Public Transportation Injuries: When a City Bus Crashes

If you or someone you love was injured in a city bus crash, we strongly recommend consulting an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. These cases involve a unique set of challenges: municipalities often resist accountability in public transportation injury claims, and insurance companies are primarily focused on minimizing payouts rather than fairly compensating victims.

There is no risk in scheduling a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with a personal injury attorney. If we determine you have a viable case, we will manage the legal workload on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery.

Your Guide To Bus Accident Victim Rights and What to Do

Municipal and school bus drivers are held to a higher standard of care than the average motorist. As a result, even conduct that might not constitute negligence in an ordinary vehicle accident may be sufficient to support a personal injury claim following a bus crash.

The following sections outline your rights as a victim of a public transportation injury and the steps you should take in the aftermath.

Safety is Always the First Priority

As with any car accident, your safety and the safety of those around you comes first.

Follow the bus driver's instructions. Public transportation drivers are specifically trained to respond in the event of an accident or emergency. Follow their instructions and encourage others to do the same. The driver will direct passengers toward the safest exit route, which may differ from the entry point, and will provide further guidance based on the circumstances.

Assess injuries. Check yourself for injuries. If you are able to do so safely, check on others nearby to determine whether anyone requires immediate assistance. If your injuries are minor, help other passengers exit the bus calmly and carefully.

Move away from the road. Bus accidents in the Bay Area range from minor collisions to incidents involving serious injury or fatalities. How you respond will depend on the specific circumstances and the conditions around you.

Where it is safe to do so, move yourself and assist others in moving as far from the roadway as possible to reduce the risk of further injury from passing vehicles. Once you have reached a safe location, confirm that emergency services and law enforcement have been contacted.

Call 9-1-1 and Cooperate with First-Responders

If you were on the bus or otherwise involved in the accident, other witnesses may have already contacted 911. On less-traveled roads or during off-peak hours, however, you may need to make that call yourself. Provide the dispatcher with as much detail as possible so that first responders arrive prepared.

Once emergency personnel are on scene, follow their instructions carefully and promptly. First responders are trained specifically to manage mass casualty and public transportation incidents. Cooperation from those involved allows them to work efficiently and ensures that everyone receives timely medical attention as quickly as possible.

Gather Information From Other Victims and Witnesses

Information collected at the scene of a bus accident can be critical to establishing negligence and liability for both insurance purposes and for any legal claim that follows. Locating witnesses and other involved parties after the fact can be difficult, which is why gathering what you can in the immediate aftermath is so important.

Use your phone's camera and video capabilities to document as much as possible. Specifically:

• Obtain the bus driver's name, ID number, and contact information.
• Note anything unusual about the bus driver or other involved drivers: the smell of alcohol or marijuana, slurred speech, unsteady movement, or other signs that may suggest impairment. If you observe any of these, report your observations to law enforcement so they can investigate.
• Photograph other involved drivers' photo IDs, insurance cards, and vehicle registration documents.
• Photograph all vehicles involved, as well as any motorcycles or bicycles, the people involved, surrounding signage, and road conditions, particularly if you believe weather or road conditions may have been a contributing factor.
• Record video statements from fellow victims and witnesses where possible.
• Collect names, phone numbers, and any other relevant contact information from as many people as possible.

Every piece of evidence, however minor it may seem, could prove meaningful to your future personal injury claim.

Seek Prompt Medical Attention

Adrenaline and shock following an accident can mask serious injuries, leaving people feeling unharmed when they are not. Regardless of how you feel at the scene, seek medical attention as soon as possible. In addition to addressing any immediate injuries, those medical records establish a documented baseline for your treatment and, if you pursue a personal injury claim, will be central to determining the damages you are owed.

Report the Bus Accident to Your Insurance Agency

Whether you were involved as a driver or a passenger, notify your insurance company as soon as practicable. Their team will begin the process of pursuing an injury claim and will want to review any information you gathered at the scene, including the identities, photo IDs, and insurance or registration details of any other drivers involved.

Consult a Personal Injury Attorney Immediately

If you were injured in a city bus accident, or in any accident involving a bus operated by a governmental entity (including municipal transit authorities, county transportation services, or school districts) contacting a personal injury attorney promptly is not merely advisable. It may be essential to preserving your right to recover at all.

When an accident involves a governmental entity, such as a municipal transit authority, California law requires that a formal claim be filed with the appropriate government agency within six months of the date of the accident. This is an exceptionally short limitations period compared to standard personal injury claims, and it is strictly enforced. Failing to meet this deadline can permanently bar you from pursuing compensation, regardless of the merits of your case.

Critically, this government claim must be filed and either rejected or allowed to expire before a complaint can be filed in court and a lawsuit formally initiated. The procedural requirements are specific, and the consequences of missing them are severe.

Given how quickly this window closes, we strongly recommend contacting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a bus accident, well before that six-month deadline. The sooner you have representation, the better positioned you are to meet every procedural requirement and protect your right to full compensation.

Injured in a Bus Accident? Contact Burneikis Law

As noted throughout this article, bus accident claims, particularly those involving governmental entities, can become complex quickly. With multiple parties, strict procedural deadlines, and insurance companies whose primary obligation runs to their own bottom line, having an experienced legal advocate in your corner is critical.

Burneikis Law is a small firm by design. We take pride in providing individualized attention to every client. Unlike larger firms where you may never speak directly with a partner or the attorney who handled your intake, Monica Burneikis is personally dedicated to working closely with each client she represents. Her background encompasses all aspects of civil litigation, and her extensive courtroom experience makes her a formidable advocate for victims of public transportation injuries.

To schedule a free, 30-minute consultation, contact Burneikis Law online or call 510-328-3238. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and outline the steps needed to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you are owed.