Bus Accident Lawyer Los Angeles | Metro and Common Carrier Claims

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Short answer: if you were hurt on or by a bus in Los Angeles or anywhere in California, two things set your case apart from an ordinary car accident. First, bus operators are common carriers, held to the highest duty of care under California law. Second, most buses here are run by public entities such as Metro, and claims against them must be filed within six months, not the usual two years. Abdi & Associates, Inc. helps individuals injured in bus accidents throughout California understand their rights and pursue compensation. Free consultation, 24/7, English and Spanish: (888) 772-2529. No fee unless you recover.

Who operates the buses in Los Angeles, and why it matters

The first question in any bus case is who owns the bus, because it decides the deadline and the rules that apply.

Public transit agencies (government entities). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), LADOT (DASH and Commuter Express), Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, Long Beach Transit, Foothill Transit, Torrance Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, OCTA, and other municipal systems. Claims against them are governed by the California Government Claims Act, with a six-month claim deadline.
School buses. Buses owned by a school district (such as LAUSD) are public-entity vehicles with the same six-month claim rule. Many districts contract with private companies, which changes the defendant and the deadline, so the ownership has to be confirmed quickly.
Private carriers. Intercity lines such as Greyhound and FlixBus, airport shuttles, hotel and rental-car shuttles, tour buses, and charter and party buses. These are private companies, generally subject to the two-year statute of limitations, and regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and, for interstate carriers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Other drivers. Many bus injuries are caused by a car that hit the bus. The driver of that car and their insurer may be liable instead of, or along with, the bus operator.

Common carriers owe passengers the highest duty of care

Under California Civil Code section 2100, a carrier of persons for reward “must use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage, must provide everything necessary for that purpose, and must exercise to that end a reasonable degree of skill.” Section 2101 adds a duty to provide vehicles that are safe and fit. This is a higher standard than the ordinary “reasonable care” that applies to a private driver, and the jury is instructed on it (CACI No. 902). The California Supreme Court has held that public transit agencies are common carriers subject to this duty (Lopez v. Southern California Rapid Transit District (1985) 40 Cal.3d 780).

In practice this means a bus operator can be liable for things that would not be negligence for an ordinary driver: pulling away from the curb before a passenger is seated, sudden stops or starts that throw standing passengers, doors closing on riders, failing to secure a wheelchair, failing to protect passengers from a known danger on the bus, or failing to maintain the vehicle. The duty runs to passengers boarding, riding, and alighting. It does not apply to pedestrians or other drivers, who are owed ordinary reasonable care, but a bus operator’s professional training and the size of the vehicle still matter to what is reasonable.

Claims against Metro and other public entities: the six-month rule

Before you can sue a California public entity for personal injury, you must present a written government claim to that entity within six months of the injury (Gov. Code §§ 911.2, 945.4). The claim must contain specific information, must go to the correct entity, and must be presented in the way that entity requires. The entity then has 45 days to act; if it rejects the claim in writing, a lawsuit generally must be filed within six months of the rejection notice (Gov. Code § 945.6). If the entity never responds, the claim is deemed rejected and the lawsuit deadline becomes two years from the accident.

If the six months have already passed, an application to present a late claim can be made within one year of the accident, but only for limited reasons such as mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect, minority, or incapacity, and the entity and then the court must agree (Gov. Code §§ 911.4, 911.6, 946.6). The practical rule: assume the six-month deadline applies to any bus accident until the ownership of the bus is confirmed in writing.

Two other public-entity rules affect these cases. A public entity is liable for the negligent acts of its employees within the scope of employment (Gov. Code § 815.2), so Metro answers for its driver. But punitive damages are not available against a public entity (Gov. Code § 818), even for egregious conduct.

Private bus companies: CPUC and federal rules

Charter-party carriers (charter and party buses) and passenger stage corporations (scheduled intercity and airport buses) must hold CPUC operating authority, carry liability insurance in amounts set by CPUC general orders, meet driver qualification and drug-and-alcohol testing rules, and submit to California Highway Patrol terminal inspections. Buses that cross state lines are also subject to FMCSA rules, including minimum financial responsibility of $5,000,000 for vehicles seating 16 or more passengers and $1,500,000 for vehicles seating 15 or fewer (49 C.F.R. § 387.33). A carrier operating without the required authority or insurance, with unqualified drivers, or with an out-of-service vehicle is strong evidence of negligence, and these records are obtainable.

