Park Bus Accident Attorney in Baldwin Park, CA
Due to the sheer size and weight of buses, accident victims tend to suffer more severe injuries compared to regular car crashes. Whether you were a pedestrian, a passenger, or driving a nearby vehicle, you deserve to pursue justice. Reach out to a Baldwin Park bus accident lawyer to understand your legal rights and options under California law.
Hire a Bus Accident Lawyer to Fight for Your Legal Rights
The team at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor has spent years helping residents of California get through the most difficult times in their lives. Our lawyers have fought to win:
- $2,250,000 for an elderly client who was hit by a Los Angeles Metro bus.
- $575,000 for a client who suffered a back injury after being pushed off a commuter bus at Union Station.
Our firm offers free consultations to those living in Baldwin Park and the surrounding cities in California. After listening to the full details of your situation, our Baldwin Park personal injury attorneys will work tirelessly to create a custom legal strategy for your case.
Steps to Take After Getting Into a Bus Accident
After a bus accident in Baldwin Park, there are several key steps to preserve your health, safety, and legal case. These steps may vary depending on the specific details of the accident and how many people were involved. Be sure to:
- Call 911 and report the incident. Request medical attention, even if you feel fine. Auto accidents are serious, and you may have internal injuries or a concussion without realizing it. Even if you’re given a clean bill of health, it’s important to have a record of your medical care. Plus, if there were other victims involved, they may need medical attention.
- Collect the contact and insurance information of the drivers involved in the accident. If they refuse to cooperate with you, don’t argue with them. Doing so will only escalate an already tense situation.
- Wait for law enforcement to arrive. Explain the situation to them, and they’ll be able to collect other drivers’ information for you. If the other driver attempts to flee before police arrive, take a photo of their license plate and car make and model to give to police.
- Collect the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident happen.
- Don’t apologize or admit fault after the accident. While you may have good intentions, doing so will only harm your legal case later on.
- Take extensive photos and videos of the crash site, including any skid marks or nearby property damage. Take photos of any visible injuries you may have, as well as damage to your vehicle and other personal belongings, such as a bicycle, cell phone, or bag.
- Hire a bus accident lawyer to help you file your case and gather evidence for legal proceedings.
The Deadline for Filing Your Bus Accident Claim in California
In 2025, there were 632 bus crashes in California. A bus can weigh anywhere from 8,000 to over 40,000 pounds, depending on the type of bus. These crashes tend to be more severe than regular car crashes, often leaving survivors with lifelong injuries or pain. As of 2023, one in four adults in California lives with a disability. Bus accidents can lead to disability if they are severe enough.
To help you recover your financial losses, you can open a legal case against the driver responsible for the crash. When pursuing your bus accident case, California courts have strict filing deadlines. If you fail to file within the proper deadline, your case will likely be dismissed entirely. These deadlines are:
- Two years to file a claim after the incident
- Six months if the bus were a government-owned vehicle
You can file your claim at the El Monte Courthouse, located at 11234 East Valley Boulevard in El Monte. While this timeline may seem long, it’s important to file as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more your losses will continue to pile up. Gathering evidence will also become more difficult over time, as proof fades quickly.
Evidence to Strengthen Your Personal Injury Case
During your case, you’ll need extensive evidence to present to the court. Your lawyer will be able to help you preserve:
- Testimony from anyone who witnessed the incident
- Professional perspectives on what caused the crash and the extent of your injuries
- The photos and videos taken at the time of the crash
- Copies of the incident report and your medical records
- Documentation to show your financial losses, such as medical bills and lost income from work
- Documentation to show your emotional losses, such as a journal of your emotional state after the crash or notes from a therapist
- A written, detailed timeline of events
- Transcripts of the initial 911 call
- Dash cam, traffic camera, or surveillance footage of the incident from nearby businesses or residences
How California Courts Determine Fault in a Personal Injury Case
When deciding how much compensation to award the filing party and who will pay, California courts assign everyone involved in the incident a percentage of fault. Any compensation awarded to you will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example:
- If you were driving a car at the time of the accident and were found to be speeding, you may be assigned 30% of the fault for the accident.
- If the bus driver ran a red light and hit your car, they may be assigned 70% fault for the accident.
- If you’re awarded $100,000, it would be reduced by 30%, making your final amount $70,000.
This system helps ensure that wrongdoers only pay what they are responsible for.
Work With Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers in California
Accident survivors deserve a legal advocate to help them through their case. Contact our office in Pasadena today to learn how the attorneys at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor can help you.
We offer free consultations to those living in Baldwin Park and the surrounding cities in California. Let our skilled team take care of the legal side of things so you can focus on your recovery.