Bus Accident Lawyers

Breaking News: Phoenix Bus Accident Kills 6
A bus accident outside of Phoenix, Arizona has claimed the lives of six (6) individuals who were thrown from the Tierra Santa Inc. bus line, which was traveling from the central Mexican state of Zacatecas to Los Angeles.

Statistically, buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that bus accidents represented 0.5 percent of fatal accidents in 2006; about two-thirds of these were collisions with other vehicles, while one-third were pedestrian accidents or rollovers. But when buses do get into accidents, like the fatal Colusa Casino Tour Bus Crash on October 5, 2008, the results can be catastrophic, because schools, bus companies and transit agencies routinely offer no seat belts or other safety precautions at all. Passengers must simply trust their luck -- and the bus driver -- to keep them out of an accident.

The lack of standard safety measures is just part of what makes buses a potential hazard. Buses hit between 90 and 100 pedestrians in the United States every year, according to the NHTSA, in part because their routes take them to curbs and through pedestrian-dense areas. Bus drivers also tend to have poor visibility because of their vehicles' large size and limited rear view. NHTSA statistics show that other vehicles are most likely to collide with the bus's right side, suggesting problems with visibility during lane changes. In the case of school buses, impatient drivers may cause tragic accidents with young children if they fail to stop when the red lights are flashing. And buses' extremely heavy weight -- more than 10,000 pounds -- means they're much more likely to have a deadly rollover accident than a passenger car. If bus drivers or others on the road don't take enough care, a group outing or everyday commute can turn into a massive tragedy.

Panish, Shea & Boyle has extensive experience handling -- and leading -- complex cases involving multiple victims and suits against government agencies. Partner Kevin Boyle has won tens of millions for clients in aviation crash cases and has led the plaintiffs' steering committee in two commercial jet crash cases. He was also co-counsel in Dominguez v. City and County of San Francisco, in which he helped win $27.4 million for the family of a four-year-old girl killed when a public-transit truck drove onto the sidewalk.

Panish, Shea & Boyle attorneys are leaders in complex consumer litigation, including cases involving automotive defects and bus accidents, pharmaceutical litigation and very serious injuries. Our partners have been repeatedly nominated as Trial Lawyers of the Year, Most Influential Attorneys and for other professional awards, and regularly speak and writing about trial practice to other attorneys.

Bus Accident Verdicts & Settlements

$3,200,000
Pedestrian vs. Bus Accident Settlement

Staley vs. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA): Carolyn Staley, a 21 year old UCLA student was struck in an MTA Bus Accident. Brian Panish argued that the defendant (MTA) was responsible for the accident and his client's significant injuries. Case Settled for $3,200,000.

$1,200,000
Pedestrian vs. Bus Accident Settlement

Castillo & Perez vs. Southern Calfornia Rapid Transit District (SCRTD): Bus turning at 2:00 a.m. in rain hits crossing pedestrians. Castilo & Perez both suffer signifigant injuries due to the california bus accident. Attorney Brian Panish represented clients who recieved a $1,500,000 settlement.

More Bus Accident Verdict & Settlements

Panish, Shea & Boyle Bus Accident Articles

• Panish, Shea & Boyle Files Suit in Mojave Desert Bus Disaster Case

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