Under California Civil Code §2100, a 'common carrier' — any entity that transports people for compensation — owes its passengers the highest degree of care. This is not the ordinary 'reasonable person' standard. It's a heightened duty that requires common carriers to do everything reasonably possible to protect passenger safety.
Who Qualifies as a Common Carrier?
City buses (LA Metro, OCTA, Muni), intercity buses (Greyhound), school buses, airport shuttles, tour buses, charter buses, and any other vehicle that carries passengers for hire. Uber and Lyft may also be considered common carriers in certain jurisdictions.
What This Means for Your Case
The heightened standard of care makes it significantly easier to prove negligence. A bus driver who was texting, fatigued, or driving too fast is held to a higher standard than a regular motorist. Maintenance failures, inadequate driver training, and overcrowding also violate the common carrier duty.
No Seatbelts = Greater Responsibility
Most transit buses don't have passenger seatbelts, which means the common carrier has an even greater obligation to operate safely. Sudden braking, sharp turns, and collisions cause passengers to be thrown around the bus — injuries that are the direct result of the carrier's heightened duty.
If you were injured as a bus passenger, contact Bond Legal at (866) 423-7724. No attorney fees unless we win.
