Skip to content 
The Critical First Steps After a Bus Accident
If you need a Philadelphia bus accident attorney, here’s what you should do immediately:
- Seek medical attention even if injuries seem minor
- Document the scene with photos and witness information
- Report the accident to police and obtain an incident report
- Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney
- Contact a specialized bus accident attorney within the 2-year statute of limitations (6 months for SEPTA cases)
When a massive bus collides with another vehicle or strikes a pedestrian, the consequences can be devastating. Every year in Philadelphia, hundreds of residents find themselves victims of serious bus accidents that leave them facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and painful recoveries. What makes these cases particularly challenging is the complex web of liability that can involve bus drivers, transit companies like SEPTA, maintenance providers, and even government entities.
Bus accident cases in Philadelphia come with unique challenges. SEPTA cases have a strict 6-month notice requirement and damages caps of $250,000 per person. Private bus companies deploy aggressive insurance tactics to minimize payouts. Without proper legal representation, victims often receive far less compensation than they deserve.
I’m Jason Fine, a ten-time consecutive Pennsylvania Super Lawyer nominee with over 25 years of experience representing bus accident victims throughout Philadelphia and securing millions in verdicts and settlements for my clients.
The High Stakes of a “Routine” Ride
For thousands of Philadelphia residents, hopping on a bus is just part of daily life. Whether it’s a SEPTA bus taking you to work, a school bus carrying your children to school, or a tour bus showing visitors the historic sights of our city, these massive vehicles are woven into the fabric of urban life. But there’s nothing routine about what happens when something goes wrong.
A fully loaded bus can weigh up to 44,000 pounds—more than 10 times the weight of an average car. When these heavy vehicles are involved in accidents, the physics alone make them particularly dangerous. Bus passengers often lack seatbelts and can be thrown violently during a collision. Pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of smaller vehicles struck by buses frequently suffer catastrophic injuries.
“When you purchase a bus ticket or pay a bus fare, you know that you are trusting your safety to that bus driver and the transit company they represent,” explains a client who was seriously injured when a SEPTA bus made a sudden stop, throwing her forward and causing severe neck injuries. “You never think about what happens if they break that trust.”
Bus Crash Numbers Don’t Lie
The statistics paint a sobering picture of bus safety in our region. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), 2022 saw 461 crashes involving commercial buses and another 274 involving school buses in Pennsylvania.
These aren’t just numbers—they represent real people whose lives have been upended by serious injuries. A seven-year study found that approximately 63,000 buses of all types are involved in traffic crashes each year nationwide, resulting in an average of 14,000 injuries and just over 300 fatalities annually.
In Philadelphia specifically, SEPTA operates roughly 120 bus routes throughout the city and surrounding counties, with hundreds of SEPTA bus accidents occurring each year involving other cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians.
One particularly troubling statistic: 63% of pedestrian-train incidents result in death, highlighting the extreme danger when humans encounter large transit vehicles.
What to Do Immediately After a Philadelphia Bus Crash
The chaos after a bus accident can leave you shaken and confused. But what you do in those first heart-pounding moments can make or break your chances of getting fair compensation later. Take a deep breath—I’m going to walk you through exactly what needs to happen.
Step-by-Step Emergency Actions
Safety comes first, always. If you’re able to move, get to a safe spot away from traffic or any dangers. Then immediately call 911, even if injuries seem minor—that police report becomes gold-standard evidence later on.
Don’t brush off medical attention thinking you’re “just a little sore.” Many serious injuries like concussions or internal bleeding play hide-and-seek with symptoms. One of our clients learned this the hard way: “I thought I was just a little sore after the bus accident. Three days later, I couldn’t get out of bed because of the pain. Thankfully, I had taken photos and gotten the driver’s information, which made all the difference when I finally contacted an attorney.”
If you’re on a SEPTA bus, be sure to get an incident card from the driver—this small piece of paper establishes you were actually involved in the accident. For private bus companies, make sure management knows what happened.
Crucial Evidence to Collect
Think of yourself as a detective at the scene. Grab the bus number, route number, and license plate. Get the driver’s name and ID number. Chat with witnesses and collect their contact information—these folks might become your case’s heroes later on.
Your smartphone is your best friend right now. Take plenty of pictures showing the accident scene from different angles, any visible damage to vehicles, road conditions, your injuries, and the inside of the bus if you were a passenger. Don’t forget to snap a picture of nearby street signs to document exactly where this happened.
Here’s an insider tip: SEPTA and most commercial buses have surveillance cameras inside and out. This footage can be your smoking gun, but companies only keep it for a limited time. A Philadelphia bus accident attorney can send a preservation letter to make sure this crucial evidence doesn’t vanish.
