San Bernardino Bus Accident Lawyer
San Bernardino Bus Accident Attorney
Thousands of people use bus services in the San Bernardino area every day, from adults taking public transportation to children riding school buses to their classes. Although less common than standard car accidents, bus accidents do occur, and they often result in severe injuries to multiple victims at once. If you recently sustained injuries in any kind of bus accident, it is vital to know the value of legal counsel that you trust and what you can expect from the proceedings ahead of you as you seek compensation for your losses.
Experienced Legal Counsel for Bus Accident Victims in San Bernardino, CA
The attorneys at Easton & Easton have decades of experience resolving all types of personal injury claims in San Bernardino, including those pertaining to bus accidents. These cases often entail severe injuries and can lead to very complex and contentious legal proceedings, and our firm has the skill and experience necessary to help you approach your bus accident case with confidence and peace of mind.
When you choose our firm to represent your case, you can rely on us to help you gather any evidence needed to prove liability for your damages and establish the extent of the losses you can claim. The average personal injury plaintiff will be unable to succeed with their case unassisted, and even if they managed to prove fault for their losses, they would be unlikely to recover as much compensation as a seasoned attorney could have secured on their behalf. When you have our firm representing you, you can rest assured that we will do everything we can to expedite your proceedings and help you recover as much compensation as state law allows for your damages.
Proving Liability for Your Bus Accident in San Bernardino
The state’s fault rule applies to all motor vehicle accidents in the state, meaning you must prove fault for your bus accident before you will be able to recover any compensation for your damages. Under state law, the party responsible for causing an accident is responsible for all resulting damages, and every driver must have auto insurance that meets basic coverage requirements for bodily injury and property damage liability. Insurance could come into play after your bus accident, depending on how the accident happened and who is responsible, but it is unlikely for insurance alone to cover the full scope of all your claimable damages.
It’s possible for one or more parties to bear liability for the bus accident you experienced. For example, liability could fall to the bus driver if they were negligent in their handling of the bus or if they engaged in any willful misconduct, such as driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. It is also possible for their employer to bear fault under the rule of vicarious liability. An employer can share liability for the actions of their employee if they did not adhere to applicable industry regulations or if they violated common carrier laws. A common carrier is any organization that offers transportation as a paid service to the public, and there are special rules that all common carriers must follow.
When you must file a civil suit in response to a school bus accident, it is possible for multiple parties to share fault for the incident, including the school district, the bus service, and the bus driver. It is also possible for another motorist to have caused your bus accident, in which case that at-fault driver would face liability for the damages suffered by all the victims of the accident. Once you determine who caused your accident and have proved exactly how they have caused it, you can proceed with claiming compensation for the resulting damages.
Claimable Damages in Your Bus Accident Case in San Bernardino
The primary goal of any personal injury claim in San Bernardino is to prove fault for your damages and collect compensation for those damages. The average plaintiff is entitled to claim more than they may initially expect, and a good San Bernardino bus accident attorney can be an invaluable asset for the help they can provide in maximizing your recovery. Under California’s personal injury laws, you could potentially recover compensation for:
- Medical treatment costs. The defendant who physically injured you is liable for all of the medical care you need to reach maximum improvement from your injuries. This includes immediate as well as long-term medical expenses.
- Lost income. If you have been injured badly enough that you are unable to work while you recover from your injuries, the defendant is responsible for the money you cannot earn during this time. Additionally, if you suffered any permanently disabling injuries that impact your ability to work and earn income, you can hold the defendant accountable for the income you won’t be able to earn because of their actions.
- Property damage. When your personal property has been damaged or destroyed in an accident, the party responsible for causing the accident is liable for all associated repair and replacement costs.
- Pain and suffering. In addition to your economic damages, you can claim compensation for the physical pain and psychological distress you experienced from the bus accident. State law does not limit this aspect of your recovery, so you have the right to claim as much as you believe to be appropriate to reflect the severity of the harm done to you.
An experienced San Bernardino bus accident attorney can be invaluable for the help they can provide in proving liability for your damages and proving the full scope of those damages. When you choose Easton & Easton to handle your case, we will do everything we can to maximize your recovery in the most efficient manner possible.
FAQs for Bus Accident Lawyers
Q: Who Is Liable for a Bus Accident in San Bernardino?
A: You must prove liability for your bus accident before you can recover compensation for the damages you sustained in the accident. It’s possible for fault for a bus accident to fall to the bus driver, their employer, or a third party. It is also possible for a combination of multiple parties to bear liability for the accident. If you are filing suit in response to a school bus accident, the school district and/or bus company may bear fault for the incident. A San Bernardino bus accident attorney can help you determine fault for your accident and hold the appropriate party or parties accountable for the damages they caused.
Q: What Are Commonly Reported Injuries From Bus Accidents?
A: Bus accidents often result in serious injuries to multiple victims at once. Many of these injuries may also occur from standard motor vehicle accidents, such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and damage to internal organs. If you believe you have only sustained minor injuries, it is still important that you see a doctor as soon as possible after your bus accident so they can check for any injuries that aren’t immediately noticeable. This will prevent any such injuries from worsening.
Q: What Happens if a Plaintiff Is Partially at Fault?
A: California enforces the pure comparative fault rule in any personal injury claim in which multiple parties share liability for the damages cited in the claim. Each liable party has a fault percentage assigned to them that indicates the share of the victim’s damages for which they are responsible. If a plaintiff is assigned a fault percentage, they will lose this percentage of their case award as a penalty. For example, 25% fault would mean losing 25% of the total compensation won from the defendant.
Q: How Long Will It Take to Resolve a Bus Accident Case?
A: The time your case could take to reach a conclusion will largely depend on whether you are able to settle the case or if you will need to litigate. A settlement should only take a few weeks to complete as long as both parties are willing to compromise on a mutually acceptable set of terms for resolving the case. Litigation, on the other hand, can take more than a year to resolve, depending on the complexity of the case and the scope of the damages sought by the plaintiff.
Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Sacramento Bus Accident Attorney?
A: The team at Easton & Easton can represent your personal injury case without adding to your financial concerns in this difficult situation. We take personal injury clients on contingency, meaning our client only pays our firm a fee if and when we win their case, and their fee is a percentage of the total compensation won from the defendant. If our firm is unable to obtain a case award for you, there is no fee at all.
The attorneys at Easton & Easton have the professional experience required to handle the most challenging accident cases in San Bernardino. Whether you must file a claim against a private individual driver, a bus company, or a school district, we are confident in our ability to provide comprehensive legal support through all aspects of your recovery efforts. The sooner you reach out to an attorney that you trust, the more likely you are to maximize your recovery, so contact Easton & Easton today to schedule your consultation with a San Bernardino bus accident attorney.
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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 — recognized more than 75 times by TopVerdict.com over the past 5 years — including fifty-eight #1 recognitions, 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 2026 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve. Voted #1 in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 — four #1 wins, including three years in a row
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® 2027. 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, 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 2026. 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 2026. 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.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
“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
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