Common causes of bus accidents

Driver distraction, fatigue, or impairment; hours-of-service violations on long routes
Speeding, unsafe lane changes, running red lights, and failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
Sudden stops, jackrabbit starts, and pulling away while passengers are still standing or boarding
Doors closing on passengers; unsafe stops away from the curb
Failure to secure wheelchairs and mobility devices
Poor maintenance: brakes, tires, steering, and lift equipment
Negligent hiring, training, or supervision of drivers
Failure to protect passengers from a known danger, including assaults by other riders
Negligence by another motorist who struck the bus
Defective bus components, which can create a product liability claim against the manufacturer

Common bus accident injuries

Bus passengers are usually unrestrained, often standing, and surrounded by hard surfaces, so even a low-speed collision or a hard stop can cause serious harm. Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a vehicle of that weight are frequently injured catastrophically. Injuries we commonly see in bus cases include:

Fractures, dislocations, and torn ligaments from falls inside the bus
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries from striking poles, seats, or windows
Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs and, in severe cases, spinal cord injury
Crush injuries and amputations in pedestrian and cyclist collisions
Injuries to elderly and disabled riders during boarding, alighting, or wheelchair securement
Lacerations, dental injuries, and facial scarring
Post-traumatic stress and anxiety, which are compensable non-economic harm

Insurance: who actually pays a bus accident claim

Public transit agencies are typically self-insured for a large retention and handle claims through their own risk management or claims departments, sometimes with excess coverage above that layer. There is often no ordinary auto insurer to deal with, and the agency’s adjusters answer to the agency.
Private carriers must carry liability coverage in the amounts required by the CPUC and, for interstate operations, the FMCSA. Their insurers are experienced in defending injury claims and will move quickly to obtain statements.
The other driver’s auto liability policy when another motorist caused the crash. California’s minimum liability limits are low, which is why the bus operator’s fault and coverage often matter more.
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) and medical payments coverage may apply if you were a pedestrian, cyclist, or passenger and the at-fault driver has little or no insurance. Notify your own insurer promptly; policies contain notice requirements.
Health insurance, Medi-Cal, and Medicare pay treatment first and then assert liens against the recovery. Those liens can often be reduced, and they need to be resolved before a settlement is finalized.

Evidence in a bus case, and why it must be preserved immediately

Bus cases are evidence-rich, but much of the evidence is controlled by the defendant and is routinely overwritten or discarded on a schedule.

Onboard video. Most transit buses carry multiple interior and exterior cameras. Retention periods are short unless a preservation request is made.
Telematics and event data. Speed, braking, door status, and GPS location are often logged.
Driver records. Qualification files, training, hours of service, prior complaints, and post-accident drug and alcohol testing.
Maintenance and inspection records for the specific bus, and CHP or CPUC inspection history for the carrier.
Incident reports prepared by the operator and the police report, plus 911 recordings.
Passenger manifests, fare data, and witness information. Transit riders scatter; identifying them early is essential.
Traffic and nearby business cameras, which typically overwrite within days.

The first step in a well-handled case is a written preservation (spoliation) letter to every potential defendant identifying the evidence to be kept. For public agencies, records can also be requested under the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code § 7920.000 et seq.). If a party destroys evidence after being put on notice, the jury may be instructed that it can infer the evidence was unfavorable to that party (Evid. Code § 413; CACI No. 204).

Who can be liable

The transit agency or bus company, for its own negligence and for its driver’s (respondeat superior; Gov. Code § 815.2 for public entities)
The driver of another vehicle that caused or contributed to the crash
A school district or a contracted school-bus company
A maintenance contractor
The manufacturer of a defective bus or component
A city or county responsible for a dangerous roadway or bus stop condition (Gov. Code § 835), also subject to the six-month claim rule

Comparative fault

California follows pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). If you were partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is not eliminated, even if your share exceeds 50%. Bus operators and insurers commonly argue that a passenger was not holding on, was standing when they should have been seated, or that a pedestrian was outside the crosswalk. Most transit buses have no seat belts, so not wearing one is generally not a defense. These fault arguments are contested with the video, the operator’s own rules, and witness accounts.

