We help Bakersfield victims hurt in collisions involving Bakersfield GET buses. Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield fights to make sure victims can pay for the medical care they need to fully recover physically and mentally.
If you have been seriously hurt in a crash, contact a Bakersfield Bus Accident Lawyer for a free consultation.
When You’ll Want a Lawyer for Your Bus Accident Case
If you are knocked around on a bus ride but only suffer very minor injuries, you may not need a lawyer’s help. If you are struck by a GET bus and only endure some scrapes and bruises, or just vehicle damage, you may be fine handling your case yourself.
But when your injuries are serious, you may need a lawyer’s help protecting your rights and earning enough to cover the enormous costs of a longer recovery. As your hospital bills stack up and you miss more time at work, insurers for the City of Bakersfield can look for an escape rather than take full blame for your damages.
Government lawyers can also attack your case. They’ll want to try to remove blame from a bus driver or downplay your injuries. It’s a good time to have a skilled Bakersfield GET Bus Accident Lawyer to protect you. A lawyer fully investigates what happened and the bus driver’s record. The evidence is used to keep the fault on the City of Bakersfield, and medical charts are used to demand what’s needed for proper care for as long as necessary.
Injured passengers can always file a claim themselves, but when a serious injury is involved, a lawyer has a good chance to earn them more than they could on their own. A serious injury might include something like a broken wrist, a major case of whiplash, a brain injury, or any neck or back injury.
A Free Consultation with a Real Bakersfield Bus Accident Attorney
A bus accident in Bakersfield can leave you confused about who should be held responsible and how much support they should have to provide. We don’t want victims to ever miss out on the support they need to rebuild their health and their lives.
It’s Maison Law Accident & Injuries Lawyers offer a free case consultation to all victims and their families. It’s a no-obligation, no-pressure meeting to help victims understand what their cases may be worth and how to demand what’s fair from unhelpful insurers.
The Support You Must Insist on After a Bus Accident
GET Bus accident victims can be tossed into metal walls, windows, other passengers, and even the ceiling. Those outside of an out-of-control bus can be struck and suffer injuries in a crumpled car or when thrown from a motorcycle. Pedestrians and cyclists can suffer devastating injuries after being hit in a crosswalk or bike lane around Bakersfield.
Victims can end up at Mercy Hospital with debilitating and catastrophic injuries (injuries that alter someone’s lifestyle permanently).
Through an accident claim, an experienced lawyer would demand support for all economic damages and some hardships that many people don’t know they can receive compensation for.
- Support to cover all of your medical bills for as long as care is necessary.
- Support for a lifetime if your injuries result in a permanent disability.
- Support for the pain you experience and that you may suffer with for months or years.
- Support for the emotional trauma you experience after a terrifying bus collision and through a difficult recovery.
- Support for a loss of enjoyment of life while limited by an injury and unable to participate in hobbies and family activities, even vacations.
- Support to replace the job income and benefits you have to go without while you are in injury recovery.
- Support to cover the costs of travel to make doctor’s appointments and to see out-of-town specialists.
- Help in paying to get your vehicle or bicycle fixed if you are struck by a Bakersfield bus driver.
Finding Out Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bakersfield Golden Empire Transit Bus Accident
Blue and Green Buses can be seen on most streets and highways in Bakersfield. There are over 100 GET Buses carrying passengers on 16 routes each day. Bus drivers usually work to keep everyone safe. But these buses are very large and heavy and can be difficult to control. They can carry a lot of force into an accident, causing more serious consequences.
Bus drivers can also get careless or reckless and cause major impacts. They can get distracted by a cellphone or a passenger. They might build up too much speed to stop for a light turning red along Ming Avenue.
The City of Bakersfield is liable for the actions of its drivers. They bear a legal responsibility to keep riders safe on their journeys. To do this, they should be hiring drivers with safe records, and not skipping background checks and drug tests. They must also maintain safe vehicles and provide regular maintenance.
When a city employee makes a mistake and causes an accident, the city is accountable. However, filing a claim against a government agency like the Golden Empire Transit Authority is more complex than a normal car accident claim.
The Complex Process Behind Filing a Bus Accident Claim Against the City of Bakersfield
Shorter Deadlines: In a normal car accident case, victims have up to two years to file a claim. But claims filed against the city would need to be turned in within six months. Miss this sneaky deadline, and you’ve likely lost your chance at earning support.
Complex Paperwork: Your lawyer will help you file the stack of paperwork you’ll need to support your case. In a notice of claim, you’ll have to include all of your evidence and medical records. You’ll need to alert the city to how much you expect for your hardships. Any mistakes in your filing can be used as an excuse to reject your claim. A lawyer assists you each step of the way and handles the tedious paperwork while giving you time to focus on healing.
At this point, the city can choose to compensate your claim or reject it. Upon rejection, you have the option to file a lawsuit. If a lawsuit is the only way to get what’s fair, your attorney will have evidence already prepared for a lawsuit and a potential trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will I afford to pay a personal injury lawyer after a Bakersfield bus accident?
All victims can afford strong legal representation. Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield only charges for our services if we win your case. At that point, our fee is covered out of the settlement check that Bakersfield must provide for you.
What can I do at the scene of a bus accident to help my case?
See to your safety first. Then, if you are left strong enough and can move, get photos of the scene inside the bus. Take pictures of any visible injuries. Give a full report to the Bakersfield police or the CHP about what you saw before the accident. Get checked out by paramedics and go to the hospital if they think you should. If it’s safe to exit the bus, get photos of the damage to the bus, to the roadside damage, and to other vehicles. If your car is struck by a bus, get photos of the damage to both vehicles. Get witness contact information, including information from other passengers.
Can My Family Seek Support If a Loved One Is Killed in a Bus Accident?
Yes. A wrongful death claim seeks money to help with burial costs and to pay off any medical bills built up before the victim passed on. Families should get assistance in replacing the income a loved one may have provided. Families also need support for the guidance and care they won’t be able to rely on in the future.
Contact a Bakersfield Bus Accident Lawyer
If you suffered a serious injury on a ride on a GET bus or were struck by a bus driver, take advantage of a free case consultation. There’s no obligation, and it’s an easy way to figure out what the city should be offering you in support.