Injured in a Bus Accident in Northern California?
Let My Family Help You Get the Recovery You Deserve.
Injured in a Truck Accident in Northern California?
Let My Family Help You Get the Recovery You Deserve.
5 Star Reviews on Google
Highly Regarded on Yelp
Recognized as Outstanding Lawyer in San Francisco Magazine
Recipient of SuperLawyer Award 2016-2017
Rated A+ for Client Service by the BBB
Bus Accident Attorneys with Over 40 Years Experience. Here’s what we will Do For You
We coordinate with your medical providers to handle medical bills.
We determine how to keep money coming in while you recover.
We deal with insurance adjusters and handle the claims process.
Bus Accident Attorneys with Over 40 Years Experience. Here’s what we will
Do For You
We coordinate with your medical providers to handle medical bills.
We determine how to keep money coming in while you recover.
We deal with insurance adjusters and handle the claims process.
How The Wyatt Law Corp Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You
With over 40 years of experience helping clients injured in accidents and on the job, the father and sons legal team of the Wyatt Law Corporation are experts at recovering compensation for people who have been injured in an accident in Northern California.
Wow….how refreshing it is to speak with an attorney that actually takes their time listening to you and doesn’t make you feel rushed. I was very impressed with his professionalism and how knowledgeable he was. Thank you Russ for being so personable and attentive, I appreciate the quick responses and the solid guidance. I will definitely be recommending you! I rarely write reviews but felt the need to write this one because of how satisfied I was with his services.
A Family of Attorneys with over 40 Years of Experience Who Treat You Like Family
What makes the Wyatt firm unique is our commitment to family. The father and sons team of attorneys have been battling insurance companies for over 40 years and have achieved exceptional results for their clients throughout California. The Wyatt attorneys understand that being injured in a car accident it traumatic and requires a personal touch. Unlike some impersonal mega-firms where clients are simply looked at as dollars, the Wyatts strive to treat every client like a family member.
Commitment and Compassion from Military Background
Before becoming an attorney, Russ Wyatt joined the United States Marine Corps. He was a member of the invasion force that stormed Baghdad in 2003, reached the rank of Sergeant and was awarded a combat action ribbon. Russ’ military background taught him the importance of discipline and commitment in everything he does. Most importantly it taught him to show compassion towards people who sustained injuries. Russ knows that no amount of money can make up for serious injuries.
Never Any Upfront Cost to You
The firm is committed to taking cases on contingency. That means that there is no upfront cost to you. From the moment you first contact the attorneys until the time you receive your settlement, there are no legal fees. The firm makes itself available for free consultations at offices located in Sacramento, Fairfield and Cameron Park. The attorneys know that their clients who are injured have a hard time coming to the office, so by appointment, they also meet with clients at locations that are convenient to them.
No Medical Insurance, No Problem
If you are injured, the most important priority is to get you back on your feet. Not everybody has medical insurance or insurance that will pay for all the treatment they need. We work with doctors that take patients on lien. That means that doctors will treat you and postpone their payment until you receive your settlement.
How The Wyatt Law Corp Can Help You
With over 40 years of experience helping clients injured in accidents and on the job, the father and sons legal team of the Wyatt Law Corporation are experts at recovering compensation for people who have been injured in an accident in Northern California.
Wow….how refreshing it is to speak with an attorney that actually takes their time listening to you and doesn’t make you feel rushed. I was very impressed with his professionalism and how knowledgeable he was. Thank you Russ for being so personable and attentive, I appreciate the quick responses and the solid guidance. I will definitely be recommending you! I rarely write reviews but felt the need to write this one because of how satisfied I was with his services.
A Family of Attorneys with over 40 Years of Experience Who Treat You Like Family
What makes The Wyatt Corp unique is our commitment to family. The father and sons team of attorneys have been battling insurance companies for over 40 years and have achieved exceptional results for their clients throughout California. The Wyatt attorneys understand that being injured in a car accident it traumatic and requires a personal touch. Unlike some impersonal mega-firms where clients are simply looked at as dollars, the Wyatts strive to treat every client like a family member.
Commitment and Compassion from Military Background
Before becoming an attorney, Russ Wyatt joined the United States Marine Corps. He was a member of the invasion force that stormed Baghdad in 2003, reached the rank of Sergeant and was awarded a combat action ribbon. Russ’ military background taught him the importance of discipline, commitment in everything he does. Most importantly it taught him compassion for other's injuries. Russ knows that no amount of money can make up for serious injuries and his perspective reminds him to treat clients with respect and compassion.
Never Any Upfront Cost to You
The firm is committed to taking cases on contingency. That means that there is no upfront cost to you. From the moment you first contact the attorneys until the time you receive your settlement, there are no legal fees. The firm makes itself available for free consultations at either one of the offices located in Sacramento or Cameron Park. The attorneys know that their clients who are injured have a hard time coming to the office, so by appointment, they also meet with clients at locations that are convenient to them.
No Medical Insurance, No Problem
The most important priority should be to get you back on your feet. Not everybody has medical insurance or insurance that will pay for all the treatment they need. We work with doctors that take patients on lien. That means that they will treat you and postpone their payment until you receive your settlement.
Our Attorneys
Our Attorneys
Sacramento Bus Accident Attorneys
The majority of motor vehicle accidents are caused by cars and trucks. While bus accidents are not as common, they are still a serious problem. According to federal regulators, there are more than 200 fatal crashes involving buses every year. Most of these crashes involve school buses and public transit (commuter) buses.
