If you are a passenger in a bus, and are injured as a result of an accident, special rules apply. For example, in California, a bus, (which is a common carrier), must use the highest care for its passengers safety, while the passengers need only use reasonable care for their safety. The degree of care which a bus must therefore utilize is higher than that duty owed through a negligence analysis. In other words, while automobile operators need only utilize “reasonable care”, the operator of a common carrier must use the “highest care” toward its passengers.

Common carriers have the following obligations to passengers in their care:

• Common carriers must carry passengers or property safely, using the highest care and the vigilance of a very cautious person. While a common carrier does not guarantee the safety of its passengers or property that it transports, it must use reasonable skill to provide everything necessary for safe transportation.
• Where minor children are injured as passengers on a bus, special rules apply as well. In California, if a common carrier voluntarily accepts a child as a passenger, it must use as much additional care as is reasonably necessary to ensure the child’s safety. What this means is there is a further heightening of the care owed by the bus company above that involved for adults.
• Where ill or disabled persons are injured as passengers on a bus, special rules will likely apply as well. In California, if a common carrier voluntarily accepts an ill or disabled person as a passenger, and is aware of that person’s condition, then it must use as much additional care as is reasonably necessary to ensure the passenger safety. Again, this is a further heightening of the care owed by the bus company above that involved for the non-disabled or healthy individual.
• Common carriers must use the highest care in constructing, servicing, inspecting, and maintaining their vehicles and equipment. This means that common carriers are responsible for any defects in their vehicles and equipment.

Accordingly, it is absolutely imperative that you contact qualified San Francisco bus accident lawyers if you have been involved in a bus accident as a passenger, pedestrian, or operator of other vehicle. Oftentimes, bus companies vigorously defend actions brought against them. This results due to the catastrophic nature of the injuries that usually result when a bus is involved in an accident.