Bakersfield Bus Accident Lawyers

Here are some common buses you will see operating in Bakersfield and around Kern County:

• Golden Empire Transit (GET bus): Golden Empire Transit is the primary mass transportation operator for Bakersfield. More than 3.5 million people ride GET buses each year. The company has hubs in the Downtown Transit Center, Southwest Transit Center, Bakersfield College, and Cal State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). 
• Kern Transit Bus: Kern Transit provides intra-regional transportation across Kern County. Outside of Bakersfield, hubs include Frazier Park, Lake Isabella, and Mojave. 
• Greyhound Bus: Greyhound buses are common throughout Bakersfield. There is a Greyhound station off Truxtun Ave. southeast of Downtown Bakersfield. 
• School Bus: School buses are easily recognizable with their bright yellow color and distinctive shape. They are used to transport students to and from schools and typically have a high level of safety features, including flashing lights and stop signs.
• Shuttle Bus: Shuttle buses are smaller buses used for point-to-point transportation, often within specific locations like airports, hotels, and business complexes. They are designed to carry passengers over short distances in a continuous loop.
• Double-Decker Bus: Double-decker buses have two levels, with seating on both the lower and upper decks. Megabus, which provides transportation between Bakersfield and several other Central California cities, has a few double-decker buses.
• Tour Bus: Tour buses are designed for guided tours and sightseeing. They often have large windows for better visibility and provide narration or audio guides to inform passengers about the attractions they are passing.
• Party Bus: Party buses are customized buses designed for entertainment purposes. They often feature music systems, lighting effects, and seating arrangements conducive to parties, celebrations, and social gatherings.
• Airport Shuttle Bus: Meadows Field Airport (BFL) is owned by Kern County and serves over 1 million people in the greater Southern San Joaquin Valley. The airport has shuttle buses transporting passengers to and from area hotels. 
• Specialty Buses: There are also specialty buses designed for specific purposes, such as mobile offices, medical clinics, and prisoner transport. These buses are customized to meet the unique needs of their intended use.

Bus accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, and they may result in injuries, fatalities, and significant property damage.

Common causes of bus accidents include:

• Driver Error:
  • Distracted Driving: Bus drivers may become distracted by texting, using a phone, eating, or other activities while operating the vehicle.
  • Fatigue: Long hours on the road without adequate rest can lead to driver fatigue, impairing judgment and reaction times.
  • Speeding: Driving at excessive speeds reduces the driver's ability to react to changing road conditions and increases the severity of accidents.
• Weather Conditions:
  • Rain, Snow, Ice: Slippery road conditions caused by rain, snow, or ice can make it difficult for a bus to maintain traction and control.
• Poor Road Conditions:
  • Potholes and Uneven Surfaces: Roads with potholes or uneven surfaces can be hazardous for buses, leading to loss of control or accidents.
• Lack of Maintenance: 
  • Insufficient road maintenance can result in dangerous conditions, such as worn-out road markings or inadequate signage.
• Mechanical Failures:
  • Brake Failures: Malfunctioning brakes can lead to an inability to stop or slow down in time, causing accidents.
  • Tire Blowouts: A blowout or tire failure can lead to loss of control and accidents.
  • Engine or Transmission Issues: Mechanical problems in the engine or transmission can cause the bus to stall or lose power.
• Impaired Driving:
  • Alcohol or Drug Use: Bus drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have impaired judgment and reaction times, leading to accidents.
• Inadequate Training:
  • Lack of Proper Training: Insufficient training or experience can result in drivers making errors in judgment or handling the bus.
• Overloading:
  • Excessive Passenger or Cargo Load: Overloading a bus can affect its stability, braking capacity, and handling, making it more prone to accidents.
• Aggressive Driving:
  • Road Rage: Aggressive behaviors, such as tailgating, sudden lane changes, and aggressive passing, can lead to accidents.
  • Other Drivers' Actions: Bus accidents can also occur due to reckless or negligent actions of other drivers on the road, such as sudden lane changes, running red lights, or failing to yield the right of way.
• Weather-Related Factors:
  • Reduced Visibility: Fog, heavy rain, or snow can reduce visibility, making it difficult for bus drivers to see obstacles and other vehicles on the road.
• Pedestrian or Cyclist Incidents:
  • Failure to Yield: Accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists can occur if the bus driver fails to yield the right of way or if the pedestrian or cyclist behaves recklessly.
• Animal Collisions:
  • Wildlife: Collisions with animals, especially in rural areas, can lead to bus accidents.
• Medical Emergencies:
  • Driver Health Issues: A sudden medical emergency, such as a heart attack or loss of consciousness, can cause a bus driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Victims injured in bus accidents have the right to seek a financial recovery of their damages by pursuing personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits against the at-fault party. Depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding a bus accident, victims may have grounds to bring legal action against:

