Bus operators owe heightened “common carrier” duties under California Civil Code §2100 — they must use the utmost care for passenger safety. Claims against public transit agencies have shorter notice deadlines than ordinary tort claims.
Overview
Bus collisions implicate either a private operator (charter, school bus, intercity coach) or a public agency (Metro, municipal transit, school district). The procedural posture differs sharply between the two.
Key Considerations
Common-carrier duty — CC §2100 imposes the utmost care on operators carrying passengers for hire.
Government-claim deadline — claims against public entities must be presented within six months under Government Code §911.2.
Driver qualification — commercial driver licensing, medical certification, and training records are routinely produced in discovery.
Multi-passenger claims — coordinated representation can preserve policy limits and avoid race-to-courthouse dynamics.
Damages
Medical expenses, including future care
Lost wages and earning capacity
Pain, suffering, emotional distress
Wrongful-death recovery where applicable
Six-month deadline
If a public entity (Metro, MTA, municipal transit, school district) is involved, the claim must generally be filed within six months. Do not wait.
How We Engage
Initial consultation is complimentary. We move quickly on cases involving public entities to protect the statutory window.
— Cornerstone Law Firm, PC
Speak directly with Davar Danialpour, Esq.
Initial consultations are complimentary and confidential. Tell us briefly about your matter and we will respond within one business day.
