Los Angeles Bus Accident Attorney

Sunset West Legal Group, PC represents people injured in bus accidents across Los Angeles and California, and has recovered over $150 million for injury clients. Founding partner Payton Kashani uses the common carrier doctrine, which holds bus operators to the highest duty of care in California, and moves fast to meet the strict six-month deadline that applies to public transit claims. We work on a no win, no fee basis and offer free consultations. Available 24/7. Hablamos Español.

Los Angeles Bus Accident Lawyers Who Know the Deadlines

A bus injury claim can be lost before it begins if you miss a deadline most people never hear about. Sunset West Legal Group knows which rules apply to which buses, and we act quickly to protect your right to recover.

Bus accidents are more common than most people think. Over 60,000 buses are involved in an accident of some kind each year, and the injuries are often serious or fatal.

These cases are also more complex than an ordinary collision, because of who operates the bus and the special rules that follow.

Over $150 million recovered. More than 200 five-star reviews. No fee unless we win. Available 24/7. Hablamos Español.

The Common Carrier Doctrine: Your Biggest Advantage

Buses are common carriers under California law, and that works strongly in an injured passenger’s favour. Under California Civil Code §2100, a bus operator owes its passengers the utmost care and diligence for their safe transport, the highest duty of care in California law.

This is a materially higher standard than the ordinary reasonable care every driver owes. It means even slight negligence by a bus driver is enough to establish liability. A delayed reaction, an inattentive lane change, a failure to brake in time, or pulling away before a passenger is seated can all support a claim.

That heightened duty is one reason serious bus passenger cases are among the strongest in California personal injury law.

The Six-Month Deadline That Ends Cases

Most buses in Los Angeles are public, and that changes everything about your deadline. LA Metro, LADOT DASH, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, Long Beach Transit, Foothill Transit, and school-district buses are all government entities.

When a public entity is involved, you must file a written government claim within six months of the accident under Government Code §911.2. This is not the usual two-year window. Miss the six-month deadline and your case can be barred, no matter how badly you were hurt.

After the entity rejects the claim, or lets 45 days pass without answering, a further clock starts for filing suit. The rules are strict and they are enforced. Speaking to a lawyer early is the only reliable protection.

Private tour, charter, and shuttle bus claims follow the standard two-year limit, though the common carrier duty still applies. Knowing which category your bus falls into is the first thing we determine.

Who Can Be Held Liable

A bus accident often involves more than one responsible party, each under a different theory. Depending on the facts, liability may fall on the driver, the bus company, the manufacturer of the bus or a defective component, a maintenance contractor, a third-party motorist, or, for public buses, the transit agency or school district itself.

Identifying every liable party early matters, because each may carry separate coverage. Our commercial accidents and truck accidents pages cover related claims and the federal rules that can apply to interstate operators.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

A bus crash usually traces back to a failure that should never have happened. Common causes include reckless driving, driving under the influence, dangerous driving conditions, poorly maintained roads, defective equipment, inexperienced or inadequately screened drivers, and improper maintenance.

Each cause points toward a different party who may be liable, and an honest investigation sorts out which applies.

The Evidence These Cases Turn On

Comprehensive representation takes legal knowledge and forensic investigation. The evidence that proves a bus case includes the driver’s log books, the bus’s onboard data recorder, witness testimony, and records relating to the other parties involved.

Much of this evidence is fragile and controlled by the operator, and it can be lost as a bus returns to service. We move quickly to demand its preservation, so the proof of what happened survives.

What Your Claim Can Recover

An insurer’s job is to protect its profits, and too many injured passengers accept a low settlement simply because their case was not represented well. Proper representation seeks the full recovery you are owed.

That includes current and future medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In a severe crash, it can extend to a traumatic brain injury claim, or a wrongful death claim where a life was lost.

Why Injured Clients Choose Sunset West Legal Group

Sunset West Legal Group has recovered over $150 million for clients across California. Founding partner Payton Kashani has been licensed in California since 2012 and named to Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list every year from 2018 to 2022. Attorney Josh Teller supports the firm’s cases and holds Rising Stars recognition for 2025 and 2026.

We advise you at every step, negotiate hard with transit agencies, carriers, and their insurers, and try cases before a jury when an insurer refuses to pay fair value.

Injured in a Bus Accident in Los Angeles? Talk to Us Today

Your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win. Our team is available 24/7 to review your case and explain your options.

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