Mistakes That Can Sink Your Claim
What you don’t do is just as important as what you do. Keep those accident details off social media—insurance companies love scrolling through profiles looking for posts they can twist against you. Even an innocent “I’m okay” update could come back to haunt you.
When insurance adjusters start calling (and they will), be polite but firm. Decline to give recorded statements and simply say, “Please contact my attorney.” Adjusters aren’t your friends—their job is to save their company money, not help you get what you deserve.
That quick settlement offer might look tempting when medical bills start piling up, but it’s almost certainly lowballing you. As a former insurance adjuster once told me, “The first offer is rarely their best offer.” Don’t sign anything until you understand the full extent of your injuries.
Perhaps most importantly, don’t drag your feet. Pennsylvania gives you two years to file a personal injury claim, but SEPTA cases require notice within just six months. Time flies when you’re dealing with recovery, so connecting with a lawyer sooner rather than later puts you in the strongest position.
Who Is Liable and Why Do Bus Accidents Happen in Philly?
When a bus accident occurs in Philadelphia, figuring out who’s responsible isn’t as straightforward as you might think. These cases often involve a complex web of potentially liable parties, making them particularly challenging without proper legal guidance.
The responsibility might fall on the bus driver who was texting instead of watching the road. Or perhaps the bus company that hired a driver with a history of violations. Maybe it’s SEPTA itself when one of their buses is involved. Sometimes maintenance companies cut corners on repairs, or other motorists make dangerous maneuvers around buses. In some cases, manufacturers produce defective parts, or government entities fail to address hazardous road conditions.
“After my accident, I assumed the driver was solely at fault,” shares one of our clients. “I had no idea the maintenance company had skipped crucial brake inspections for months. Without my attorney’s investigation, that would never have come to light.”
Common Crash Triggers on City Streets
Philadelphia’s busy urban landscape creates unique challenges for bus safety.
Distracted driving remains a persistent problem. One SEPTA driver admitted during his deposition, “I was checking my route schedule when I should have been watching the crosswalk.” That moment of inattention resulted in a pedestrian suffering multiple fractures.
Driver fatigue is another serious concern. Despite Hours-of-Service regulations designed to keep drivers alert, about 13% of bus crashes involve tired drivers according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration research. Those early morning or late-night routes can be particularly dangerous when drivers haven’t had adequate rest.
Our city’s historic charm comes with its challenges too. Bridge collisions occur with surprising frequency when bus operators misjudge clearance heights on Philadelphia’s older infrastructure.
Mechanical failures can turn routine trips into nightmares. In one case we handled, a tour bus’s improperly maintained brake line completely failed on a downhill stretch of I-76, causing a multi-vehicle pileup.
And let’s not forget Philadelphia weather. From summer downpours to winter ice storms, our seasonal conditions demand extra caution that some bus operators fail to exercise.
Special Risks: School, Tour & SEPTA Buses
Different buses come with their own unique hazards.
School buses might statistically be among the safest vehicles, but Philadelphia’s crowded routes often mean children are standing during the ride. When a driver brakes suddenly, kids can tumble like dominoes – no collision necessary. The most dangerous moments actually happen outside the bus, when children are boarding or exiting and impatient drivers illegally pass stopped buses.
Tour buses present special challenges as they’re frequently operated by companies unfamiliar with our city’s quirky street layout. These buses rarely have seatbelts, and passengers moving freely about the cabin face heightened risks when the driver makes unexpected maneuvers through our historic districts.
SEPTA buses involve unique legal problems. As government-operated vehicles, they’re protected by the Pennsylvania Sovereign Immunity Act, which caps damages at $250,000 per person and $1 million per incident. Even more critically, you must file a notice of claim within just six months – not the standard two-year period.
“Jerk and jolt” claims are especially common with SEPTA. These occur when a bus suddenly accelerates or stops, throwing passengers off balance. Pennsylvania law requires proving the movement was “unusual and extraordinary” – not just the normal operation of a bus in city traffic. This distinction makes having a knowledgeable Philadelphia bus accident attorney particularly valuable.
Shared Fault Under PA Law
Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence rules, which can significantly impact your compensation. Here’s what that means for your case:
If you share some responsibility for what happened, your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you’re awarded $100,000 but found 20% responsible (perhaps you weren’t holding a handrail during a sudden stop), you’d receive $80,000.
Even more importantly, if you’re found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any compensation at all. This rule applies whether you were a passenger not using available safety features, a pedestrian who crossed against a signal, or a driver who partially contributed to a collision with a bus.
