Hit by a Los Angeles City Bus? How Your Lawsuit Works

Los Angeles streets are famous for heavy traffic. City buses, including the LA Metro and LADOT DASH, share these crowded roads with cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Weighing up to 40,000 pounds, a standard city bus carries immense destructive power. When a bus collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic.

If a Los Angeles city bus hits your vehicle, the aftermath feels overwhelming. Dealing with severe physical injuries and wrecked property is hard enough. However, dealing with a government agency to get the compensation you deserve makes the situation significantly more complicated.

Suing a public transportation agency involves entirely different rules than a standard car accident. The deadlines are incredibly tight, and the legal hurdles are strict.

Immediate Steps to Take After an LA Bus Accident

The actions you take in the minutes and days following a bus accident can make or break your future legal claim. Government agencies move quickly to protect themselves after a crash. You need to act just as decisively.

Seek Immediate Medical Care

Your health is your top priority. Adrenaline often masks the pain of serious injuries right after an impact. Go to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic immediately, even if you think you just have a few bumps and bruises. Getting prompt medical treatment protects your physical health and creates an official medical record that links your injuries directly to the bus crash.

Call Law Enforcement

Never let a bus driver talk you out of calling the police. You need an official accident report. Dial 911 and wait for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) or the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to arrive. Officers will document the scene, interview witnesses, and create a report that serves as vital evidence for your claim.

Gather Crucial Evidence

If you are physically able to move around the scene safely, gather as much information as possible before the vehicles are moved.

• Take photos and videos: Capture the damage to your vehicle, the position of the bus, skid marks on the road, and the surrounding traffic signs.
• Get the bus details: Write down the bus route number, the bus vehicle number (usually printed on the side and back), and the license plate.
• Identify the driver: Ask for the bus driver’s name and employee ID number.
• Find witnesses: Bus accidents usually happen in busy areas. Get the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the crash happen.

The Unique Challenge of Suing a Government Entity

If a private citizen runs a red light and hits your car, you file a claim with their private auto insurance company. If negotiations fail, California law gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against them.

However, public transportation agencies like the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) or the City of Los Angeles are government entities. You cannot just take them straight to court. You must navigate a specific set of laws designed to protect the government from excessive litigation.

The California Tort Claims Act

Under the California Tort Claims Act, you cannot file a lawsuit against a government agency without first filing a formal administrative claim. This rule applies whether you were hit by a Metro bus, a DASH bus, or a local school bus.

This administrative claim puts the government on notice that their employee caused an accident and that you intend to seek financial compensation. The claim must include specific details, including the exact date, time, and location of the crash, a description of your injuries, and the legal basis for holding the city responsible.

The Six-Month Deadline

This is the most critical difference in a bus accident case: You only have six months (180 days) from the date of the accident to file your government claim.

If you miss this six-month deadline, the government will almost certainly deny your claim, and the court will permanently bar you from filing a lawsuit. You will lose your right to seek compensation forever, regardless of how severe your injuries are. Because this deadline approaches so quickly, you must contact a lawyer as soon as possible after the crash.

The Claims Process: From Notice to Lawsuit

Filing the initial claim is just the first step in the legal process. Once your lawyer submits the required paperwork to the correct government agency, a strict timeline begins.

The 45-Day Review Period

After receiving your claim, the government agency has 45 days to review the facts and respond. They will conduct their own internal investigation. During this time, they will look at the bus’s onboard camera footage, review the driver’s logs, and assess the police report.

Rejection and Moving to Court

In the vast majority of cases, the government agency will reject your administrative claim. They may argue that you caused the crash, or they may simply deny liability to force you to prove your case in court.

Do not panic if you receive a rejection letter. This is a standard part of the process. Once the government formally rejects your claim in writing, you have the green light to file a lawsuit in civil court. You typically have six months from the date the rejection letter is mailed to officially file your lawsuit.

Types of Damages You Can Recover

A collision with a massive city bus usually results in severe trauma. Victims frequently suffer from traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crushed limbs, and severe whiplash. The financial impact of these injuries can devastate your family.

Through a successful personal injury lawsuit, you can recover financial compensation (known as damages) for the losses you suffered.

Medical Expenses

You have the right to recover the cost of all medical care related to the accident. This includes your initial ambulance ride, emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, prescription medications, and physical therapy. If your injuries require ongoing, long-term care, your lawyer will work with medical experts to calculate and demand compensation for your future medical expenses as well.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

Serious injuries force you to miss work. You can recover the paychecks you lost while recovering at home or in the hospital. If the bus accident leaves you with a permanent disability that prevents you from returning to your previous job, you can also claim damages for your reduced future earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering

Not all damage comes with a receipt. You are entitled to compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the crash. Bus accidents are terrifying events. Many victims develop anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that makes it difficult to get back behind the wheel. The law allows you to seek financial recovery for this profound drop in your quality of life.

Why You Need an Experienced LA Bus Accident Lawyer

Taking on the City of Los Angeles or the Metro transit authority is not a do-it-yourself project. These agencies employ aggressive teams of defense lawyers and risk management adjusters. Their sole job is to minimize the amount of money the city pays to accident victims. They will look for any reason to blame you for the crash or downplay the severity of your injuries.

Furthermore, critical evidence disappears rapidly. Modern city buses are equipped with internal and external cameras, GPS tracking, and electronic data recorders (black boxes) that track the bus’s speed and braking. If you do not act quickly, the transit agency might record over this video footage or erase the digital data. An experienced lawyer will immediately send a “spoliation letter” to the government, legally forcing them to preserve this crucial evidence.

Contact Walch Law for Your Free Consultation

You do not have to fight the government alone. If a Los Angeles city bus caused your injuries, you need a powerful legal advocate who understands the complex rules of government liability.

At Walch Law, we have decades of experience standing up to large transit agencies and securing maximum compensation for our clients. We know how to investigate bus crashes, meet strict government deadlines, and build a case that forces the city to take your injuries seriously. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing out of pocket, and we only get paid if we win your case.

Do not let the six-month deadline expire. Contact Walch Law today for a free, confidential consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and fight tirelessly to help you get your life back on track.