Here in Bellingham and the greater Whatcom County area, buses are everywhere. Buses are an affordable and efficient way to get around town or travel between cities. However, when accidents happen, they can be especially serious—even fatal. Due to their large size, longer stopping distances, limited maneuverability, lack of seat belts, and significant blind spots, it’s not surprising that buses are involved in a high number of severe collisions.
If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a bus accident—whether you were on the bus, in another vehicle, walking, or riding a bike—it’s important to act quickly. Getting medical care, gathering evidence, and holding the responsible parties accountable are crucial steps to protect your rights and start the recovery process. Our Bellingham bus accident lawyer has the skills and experience to deliver the results you deserve. Contact us today to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Buses are part of a category of transportation vehicles called “common carriers.” This means they have a heightened duty of care. According to Washington caselaw, buses owe the following duty to their passengers:
“A common carrier has a duty to its passengers to exercise the highest degree of care consistent with the practical operation of its type of transportation and its business as a common carrier. Any failure of a common carrier to exercise such care is negligence.”
See WPI 100.01 Common Carrier—Duty to Passengers.
What is included in this definition?
During an initial consultation, a Bellingham attorney could further explain how the definition of a bus may apply to your accident case.
Frequent causes of bus accidents include:
Buses and common carriers are also responsible for the safety of their passengers while they are boarding and exiting or alighting from a bus. Washington caselaw has defined a passenger as:
“A person is a passenger if he or she is in the act of boarding, entering, riding upon, or alighting from the carrier’s conveyance with the actual or implied consent of the carrier. Also, one is a passenger while upon the carrier’s premises for a reasonable time after having disembarked from the carrier’s conveyance, or for a reasonable time before the departure of the carrier’s conveyance upon which he or she intends to ride as a passenger.”
Injuries can easily occur while entering or exiting a bus because of a poorly designed or maintained bus stop location or an inadvertent drop-off or pickup location. The entrance or exit area could involve uneven ground, wet or slippery steps, or poorly maintained handrails. In crowded conditions, rushing to board or disembark can cause pushing or loss of balance, especially among elderly or mobility-impaired individuals.
Proper bus stop design, clear communication, and driver attentiveness are essential to minimizing these risks. Contact a bus accident attorney in Bellingham for help determining the cause of your wreck.
Statistics show that bus accidents are far too common and highly dangerous:
Figuring out who’s responsible after a bus accident can get tricky because there are often several parties that could be at fault. Usually, it comes down to either the bus company or the driver, but not always. If the crash happened because something on the bus broke due to a defective part, the manufacturer of that part might be on the hook. And if the accident was caused by bad road conditions, the government agency in charge of maintaining that road could be held responsible, too. A knowledgeable attorney could investigate the circumstances of your Bellingham bus accident to determine who may be liable.
To prove negligence, the injured party first needs to show that someone else was careless or acted irresponsibly. That means collecting evidence to prove that a person or organization did not live up to their responsibilities—and that their actions, or lack thereof, caused the accident and injuries.
Some common ways negligence might play a role in a bus accident:
A bus accident lawyer in Bellingham could help you gather the right evidence and build a strong case. If you can prove someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you could be entitled to compensation, like covering your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. They’ll also deal with the insurance companies and handle the legal side of things so you can focus on getting better.
Trusting someone else with your child’s safety—especially during their daily school commute—is a major leap of faith. While every parent hopes that the school bus driver will act responsibly and treat their child with care, that isn’t always the reality.
“Under the common law, school bus operators owe child passengers a duty of the highest degree of care consistent with the practical operation of the bus.” (Yurkovich v. Rose, 68 Wn. App. 643, 847 P.2d 925 (1993)).
“[T]hose who convey children to and from school must exercise toward them the highest degree of care consistent with the practical operation of the conveyance.” (Leach v. Sch. Dist. No. 322 of Thurston County, 197 Wash. 384, 386, 85 P.2d 666 (1938)).
Unfortunately, negligent or reckless school bus drivers do exist. Even the most responsible drivers may not be able to avoid accidents caused by others on the road—something that happens far too often in Whatcom County.
Even if an accident does not occur, a school district’s failure to protect a student from harassment and bullying on a school bus implicates the duty imposed on school districts to protect their students from physical harm caused by third parties. Quynn v. Bellevue School District, 195 Wn.App. 627, 383 P.3d 1053 (2016)
If your child is ever involved in a school bus accident or otherwise harmed while on a school bus, being prepared can make all the difference. Contact a skilled Bellingham bus accident attorney with experience in school-related claims.
School bus accident cases can be legally complex. Multiple parties may share liability, including the bus driver, the bus company, the school, or the school district. These cases often involve overlapping insurance policies, service contracts, and public agencies. If a government entity is involved, you’ll also need to comply with the Washington Tort Claims Act, which includes strict deadlines and procedural requirements under RCW 4.92 or RCW 4.96.
Working with a knowledgeable and assertive attorney can help ensure that your rights—and your child’s well-being—are fully protected.
Take the following steps after being injured in a bus accident:
In addition, consult with a lawyer as soon as possible after your bus accident in Bellingham to learn your legal options for seeking compensation from those responsible for your injuries.
If you have been injured due to another’s negligence, it’s our mission to make things right and restore you to the life you had before their negligence harmed you. We hold responsible parties accountable for the injuries and losses they cause. Narwal Injury Law has the experienced Bellingham bus accident lawyer you may need to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.
(425) 842-8888 
(360)-859-8413 
(425) 842-8888
(360) 842-8888