Truck and Bus Accident Attorney in

San Mateo County

Accidents involving semitrucks, city or tour buses, trains, and other large commercial vehicles are more dangerous than your average car crash. They are also more complicated because of the businesses or governments involved. There are layers of insurance, licensing, and federal safety regulations involved, in addition to defendants who frequently have teams of attorneys in-house to fight against liability for claims.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident with a commercial truck or other common carrier, or if you’ve lost a loved one to one of these crashes, you have options. The Law Office of Reuben J. Donig has decades of experience fighting on behalf of truck, bus, and train accident victims. We understand how to take on these complex claims and pursue justice for the harm you’ve suffered.

What Are Common Carriers?

When you’re talking about traffic, a common carrier is defined as an entity that transports people or goods for a fee. That includes everything from public transport, to taxis and rideshares, to commercial trucks. California holds these types of transportation to a higher standard than your average driver, since they are on the road professionally. This can work in your favor if you’ve been hurt in an accident involving a common carrier.

Truck Accidents

Whether you call them semis, 18-wheelers, or big rigs, commercial trucks are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road. They can often cause traffic accidents because of serious issues such as:

• §Driver fatigue
• §Violations of federal Hours of Service regulations
• §Improperly secured or overloaded cargo
• §Poor vehicle maintenance
• §Jackknifing
• §Dangerous blind spots

Because commercial trucks are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), evidence like driver logs, electronic logging device (ELD) data, and maintenance records can be critical. It’s also important to act quickly, since trucking companies may not be required to preserve the evidence indefinitely.

Bus Accidents

School buses, public transit, and private charter buses share many of the same dangers of commercial trucks, with the added risk of carrying dozens of passengers. However, the specific process for pursuing a claim for a bus accident injury varies depending on what type of bus was involved.

Critically, if you were hurt in an accident involving public transit, your claim may be subject to the California Government Claims Act, which typically requires a claim to be filed with the agency within 6 months. If you miss that window, you may permanently lose the right to file a claim or a lawsuit.

Why Common Carrier Cases Are More Complex

Truck and bus accidents often involve multiple potentially liable parties: the driver, the trucking or transit company, a cargo loading company, or a third-party maintenance contractor. Evidence like black box data and driver logs can be altered or destroyed if not preserved quickly, which is why early legal involvement matters more in these cases than in a typical car accident claim.

However, because common carrier injuries are often worse and the insurance policies involved are typically larger, these claims may also lead to higher damage awards. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible to pursue damages for:

• §Long-term medical care
• §Permanent disability
• §Lost earning capacity
• §Pain and suffering