Bus Accident Claims

Bus passengers and others trust operators with their safety — when negligence causes a crash, multiple parties may be liable.

Bus accidents — involving city transit buses, school buses, charter and tour buses, and shuttle services — can injure large numbers of people at once and frequently raise complex liability questions. Buses are large, heavy vehicles operated by professional drivers and companies that are held to a high duty of care, often as common carriers responsible for the safety of their passengers. When a bus crashes, injuries can be severe because most buses lack seat belts and passengers are thrown about the cabin, while occupants of smaller vehicles struck by a bus face catastrophic harm. Liability may extend to the driver, the bus company, a government transit authority, maintenance contractors, or even the manufacturer of a defective component. Government-operated buses introduce special procedural hurdles, including short notice-of-claim deadlines that can be as brief as 60 to 180 days, making prompt legal action essential. School bus accidents involving children require particularly careful investigation. Damages in bus accident cases can include extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and because multiple victims may share a limited insurance pool, early representation helps protect a claimant's recovery. Preserving evidence such as onboard camera footage, maintenance logs, and driver records — which can be overwritten quickly — is critical to building a strong case.

For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.