What to Do After a Bus Accident

Bus accidents can injure passengers, other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. They also involve special rules because buses are often operated by government agencies or regulated carriers.

Steps for passengers

1. Get medical care. Passengers often have no seatbelts and can be thrown into seats or poles.
2. Report your injury to the driver or a transit official before leaving the scene, and ask for an incident report number.
3. Write down the bus number, route, direction, time and the driver's name if possible.
4. Photograph the scene, your injuries and the bus interior if safe.
5. Get witness contacts, including other passengers.
6. Keep your ticket, pass or app record showing you were on board.

Steps for other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians

Follow ordinary crash steps (see what to do after a car accident), and note the bus company or agency name and vehicle number.

The duty bus operators owe

Buses that carry the public for a fee are common carriers (Cornell LII). Many states hold common carriers to the highest degree of care toward passengers, while some apply a standard of reasonable care under the circumstances, as Arizona courts do (Jones, Skelton & Hochuli). Either way, carriers are responsible for safe driving, safe boarding and exiting, and maintenance.

Who may be liable

• The bus driver and their employer (transit agency, school district, charter or tour company)
• A private contractor that operates or maintains the buses
• Another driver who caused the crash
• A bus or parts manufacturer if a defect played a role

Claims against public transit

If a city, county, school district or transit authority runs the bus, government claims rules apply. These often require a written notice of claim within a short period after the accident, sometimes measured in months, and may cap damages. Missing the notice deadline can bar your claim entirely.

Private and charter buses

Interstate bus companies must carry substantial federal minimum insurance, which can make more coverage available than in a typical car crash.

Getting help

Bus cases involve multiple parties and strict notice rules. Contact a personal injury lawyer quickly, ideally well before any government notice deadline.

Sources

1. Cornell Law School LII: Common carrier
2. Cornell Law School LII: Negligence
3. Jones, Skelton & Hochuli: The negligence standard for a common carrier