Damages in a California bus accident case

A person injured by a negligent bus operator or another driver may recover:

Economic damages: past and future medical expenses, lost wages and lost earning capacity, household services, and property damage
Non-economic damages: physical pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and, for a spouse or registered domestic partner, loss of consortium
Wrongful death damages for the family of someone killed (Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60)
Punitive damages against a private defendant whose conduct was malicious or reckless (Civ. Code § 3294), but not against a public entity (Gov. Code § 818)

There is no statutory cap on damages in a bus accident case in California. The value of a claim depends on the nature and permanence of the injuries, the medical evidence, the effect on your work and daily life, the strength of the liability evidence, and any comparative fault. Anyone who quotes you a number, a “multiplier,” or a typical settlement range before reviewing the evidence is guessing. We do not do that.

What to do after a bus accident

Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries appear hours or days later, and the medical record is the foundation of the claim.
Report it. Make sure the driver or operator records the incident and that police are called. Ask for the bus number, route, and the driver’s name. Get the incident or report number.
Photograph and record the bus, its number, the scene, your injuries, and the other vehicles. Note the time and the stop.
Get witness names and phone numbers, including other passengers. They will be hard to find later.
Keep your fare receipt, TAP card record, ticket, or booking confirmation. It proves you were a passenger.
Do not give a recorded statement to the bus company’s claims office or insurer before speaking with a lawyer, and do not sign releases.
Stay off social media about the crash and your injuries.
Calendar six months from the accident date and get legal advice well before then.

How Abdi & Associates can help

Abdi & Associates, Inc. helps individuals with bus accident injury claims throughout California. We will review what happened, identify who owns and insures the bus, explain the deadlines that apply, and make sure the government claim and preservation steps are handled correctly and on time. Consultations are free and confidential, and there is no fee unless you recover. If your injury also happened while you were working, for example as a bus driver, a delivery driver, or an employee riding on the job, you may also have a workers’ compensation claim, which we handle in-house alongside the injury claim.

Frequently asked questions

I was hurt on a Metro bus. Who do I file a claim with?

A government claim must be presented to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority within six months of the injury. Metro is a public entity, so the Government Claims Act rules apply, and the claim must be filed before any lawsuit.

What if the bus was hit by a car?

You may have claims against the other driver’s insurer and, if the bus operator also contributed, against the operator. When a public agency is involved you should still protect the six-month deadline while the fault investigation proceeds.

Does the six-month deadline apply to school bus accidents?

If the bus is owned by a school district or another public entity, yes. If a private contractor operated it, the two-year statute usually applies to the contractor, but the district may still be a defendant. Confirm ownership immediately rather than assume.

I was a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a bus. Do I have a case?

Yes, if the driver was negligent. The common carrier standard applies to passengers, but a bus driver still owes ordinary care to everyone on the road, and pedestrians in crosswalks have the right of way (Veh. Code § 21950). Video from the bus is often decisive.

What if I was injured on a charter, party, or tour bus?

These are private carriers regulated by the CPUC and, if the trip crossed state lines, the FMCSA. The two-year statute usually applies. Insurance limits are often higher than for private cars, and the carrier’s licensing and inspection history is discoverable.

Can I recover if I was not wearing a seat belt on the bus?

Most transit buses do not have seat belts, so this is rarely a defense. On motor coaches equipped with belts, an insurer may argue comparative fault, which would reduce but not eliminate a recovery.

How long do I have to sue a private bus company?

Generally two years from the date of injury (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Deadlines can differ for minors, wrongful death, and claims involving public entities, so confirm your date with a lawyer.

Do you handle bus accident cases outside Los Angeles?

Yes. Abdi & Associates helps individuals with bus accident claims throughout California, including cases involving transit agencies in other counties, with consultations by phone.

Hurt in a bus accident? Call (888) 772-2529 for a free consultation, 24/7, in English or Spanish, or use the form below. No fee unless you recover.

Primary sources: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 2100, 2101, 3294; Cal. Gov. Code §§ 815.2, 818, 835, 911.2, 911.4, 911.6, 912.4, 945.4, 945.6, 946.6, 7920.000 et seq.; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 335.1, 377.60; Cal. Evid. Code § 413; Cal. Veh. Code § 21950; 49 C.F.R. § 387.33; CACI Nos. 204, 902; Lopez v. Southern California Rapid Transit District (1985) 40 Cal.3d 780; Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804.

Reviewed by Shawn Abdi, Esq., Abdi & Associates, Inc. Last updated: September 2, 2026. Attorney advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice about your specific situation. Legal deadlines have exceptions; confirm yours with an attorney. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Los Angeles Bus Accident Lawyer