Why bus cases are different (and why they can be strong)
In California, bus operators that carry passengers for pay are common carriers and must use the “utmost care and diligence” for passenger safety—higher than the ordinary negligence standard. See California Civil Code § 2100 (plain-English copy on Justia) for the rule in exactly those words. Read §2100.
If your case involves a city transit agency or school district, short public-entity deadlines apply. Most personal-injury claims must be presented within six months before you can sue under Gov. Code § 911.2. Here’s the statute text in a public code library: Gov. Code § 911.2.
Need local help now? Start here: Chatsworth Bus & Car Accidents — Free Consultation.
Types of buses (and who may be responsible)
- City/municipal transit (e.g., Metro)
- School buses (district-operated or contractor)
- Motorcoaches/charter buses (tour, team, church)
- Airport/hotel shuttles and private commuter services
Depending on the facts, liability can include the driver, agency or carrier, maintenance contractors, tire/part manufacturers, and other motorists.
How bus crashes happen (what the data and investigations show)
- Driver fatigue & hours-of-service: Passenger-carrying drivers must follow the FMCSA hours-of-service rules (e.g., 10-hour driving limit after 8 off; 15-hour on-duty cap; 60/70-hour weekly limits). See the FMCSA’s plain-language summary: Summary of HOS Regulations.
- Vehicle condition matters: The NTSB’s final report on the I-84 charter bus crash found low/underinflated tire pressure caused the fatal wreck; reporting also highlighted widespread non-use of seat belts among passengers. Read coverage here: Times Union and earlier seat-belt findings here.
- Roadway environment (truck parking): For the 2023 Greyhound Illinois crash, federal regulators pointed to a severe shortage of legal overnight truck parking contributing to semis stopping on a ramp, where the bus collided with them. See AP News: Shortage of overnight truck parking contributed….
- Seat belts on school buses: The NTSB has reiterated its call for lap-shoulder belts on all new, large school buses—and evaluates belt use in serious crashes. See the NTSB press statement: NTSB Reiterates Call for Lap-Shoulder Seatbelts. For overall school-bus safety context, see NHTSA’s guide: School Bus Safety.
If you want national crash stats, FMCSA’s annual Large Truck & Bus Crash Facts is the go-to reference: LTBCF (landing page).
Common injuries after a bus crash
Head/face (concussion, lacerations), neck/back (whiplash, disc injury), extremities (shoulder labrum, wrist/hand fractures, knee/ankle), and psychological impacts are typical patterns—and risk increases when occupants are unrestrained or during boarding/alighting. See NHTSA’s safety materials for context: School Bus Safety overview.
What to do right now (before evidence disappears)
- Call 911 and follow through with care; keep every discharge note and imaging.
- Report the incident to the driver/supervisor and ask for the incident-report number.
- Preserve video/data: Send a written request to the agency/carrier to retain onboard CCTV, forward-facing camera, event data/telematics, and route/stop logs for at least one hour before/after your run.
- Witnesses: gather names, phone numbers, and where they were seated.
- Photos: scene, interior, flooring/handholds, steps, any visible hazard.
- Keep a folder—don’t post details publicly.
Need help doing this fast? Contact a Chatsworth bus-injury lawyer.
Who pays? (coverage basics)
- Public transit/school bus: Usually a public entity—you must present a claim within six months before suing under Gov. Code § 911.2. Here’s the text: § 911.2. Miss it and you can lose the case.
- Charter/motorcoach/private shuttle: Claims proceed against the private carrier, its insurers, and any at-fault third parties (e.g., a negligent trucker, maintenance contractor, or a tire maker).
How we build your claim (what our firm actually does)
- Lock the evidence with immediate preservation letters for video, EDR/telematics, driver logs, dispatch data, maintenance/tire records, and prior complaints.
- Compare duty status to FMCSA passenger hours-of-service—we check for over-hours, missed breaks, or scheduling that invites fatigue. Review the rule summary we cite: FMCSA HOS (passenger).
- Seat belt & component review using NTSB findings and NHTSA guidance. Read the belt recommendation: NTSB seat-belt call.
- Medical proof: a clean symptom timeline, specialist referrals, future-care estimates.
- Damages: medical bills (past/future), wage loss, pain and suffering, property loss (phone, glasses, mobility devices), and wrongful death where applicable.
Questions? Talk to a Chatsworth injury lawyer.
City & transit cases: deadlines and pitfalls to avoid
- Six-month claim deadline (Gov. Code § 911.2) for most public-entity injury claims—don’t miss it: text here.
- Short video retention—agencies often overwrite on a schedule. Get your preservation request out immediately.
- Layered insurance (self-insured retention + excess carriers) can complicate recovery; we pursue every responsible party.
FAQs
Are buses held to a higher safety standard in California?
Yes. As common carriers, they owe the utmost care to passengers. See Civ. Code § 2100: statute text.
What’s the deadline for a city or school-bus claim?
Most personal-injury claims must be presented within six months before suing a public entity. Source: Gov. Code § 911.2 (read it).
Do seat belts matter in bus cases?
Investigations show belt use can reduce injury severity; the NTSB urges lap-shoulder belts on large school buses. NTSB press statement.
Where can I see national rules and data?
- Hours-of-service for passenger-carrying drivers: FMCSA HOS summary.
- Annual crash statistics: FMCSA Large Truck & Bus Crash Facts.
Bus & Car Accident Help in Chatsworth — free case review and evidence plan.
