How long do I have to file a bus accident lawsuit in California?

If the bus is operated by a government entity (Metrolink, Omnitrans, LA Metro, school district, city transit), you must file a Government Tort Claim within 6 months of the injury — not 2 years. Missing this deadline bars your claim entirely. Call Gonzales Law Offices at 909-587-6336 immediately after any bus accident.

Can I sue a public transit authority for a bus accident?

Yes, but with important procedural requirements. Government immunity does not protect transit agencies from negligence claims — but you must properly file a Government Tort Claim within 6 months. If the claim is denied or not acted upon within 45 days, you then have 6 months to file a lawsuit.

Who is liable in a California bus accident?

Potential defendants include: the bus operator (government or private), the bus driver individually (if gross negligence), the bus manufacturer (defective equipment), maintenance contractors, and other drivers who caused the crash. We investigate all parties to maximize your recovery.

What if I was injured as a bus passenger?

Common carriers like buses owe passengers the highest duty of care under California law (Civil Code §2100). A bus passenger injured due to the driver's negligence has a very strong legal claim. Call 909-587-6336 for a free case review.

California Bus Accident Attorney — Government Entity Specialists

Bus Accident Lawyer
Government Bus? 6-Month Deadline. Call Now.

Bus accidents in Southern California often involve government-operated transit agencies — Omnitrans, LA Metro, Metrolink, school districts — which triggers a critical 6-month Government Tort Claim deadline. Miss it and you permanently lose your right to sue. Attorney Mark Gonzales — a former insurance defense attorney — has navigated government claims, common carrier liability, and commercial bus accidents for clients across California.

6 Mo.

Govt Tort Deadline

$525K

Sample Recovery

4.9★

500+ Reviews

24/7

Available

Upfront

📞 Call Free — 909-587-6336 💬 Text Us Now

🚌 Government Tort Claim Experts ✅ Avvo Superb 10.0 ⚖️ CA Bar #249340 💼 Former Insurance Defense Atty 🌐 Se Habla Español

⏰ CRITICAL: Government Bus = 6-Month Filing Deadline

If you were injured in an accident involving Omnitrans, LA Metro, Metrolink, a school bus, or any government-operated transit vehicle, you have only 6 months from the date of injury to file a Government Tort Claim — not 2 years. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim. Call 909-587-6336 today.

Bus Types We Handle

Bus Accident Cases We Handle

Southern California has one of the nation's most complex transit systems. We handle every type of bus accident case.

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Public Transit Buses

Omnitrans, LA Metro, Riverside Transit Agency, Foothill Transit, and other government-operated bus lines. These cases require Government Tort Claims within 6 months — absolutely critical to file on time.

6-month filing deadline

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School Buses

School districts are government entities subject to the same 6-month Tort Claim requirement. School bus accidents involving students and third-party drivers both require immediate legal action.

Government entity rules apply

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Charter & Tour Buses

Private charter buses, tour companies, and event transportation carry large groups and owe passengers the highest duty of care as common carriers under California Civil Code §2100.

Common carrier duty of care

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Hotel & Shuttle Buses

Hotel shuttles, airport transportation, and casino buses are commercial common carriers. A passenger injured due to driver negligence has strong legal claims against the operating company.

Commercial carrier liability

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Paratransit & Dial-A-Ride

Paratransit services for disabled and elderly passengers must meet heightened safety standards. Injuries from improper securement, sudden stops, or driver negligence are actionable claims.

Enhanced duty of care

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Third-Party Bus Collisions

Vehicles colliding with buses or being struck by buses. Both passengers and other vehicle occupants may have claims. Multiple insurance policies and parties may be involved.

Multi-party investigation

Why Choose Us

Bus Accident Expertise That Makes the Difference

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Government Tort Claim Mastery

Filing a Government Tort Claim is procedurally complex — wrong format, wrong agency, or late filing are all fatal to your case. We have filed hundreds of government claims and never miss a deadline.

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Black Box & Maintenance Records

Commercial buses have event data recorders (black boxes) and are required to maintain detailed maintenance logs. We demand this data immediately — before it is destroyed or overwritten.

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Multiple Defendant Strategy

Bus accidents often involve the transit agency, the individual driver, the bus manufacturer (defects), a maintenance contractor, or other vehicles. We identify every responsible party.

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Multiple Victim Coordination

Bus accidents often injure multiple passengers simultaneously. We handle multi-victim claims with strategy — ensuring each client receives individual attention and maximum recovery.

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Former Insurance Defense Attorney

Mark knows how transit agency insurers evaluate claims and what arguments they use to minimize exposure. He uses that knowledge to force full value settlements from government entities and their carriers.

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$0 Upfront — Contingency Fee

We advance all case costs. You pay nothing unless we win. Our fee comes only from your recovery — so our interests are perfectly aligned with yours.

Client Results

Real Bus Accident Recoveries

★★★★★

"Rear-ended by an Omnitrans bus. Mark filed the Government Tort Claim within days, well before the 6-month deadline. Nobody told me about that deadline — Mark handled everything. Settled $340,000."

Rosario P.

Omnitrans collision · San Bernardino

$340,000

★★★★★

"School bus accident injured my daughter. Mark investigated the driver's history, maintenance records, and safety violations. Recovered $525,000 from the district. Outstanding work and real compassion."

Gary M.

School bus · Fontana USD

$525,000

★★★★★

"Tour bus crash on the I-10 — driver fell asleep. Mark got the event data recorder, found 16 hours without rest, and proved FMCSA violations. Recovered $890,000. He knows commercial vehicle law cold."

Beverly L.

Charter bus · I-10

$890,000

Common Questions

Bus Accident FAQ

If the bus is operated by a government entity (Omnitrans, LA Metro, school district, city, county), you must file a Government Tort Claim within 6 months of injury. If denied, you then have 6 months to file a lawsuit. Private bus companies: 2 years. Call immediately — the 6-month deadline is absolute.

Yes. Government immunity does not shield transit agencies from negligence claims. But you must follow strict procedural requirements — filing a Government Tort Claim with the correct agency within 6 months. We handle this process completely for our clients.

California law (Civil Code §2100) holds common carriers to the highest duty of care. A bus passenger injured due to driver negligence, sudden stops, or equipment failure has a strong legal claim. Call 909-587-6336 for a free case review.

Key evidence includes: event data recorder (black box) data, bus maintenance and inspection records, driver employment history and training records, dispatch logs, surveillance footage from the bus and surrounding area, police reports, witness statements, and medical records. We immediately preserve all of this before it can be destroyed or overwritten.

Our Offices