Even when not fatal, bus accidents can leave passengers and pedestrians with serious injuries that require costly medical care. California law imposes on all bus operators a duty to exercise the “utmost care and diligence” for the “safe carriage” of its passengers. This includes making sure the bus itself is safe and that the driver obeys all applicable state and local traffic laws. A carrier may be liable for any personal injury arising from its negligence in failing to protect its passengers and the general public.
Can I Sue a Public Transit Agency?
One of the most frequent questions we get at the Law Office of Russ Wyatt is whether you can actually sue a public authority, such a Sacramento Regional Transit, for injuries sustained while riding a commuter bus? The answer is yes, you can, but there are a number of additional legal hoops you will need to jump through.
When you sue a private bus company for negligence it is no different than any other personal injury lawsuit. But public transit agencies are considered subdivisions of the State of California. In the United States, the general rule is that you cannot sue the state–or any of its components–without its consent. This is a legal principle known as “sovereign immunity,” which extends back to when the American colonies were under the rule of the British king.
In modern practice, sovereign immunity means you cannot sue a California state agency unless the legislature has passed a law authorizing such a lawsuit. Fortunately for personal injury victims there is such a law: the California Tort Claims Act (CTCA). This law makes a city transit agency liable the same as a private carrier for any negligent act committed by one of its employees.
But there is a catch. The CTCA requires an accident victim to notify the transit agency within six months of the date of the injury. If this noticed is not filed on time, the victim cannot sue for damages, regardless of the merits of the claim. This six-month rule is a substantial departure from normal private personal injury lawsuits, where the victim has two years to file.
This compressed timeframe emphasizes the importance of working with an experienced Sacramento bus accident attorney. It is easy for an inexperienced accident victim to get tripped on California’s procedural requirements when suing a public agency. And the courts will not give a victim any leeway–any failure to comply with the strict terms of the CTCA will forever bar person’s claim.
Are Other Parties Liable for a Bus Accident?
A bus accident may have many causes. The most common explanation is driver error. For example, the driver was operating the bus at too high a speed, which caused it to collide with another vehicle. The driver may also be tired if he or she has worked too many hours per week. Even scarier, the driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Alternatively, another vehicle may have crashed into the bus due to its operator’s negligence, in which case that driver can be held liable for the bus passengers’ injuries. And if a bus failed due to a faulty part–say, a defective tire–the manufacturer of said part may be liable.
There are also cases where a bus is improperly maintained by the transit authority or private owner. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration establishes and enforces safety standards for bus operators. However, many carriers–especially discount bus operators–overlook or ignore FMCSA rules. While the FMCSA has the legal authority to revoke a private carrier’s right to operate intercity buses, there have been cases where such action has come too late to save unfortunate passengers from an accident.
Because the actual cause of a bus accident is not always readily known–and the responsible parties may try and cover their tracks–victims need to have someone on their side who will fight to learn the truth. The Law Office of Russ Wyatt knows how to investigate bus accidents and identify the responsible parties. We know that many bus carriers cut corners when it comes to passenger safety. Russ Wyatt and his team–which includes members of his own family who are also practicing attorneys–will work to make sure such recklessness does not go unpunished.
What Kind of Damages Can I Recover?
A bus accident is a serious trauma. Since buses, unlike cars, generally do not have seatbelts, passengers are more likely to be ejected from their seats and slammed into the floor, window, or even another seat. In the best case scenario, the victim is only left with some minor scrapes and bruises. But in more serious bus accidents, the passengers may have broken bones, torn ligaments, spinal damage, and even traumatic brain injury.
Medical expenses following a bus accident can quickly add up, especially if you require extensive follow-up care and physical rehabilitation. In a successful personal injury claim, you can recover all of these expenses, in addition to other economic losses, such as lost wages, and noneconomic damages for your pain and suffering.
Why Should I Call Sacramento Bus Accident Attorneys, Wyatt Law Corp?
There are many attorneys in northern California who can help you with a personal injury claim. The Wyatt Law Corp stands out because of our family practice and our dedication to client service. Our clients have honored us with a perfect rating on Yelp and Russ has been recognized by San Francisco as one of Northern California’s outstanding young lawyers. Let Russ Wyatt and his family help your family recover from a serious bus accident. If you live in Sacramento, Placer, or El Dorado counties and need immediate legal assistance, call us today at 916-277-8820 to schedule a free consultation.
We Serve the Following California Counties
- Sacramento County
- Placer County (Rocklin, Roseville and Lake Tahoe)
- El Dorado County
- Yuba County
- Yolo County
- Solano County
- Merced County
- San Joaquin County
- Calaveras County
Sacramento
901 H St. Suite 601
Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: (916) 277-8820
Cameron Park
3350 Country Club Dr. #202
Cameron Park, CA 95682
Ph: (530) 350-6645
Yuba City
1110 Civic Center Blvd. Ste. 106F
Yuba City, CA 95993
Ph: (530) 443-9592
Fairfield
622 Jackson St, Suite 205
Fairfield, CA 94533
Ph: (707) 772-5737
This site is for general informational purposes only. Some information may be out of date or inaccurate for your area. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. If you have a specific legal question please consult an attorney. Attorney is only licensed to practice in California. Attorney Russ Wyatt is the owner of the firm and attorneys Raymond Wyatt and Peter Wyatt are attorneys of counsel to the firm.
This site is for general informational purposes only. Some information may be out of date or inaccurate for your area. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. If you have a specific legal question please consult an attorney. Attorney is only licensed to practice in California. Attorney Russ Wyatt is the owner of the firm and attorneys Raymond Wyatt and Peter Wyatt are attorneys of counsel to the firm.