At J. Fine Law, we work diligently to minimize your assigned percentage of fault. Through thorough investigation and compelling evidence presentation, we focus on establishing the other parties’ greater responsibility for your injuries. This approach has helped countless clients maximize their recovery even in complicated shared-fault scenarios.
How Much Is Your Bus Accident Claim Worth?
One of the most common questions clients ask is “What is my case worth?” While each case is unique, several factors determine the potential value of your bus accident claim.
Typical Injuries We See
The sheer size and weight of buses make these accidents particularly devastating for victims. I’ve helped hundreds of Philadelphia residents recover from life-altering injuries after bus accidents.
Traumatic brain injuries range from “mild” concussions to severe damage that transforms lives forever. One client, a brilliant accountant, suffered a TBI when a bus ran a red light. His $350,000 in medical bills were just the beginning – the cognitive issues ended his career and changed his family dynamics permanently.
Spinal cord injuries can leave victims with chronic pain or, in severe cases, paralysis. The financial burden is staggering, with lifetime care costs potentially reaching millions. As one client told me, “I never imagined I’d need to remodel my entire home just to move around in a wheelchair after a simple bus ride.”
Broken bones aren’t just painful – they’re life-disrupting. When bus passengers are thrown during collisions or pedestrians are struck, complex fractures often require surgery, metal hardware, and months of rehabilitation. The physical therapy alone can cost tens of thousands.
Soft tissue injuries like whiplash are often dismissed as “minor,” but tell that to someone who wakes up every day with neck pain for years after a SEPTA bus rear-ending. These invisible injuries can lead to chronic pain that medication barely touches.
Emotional trauma deserves serious attention too. I’ve worked with children who developed severe anxiety after school bus accidents – unable to ride buses again and experiencing nightmares for years. PTSD is a real and compensable injury that affects many bus accident victims.
Calculating Compensation
Your potential recovery typically includes both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover the dollars-and-cents losses you’ve suffered. These are relatively straightforward to calculate and include your medical expenses (both current and future), lost wages from missed work, and any property damage. For clients with permanent disabilities, we also factor in home modification costs (like wheelchair ramps) and long-term rehabilitation expenses.
I recently represented a nurse who was injured when a tour bus sideswiped her car. Her economic damages included not just her immediate medical bills, but also the cost of specialized transportation to medical appointments and the income she lost during her six-month recovery.
Non-economic damages compensate you for the human experience of suffering. Your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of life enjoyment have real value in your case. When a bus accident leaves you unable to hold your grandchild or play your favorite sport, that’s a significant loss deserving compensation.
For married clients, we also pursue loss of consortium claims to address how injuries impact intimate relationships. As one client’s spouse explained, “We lost our partnership – I became a caretaker overnight.”
In rare cases involving truly outrageous conduct, punitive damages may be available. These are designed to punish especially reckless behavior, like a bus company that knowingly allowed a driver with multiple DUIs to remain behind the wheel.
SEPTA cases face a strict $250,000 per person compensation cap under Pennsylvania’s sovereign immunity laws – making it crucial to have a Philadelphia bus accident attorney who knows how to maximize your recovery within these constraints.
Insurance Company Tactics
Bus companies and their insurers aren’t in business to pay fair settlements. They employ sophisticated strategies to minimize what they pay you.
They’ll often dangle quick settlement offers within days of your accident – before you even know the full extent of your injuries. One client was offered $5,000 the day after her accident. After hiring us, we secured a $200,000 settlement that actually covered her extensive medical care and lost income.
Be extremely cautious about giving recorded statements. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions that subtly shift blame or minimize your injuries. They’re not making friendly conversation – they’re building a case against you.
For serious injury claims, don’t be surprised if you’re placed under surveillance. Investigators may photograph you carrying groceries or playing with your dog, then use these images out of context to suggest you’re exaggerating your injuries. I’ve seen clients’ legitimate claims undermined by innocent moments caught on camera.
Some insurers deliberately use delay tactics, dragging cases out for months or years. They know financial pressure mounts as medical bills pile up, hoping you’ll eventually accept a lowball offer out of desperation.
According to scientific research on crash injuries, bus accidents produce some of the most severe injury patterns in transportation cases. This research helps us demonstrate to insurers and juries why your injuries deserve substantial compensation.
At J. Fine Law, we’ve seen every insurance company trick in the book – and we know how to counter each one to maximize your recovery. Our 98% success rate reflects our commitment to securing fair compensation for every client.
How a Philadelphia Bus Accident Attorney Builds Your Case
Navigating a bus accident claim requires specialized knowledge of Philadelphia’s transportation systems, relevant laws, and the tactics used by bus companies and their insurers.