• Private motorists. Drivers of standard passenger vehicles may be held liable for actions that cause or contribute to bus accidents. A motorist who makes an unsafe lane change and cuts off a bus, causing it to swerve and crash, for example, may be held responsible in part for damages suffered by victims. 
• Public entities. The City of Bakersfield, Kern County, and other surrounding municipalities own and operate various transit systems, including Kern Transit and the Golden Empire Transit District. In cases where these entities are responsible for crashes, either because of negligent bus drivers or negligently maintained buses, a city or county may be held liable. Because personal injury cases brought against municipalities and public entities are subject to unique rules and procedures, victims injured in bus accidents involving any type of public transit should seek legal counsel as soon as possible. 
• School districts. Private and public school systems, such as the Bakersfield City School District, can be held liable for damages caused by negligent bus drivers or poorly maintained buses. That’s because school districts are ultimately responsible for accidents caused by their employees and property. 
• Private carriers. In cases where accidents involve private carriers, such as Greyhound buses, tour buses, charter buses, and other similar buses, the companies that own and operate these vehicles can be held liable for damages. Our firm has handled many cases against private motor carriers during our time in practice, including both intrastate and interstate buses.

Having successfully handled accident cases involving a variety of buses, our Bakersfield attorneys at Wisner Baum can identify any defendants that may bear liability for your accident and losses, and create a plan to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Here are the steps that you should take after a bus crash:

1. Get Medical Attention: The first and most important step for an injured bus passenger—or anyone harmed in a bus crash—is to seek medical attention. Even if the injuries appear minor, it is crucial to get checked out by a medical professional to ensure that all injuries are properly documented and treated. Injuries can be masked by the shock and adrenaline of an accident, so just to be on the safe side, go see a doctor. 

2. Gather Evidence: If possible, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible from the crash scene. Take pictures on your phone of the accident scene, collect contact information from passengers and witnesses, and get the police report or any other relevant documents related to the accident.

3. Contact a Bakersfield Bus Crash Attorney: It is highly recommended that you get in touch with an attorney who has experience in bus accident cases. A bus accident lawyer can help you navigate the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the claims process.

Backed by award-winning trial lawyers, Wisner Baum has helped families across Bakersfield, California, and the country after they’ve suffered devastating losses. Our law firm has built a proven track record of success since opening our doors in 1985. We have obtained over $4 million in verdicts and settlements for clients across all areas of practice. Some of our bus crash lawsuit results include:

• $20 million recovered for clients harmed in a crash involving an amphibious duck boat vehicle and a charter bus filled with college students. 
• $10 million settlement for the families of children seriously injured when an Orange Unified School District bus left the roadway and crashed. It was alleged that OUSD ignored warning signs that the driver had a health condition which would have prohibited him from driving a bus. 
• $6.2 million for the family of a child who was killed in a fatal bus crash. 
• $1.9 million recovered for the family of a tourist who was killed in a foreign bus crash. 

Call Wisner Baum’s Bakersfield law office at (855) 948-5098 or submit an online contact form online to get started.