Every day, hundreds to thousands of people take the many airport shuttles to LAX, the major airport in Los Angeles. The shuttle service offers an affordable convenience, but most don’t realize they are placing their lives in the bus driver’s hands when they step onto the shuttle. In recent years, there has been a rising number of LAX shuttle bus accident reports, ranging from traffic incidents on the nearby freeways to a notable collision between a taxiing plane and a shuttle on the tarmac.
In the US, there are over 15,000 bus accidents a year. 47% result in injury, and 1.5% result in fatalities. If you have been injured in an LAX shuttle bus accident, you may be eligible for compensation, as LAX shuttles are considered common carrier transportation. Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers are here to help. Schedule a free case evaluation to determine if you are qualified to file a personal injury lawsuit.
LAX Shuttle Bus Lawyers
As accident lawyers, we know that LAX coordinates several shuttle services, including Super Shuttle, Prime, DASH, Roadrunner, FlyAway, and other associated hotel shuttle rental and “airporter” services in the surrounding area. Authorities consider these shuttles common carriers, which means they have a heightened duty of care to responsibly transport thousands of people to and from the airport each day.
As a common carrier, LAX shuttle services legally bear responsibility for injuries caused by negligence and lack of care. You may have a clear right to seek help with your medical bills and financial losses from missed work if injured in an LAX shuttle bus accident.
Causes of LAX Shuttle Bus Accidents
With so many shuttle buses swarming around LAX, the possibility of an accident increases with each traffic maneuver. Common causes of LAX shuttle bus accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Reckless driving
- Defective bus equipment
- Drivers under the influence
- Poor driver screening
- Insufficient driver training
- Taking turns too sharp or wide for the shuttle
- Speeding
The dual problem with shuttle buses is that they are top-heavy, increasing the risk of rollover accidents, and they do not have seat belts. This drastically increases the risk of accidents that cause passenger injuries.
Who Qualifies for an LAX Accident Lawsuit?
Can you file a personal injury lawsuit against the LAX shuttle service? Your case will need to meet four criteria for it to qualify.
- The shuttle bus must be a common carrier with a proven duty of care.
- LAX’s primary shuttle services are considered common carriers for transport.
- California law states, “Common carriers must use the highest care and the vigilance of a very cautious person” when protecting public safety.
- The duty of care was breached.
- The actions of the driver or maintenance team must show neglect or recklessness that defies what a “very cautious person” would consider reasonable
- The breach of duty of care caused your injuries.
- You sustained injuries due to the negligent or reckless actions of the shuttle bus driver or maintenance team.
- You suffered injuries and financial loss as a result of the actions that breached duty of care.
- This includes medical bills, missed work, and temporary or permanent disability.
Because LAX shuttle services are considered a common carrier, if you’ve been injured in an LAX shuttle bus accident, you could qualify for a lawsuit.
Types of LAX Shuttle Bus Accidents
There are many types of shuttles one can take at LAX.
You may qualify for financial compensation if you or a loved one was injured in one of the following types of accidents:
LAX-it Shuttle Accidents
The LAX-it shuttle is a free, dedicated bus service which takes passengers from airport terminals to the LAX-it lot where they can pick up an Uber, a Lyft or a taxi.
FlyAway Bus Accidents
FlyAway is a shuttle service which provides non-stop connections from and to LAX.
The service operates between LAX and bus terminals near Los Angeles Union Station and Van Nuys Airport.
LAX Rental Car Lot Shuttle Accidents
There are purple signs labeled “Rental Car Shuttles” and designated pink pillars by the outer island/curb outside of the baggage claim area at LAX.
The shuttles here take passengers from LAX to rental car company offices which are off-airport property.
LAX Economy Parking Shuttle Accidents
LAX’s official economy parking facility provides a free, 24/7 complimentary shuttle service which runs about every 10 to 15 minutes.
This shuttle runs back and forth between the terminals and LAX’s economy parking garage.
LAX Shuttle Route A Accidents
LAX Shuttle Route A continuously runs on the Lower/Arrivals level in order to connect all passenger terminals.
LAX Airline Connection Shuttle Accidents
Frequent courtesy buses stop at each terminal for gate transfers at LAX.
In addition, airside shuttle buses run between Terminals 4 and 6 and remote American Eagle gates.
LAX/Metro Connector Shuttle Accidents
A free shuttle runs every 10 minutes between all airport terminals and the LAX/Metro Transit Center.
LAX ADA Accessible Shuttle Accidents
There are numerous available ADA accessible shuttles at LAX, including the LAX-it shuttle, the economy parking shuttle and the airline and metro connectors.
Who Can Be Sued in a Shuttle Bus Accident?
LAX shuttles are not one monolithic provider. There are several potential parties that could be sued as a result of your shuttle bus accident and injuries. To name the defendant depends on the type of duty of care breach that resulted in the accident.
- LAX Airport
- The shuttle bus company
- The shuttle bus driver
- Other vehicle operators (who may have driven dangerously near the shuttle bus)
- The bus manufacturers
- The bus parts manufacturers
- The bus maintenance company or team
- Hotels and other shuttle bus providers
In order to win a lawsuit against your chosen at-fault party(ies), you must be able to prove both that the party shared in the duty of care and that their action or inaction contributed to the accident that caused your injuries.
Average Settlement for an LAX Shuttle Bus Accident Lawsuit
For lawyers, each personal injury case is unique, especially when dealing with a system as complex as the LAX shuttle bus service. But whether you’re in a rideshare accident or a shuttle bus accident, your potential settlement will be based on factors such as:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Our Lawyers Handle Common LAX Shuttle Bus Accident Injuries
Because there are many types of bus accidents, there are also many types of injuries you might suffer on an LAX shuttle bus. Potential injuries include broken bones, soft tissue damage, bruises and abrasions, concussions, spinal injuries, whiplash, and more. The potential for injury depends on where you are located, how you are thrown about inside the bus, and what you impact in the process.
Some injuries are similar to what you might experience as a rideshare passenger or in a rental car. However, the lack of seatbelts can increase the potential for injury in a bus accident.
You could also sustain injuries in a passenger assault on the bus, which the shuttle provider or staff may be responsible for.
The most common injuries you might experience in a shuttle bus accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue damage
- Concussion
Lawyers Can Help With Your Injury Claim
Personal injury lawyers can guide you through the complex road ahead should you suffer injuries in an LAX shuttle bus accident. A shuttle bus represents tiered responsibility for accidents, from the individual driver to the airport itself, with individual shuttle brands, hotels, services, and manufacturers in between.
Lawyers can help you determine who to hold responsible, help you gather and document strong evidence for your case, and fight to increase the value of your settlement against attempts to undercut the cost of your injury and loss. Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers are dedicated to helping you seek rightful compensation from the most responsible party and give you peace of mind.
Fill out a free case evaluation with our lawyers today, and we will explore your case’s potential together.
