recommend us.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.
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, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.
We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
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 proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.
Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.
Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.
Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.
20+ prestigious awards and recognitions. Exposed to the harshest scrutiny. Earning the highest honors. Recognized by every major legal organization — year after year.
Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
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