subject: Laws Regarding California Bus Insurance [print this page] In California there are a number of different transportation avenues available. These include rail, bus, streetcar and other such vehicles. The municipal and city buses are known, under the law, as common carriers. As such there are strict laws regarding California bus insurance.
Common carriers, in California, are any vehicle that transports people whether it is an individual or public utility. Airplanes, buses, trains and taxis are the most used by the public. With the large population of the state and the number of common carriers in use, the laws are strictly enforced.
Injuries can happen in any one of these carriers but seems to be most common on buses. Getting on and off a bus, falling from a sudden stop, being in a bus accident, happens to someone almost every day, especially in the larger cities. As the result of these accidents lawsuits are often filed because of injuries. For this reason it is essential that bus companies carry sufficient insurance to cover such an occurrence.
Coverage commonly carried by buses are Commercial Auto Liability, Physical Damage and General Liability. This coverage is designed to cover all aspects of any accident to a passenger or another vehicle and must be evident in the Bus company's registration. In case a bus is in an independent auto shop for repair and is damaged by fire or something else, the shop owner's Garage and Garage Keepers Liability policy would pay for repairs or replacement.
This coverage includes such things as property damage to a passengers belongings, bodily injury, emergency vehicles, repair to the bus and others. The amount of insurance for injuries caused by a bus accident depend on the policy carried, some go up to five million dollars.
When in the bus business it is important that the entire fleet be kept running and in good condition. With the physical damage/collision part of the insurance package should a bus have to have extensive repairs suffered in a collision, it will be taken care of immediately. The amount of the deductible determines the amount that will be paid.
Having an accident which results in injury can be very disrupting to a person's life. In addition to suffering pain, they can also lose out on wages and accrue a great deal of expense. Should this injury occur on a bus the passenger is fully covered through the bus insurance policy. California requires all common carriers to have full insurance in effect should such an event occur. Proof of this policy is filed with the State of California each year.