Why You Need a Philadelphia Bus Accident Attorney
The complexity of bus accident cases makes professional legal representation essential:
Evidence preservation: Crucial evidence like bus maintenance records, driver logs, and surveillance footage may be lost or destroyed if not promptly requested through formal legal channels.
Multiple defendants: Bus accident cases often involve several potentially liable parties, each with their own insurance companies and legal teams.
Specialized knowledge: Claims against government entities like SEPTA have unique procedural requirements that differ from standard personal injury cases.
Negotiation expertise: Insurance companies take claims more seriously when represented by experienced attorneys with a track record of successful litigation.
Resource access: At J. Fine Law, we work with accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, and economic analysts to build the strongest possible case for our clients.
As one client testified: “I had no idea that I needed to send a special notice to SEPTA within six months. If I hadn’t contacted J. Fine Law when I did, I would have lost my right to compensation entirely.”
Cost of Hiring a Philadelphia Bus Accident Attorney
At J. Fine Law, we understand that accident victims face financial strain. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis:
- No upfront costs or hourly fees
- We advance all case expenses (investigation, expert witnesses, filing fees)
- You pay nothing unless we win your case
- Our fee is a percentage of your recovery, agreed upon before we begin work
This arrangement ensures that quality legal representation is available to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. As we like to say, “Justice should not be a matter of financial ability.”
Clock Is Ticking: Key Deadlines
Time limits for bus accident claims in Philadelphia vary depending on the type of bus involved:
Private bus companies (Greyhound, Megabus, charter buses):
– Two-year statute of limitations from the date of the accident
SEPTA and other government entities:
– Six-month notice requirement under the Pennsylvania Tort Claims Act
– The notice must include specific details about the accident and your injuries
– After providing notice, the standard two-year statute of limitations applies
Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation, so it’s crucial to consult with a Philadelphia bus accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
From Claim to Courtroom: The Legal Roadmap
Understanding the process helps clients know what to expect:
- Initial consultation: We evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
- Investigation: We gather evidence, interview witnesses, obtain records, and consult with experts.
- Notice and claim filing: We ensure all procedural requirements are met, including the six-month notice for SEPTA cases.
- Demand letter: Once we understand the full extent of your damages, we send a formal demand to the responsible parties.
- Negotiation: We engage in settlement discussions with the insurance companies.
- Litigation if necessary: If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we file a lawsuit and prepare for trial.
- Mediation/arbitration: Many cases resolve through alternative dispute resolution methods.
- Trial: If necessary, we present your case to a judge or jury.
- Appeal: If either party disagrees with the outcome, they may appeal the decision.
Most bus accident cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go to court. This thorough approach often results in better settlement offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What damages can I recover after a bus accident?
You may be entitled to compensation for:
– All medical expenses, both current and future
– Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
– Pain and suffering
– Emotional distress
– Property damage
– Rehabilitation costs
– Home modifications for permanent disabilities
For SEPTA cases, compensation is capped at $250,000 per person under Pennsylvania law.
How long will my Philadelphia case take to resolve?
The timeline varies based on:
– The severity of your injuries and recovery time
– The complexity of liability issues
– Whether the case involves SEPTA or a private company
– The willingness of insurers to offer fair settlement
Simple cases might resolve in 6-12 months, while complex cases involving serious injuries or multiple parties can take 1-3 years, especially if they go to trial.
Will comparative negligence reduce my payout?
Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule:
– Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault
– If you’re found more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover compensation
For example, if you’re awarded $100,000 but found 20% at fault, you’ll receive $80,000.
A skilled Philadelphia bus accident attorney can help minimize your assigned percentage of fault through thorough investigation and effective advocacy.
Conclusion
Bus accidents in Philadelphia create unique challenges for victims seeking compensation. The complex web of potentially liable parties, special rules for government transit agencies like SEPTA, and aggressive insurance company tactics make professional legal representation essential.
At J. Fine Law, we’ve spent over 25 years helping bus accident victims throughout Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, Feasterville, and across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Our 98% success rate and more than $50 million in settlements for our clients demonstrate our commitment to securing maximum compensation for those injured through no fault of their own.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, don’t face the system alone. Our experienced Philadelphia bus accident attorneys understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these accidents take. We’ll handle the legal complexities while you focus on recovery.
Remember these five keys to protecting your bus accident claim:
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Document everything
- Report the accident properly
- Watch the deadlines (especially the six-month notice for SEPTA)
- Consult with an experienced attorney before speaking with insurance companies
Contact J. Fine Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your options, and help you take the first steps toward recovery and justice. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
The road to recovery starts with a single call. Let us help you steer the journey from accident victim to fair compensation.
