Passengers who were hurt in a Los Angeles MTA bus accident may have a legal right to damages if the crash was caused by negligence on the part of the bus driver, the driver of another vehicle, the MTA, or other entity. Passengers suing the MTA for accident injuries have only 6 months from the date of the crash in which to file a claim, after which they may forfeit their right to compensation. Damages may include medical expenses arising from the injury (past, present, and future), lost wages from forced time away from work, and more.
What damages can you get as a passenger in a Los Angeles MTA bus crash?
Due to their sheer size, the number of passengers aboard, the lack of seatbelts, the number of passengers who are standing or walking at any given time, and the number of potentially dangerous projectiles present on the bus, bus accidents can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries to their passengers. If you were harmed as a passenger in a Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus collision, you may have a legal right to recover monetary compensation from the liable party or parties, including the following damages:
- Total medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital visits, surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and more
- Prescriptions
- Ambulance costs
- Assistive devices necessitated by your accident
- In-home care by nurses or aids
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
How long do I have before I need to file a claim?
The Statute of Limitations establishes a deadline within which you need to file a lawsuit or risk foregoing your legal rights to that action. In California, most motor vehicle accident injury victims have two years from the date of the incident in which to file a claim. However, if you are suing a government entity such as the MTA, whether due to the MTA bus driver’s negligence, improper maintenance of the bus, or any other reason, then you have only six months in which to file your initial claim. If your claim is denied, then you have six months from that point in which to file a bus accident lawsuit. An experienced Los Angeles bus accident attorney from the Salamati Law Firm will investigate every aspect of your case and make sure that no filing deadlines are missed.
What is an MTA bus driver’s standard of care?
If the MTA bus driver did not exercise the level of care required by California law in operating your bus, and this failure to meet the standard of care is what caused your injury, then you may have grounds to file a bus accident lawsuit against the MTA. Pursuant to CACI 902, MTA bus drivers and other common carriers in California must “use the highest care and the vigilance of a very cautious person” and “must do all that human care […] and foresight reasonably can do under the circumstances to avoid harm to passengers.”
The great majority of MTA bus drivers take their responsibilities very seriously and make their passengers’ and other motorists’ safety the highest priority when behind the wheel. When driver error occurs, however, it can have catastrophic consequences. Examples of MTA bus driver negligence include:
- Driver fatigue
- Driving while intoxicated
- Texting while driving
- Eating or drinking while driving
Choose Sean Salamati to Protect Your Rights After an MTA Bus Crash
If you have been injured in an MTA bus accident, call the Salamati Law Firm today to schedule your free case review. Not only is Los Angeles MTA bus accident attorney Sean Salamati a skilled negotiator who can help maximize your financial recovery in a settlement, but insurance companies know they need to take your case seriously because he has the experience and resources to win at trial as well.
You deserve a bus injury lawyer who will fight for the results you need to recover from your injuries and step forward into the next chapter of your life. Call us anytime, 24/7, to schedule your no-fee consultation. We accept cases on a contingency basis, which means you owe us no fees unless we recover money on your behalf.
