Oakland AC Transit Bus Crash: Injured Passenger Rights
Oakland AC Transit Bus Crash Leaves 2 People Injured
Two people were hurt after an AC Transit bus crashed into a building in Oakland, according to NBC Bay Area. The crash reportedly happened near 98th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard after AC Transit said a Toyota Camry traveling north on 98th Avenue toward I-580 ran a red light and collided with the bus.
The impact reportedly caused the AC Transit bus to leave the roadway and strike the exterior of a building. Authorities said two people were injured, and the bus driver was trapped for a short time before being rescued. Officials also reported that the building sustained minor damage.
Crashes involving public transit vehicles can raise legal questions for injured passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and nearby property owners. In a case involving an AC Transit bus accident in Oakland, evidence such as traffic light timing, onboard bus video, witness statements, police reports, vehicle damage, driver conduct, and transit agency records may all matter.
Legal Insights from Emile A. Davis
Under California law, public transit operators such as AC Transit are generally considered “common carriers,” meaning they owe passengers a heightened duty of care to use the utmost caution and vigilance for passenger safety. California Civil Code Section 2100 states that a carrier of persons for reward must use the utmost care and diligence for safe carriage. Even where another driver may have caused or contributed to the collision, injured passengers may still have claims against the transit agency if issues such as driver response, speed, training, maintenance, or roadway positioning contributed to the injuries.
Importantly, claims against public entities in California are subject to strict pre-lawsuit requirements under the California Government Claims Act, including the requirement that a written government claim generally be presented within six months of the incident pursuant to California Government Code sections 910 and 911.2 before a lawsuit may be filed. Government Code section 910 lists the information required in a government claim, while section 911.2 provides that injury claims against public entities must generally be presented no later than six months after the claim accrues.
Contact Dolan Law Firm After an Oakland AC Transit Bus Crash
If you or a loved one was injured in the Oakland AC Transit bus crash near 98th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, you may have important legal rights and strict deadlines to act. Bus crash and public transportation accident claims involving agencies like AC Transit can require fast investigation, preservation of evidence, and compliance with California’s government claim rules.
Dolan Law Firm represents people injured in bus accidents, public transportation accidents, car accidents, and serious injury cases throughout Oakland, the Bay Area, and California. To learn more about your rights after an AC Transit bus crash, contact Dolan Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation.
