Bus cases carry a trap most injured riders don’t see coming: if the bus was SEPTA’s or another public agency’s, the ordinary two-year window doesn’t protect you — written notice is generally required within six months, and immunity rules limit which claims survive at all. Whoever waits to “see how the injury goes” often waits out their rights.
Who Ran the Bus Changes Everything
- SEPTA and public transit. Claims against SEPTA and government entities involve sovereign-immunity rules under Pennsylvania law — specific exceptions, a six-month notice requirement, and damage caps. Our dedicated SEPTA accident page and mass transit page cover the details.
- Private and charter buses. Commercial carriers fall under FMCSA safety regulations — driver qualification, maintenance, hours — and their insurers defend like trucking companies.
- School buses. A mix of public-entity rules and heightened duties to children; see our child injury page.
- Common carrier duty. Buses carrying passengers for hire owe a high duty of care — sudden stops, door injuries, and boarding falls are judged against that standard, and the Pennsylvania courts apply it seriously.
Not Just Passengers
Bus cases include struck pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of other vehicles. NHTSA transit-safety data shows boarding/alighting and intersection conflicts as recurring patterns — camera footage from the bus itself is often decisive, and it gets overwritten fast. We send preservation demands immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
I was hurt on a SEPTA bus. What’s my actual deadline?
Treat six months as your working deadline — written notice to the agency is generally required within that window for claims against government entities, and the courts enforce it. The two-year statute is not your safety net here.
The bus didn’t crash — it braked hard and I fell. Is that a case?
It can be. Common carriers owe passengers a high duty of care, and sudden-stop and door-closure injuries are recognized claims — though agencies defend them by calling stops “necessary.” Onboard video usually settles the argument, which is why preserving it immediately matters.
Are damages against SEPTA limited?
Pennsylvania caps damages in claims against government agencies and restricts the categories of recoverable claims. Caps and exceptions are technical and fact-dependent — part of the early case assessment we do for free.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania?
Generally two years from the date of injury under Pennsylvania law, but important exceptions exist — shorter notice deadlines for claims against government entities (including SEPTA and the City), and different rules for minors and late-discovered injuries. Treat two years as the outer marker and get specific advice about your dates early.
What does it cost to hire your firm?
Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee: you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you. The percentage and how case costs (filing fees, records, experts) are handled are spelled out in a written fee agreement before you sign anything, and the initial consultation is free.
Hurt on or by a bus? Call (215) 464-4600 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee: no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you, with case costs explained in the written fee agreement before you sign.