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Written by Adrianos Facchetti, Esq. · Last updated: November 2026If you were hurt in a Glendale Beeline, Metro, school or charter bus crash, a Glendale bus accident lawyer can identify who is responsible and protect your deadline. California holds bus operators to the highest duty of care on the road. But if a public agency runs the bus, you have only six months to file a written claim, compared with two years for most private buses.
Bus cases bring in city agencies, transit districts, private bus companies and their insurers, all of whom move fast to protect themselves. As a Glendale personal injury lawyer since 2006, Adrianos Facchetti represents bus passengers, drivers, pedestrians and cyclists hurt in crashes across Glendale.
The consultation is free, and there is no attorney’s fee unless money is recovered for you. Call (626) 793-8607, any hour. Hablamos español. Falamos português.
Which Agency Do You File With After a Glendale Bus Accident?
The first question in any bus case is who runs the bus, because it decides the deadline and where the claim goes.
| Type of bus | Who you claim against | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Glendale Beeline | City of Glendale | 6 months for a government claim |
| Metro bus | Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | 6 months for a government claim |
| School bus | The school district, such as Glendale Unified, or its bus contractor | 6 months if the district runs it; 2 years if a private contractor does |
| Private charter, tour or intercity bus | The bus company and its insurer | Generally 2 years |
| Hotel, airport or shuttle bus | The shuttle operator or business that runs it | Generally 2 years |
For public buses, the six-month claim is required by Government Code § 911.2. If the agency rejects it, you generally have six months from the rejection notice to sue (Gov. Code § 945.6). Most private bus lawsuits fall under the two-year limit in CCP § 335.1.
Bus Operators Must Use the Highest Level of Care
Under California Civil Code § 2100, buses that carry the public are common carriers. They must use “the utmost care and diligence” for passengers’ safety, a higher standard than ordinary drivers.
That matters most for passengers. Injuries from sudden braking, a bus pulling away before you were seated, or a fall while boarding or getting off can all support a claim, even when there was no collision with another vehicle.
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Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Bus Accident?
The Bus Driver and Their Employer
Speeding to stay on schedule, phone use, fatigue from long shifts and ignoring signals are common causes. The agency or company that employs the driver is usually responsible for the driver’s mistakes on the job.
The Transit Agency or Bus Company
Operators must hire qualified drivers, train them and keep buses safe. Skipped maintenance, overworked drivers and ignored safety rules can make the operator directly responsible.
Another Driver
Cars that cut off a bus, run a light or stop suddenly in front of it can cause the crash. Their insurance may pay for passengers’ and others’ injuries.
Maintenance Contractors and Manufacturers
Brake, steering or tire failures may point to a repair company or the maker of a defective part. See our Glendale product liability lawyer page.
A Public Agency for a Dangerous Road
Poorly designed stops, broken signals or hazardous road conditions can make a city or county responsible, again with the six-month claim deadline.
Bus Accidents on Glendale Streets
Glendale Beeline routes and Metro lines carry riders along Brand Boulevard, Glendale Avenue, Central Avenue and Colorado Street, and through the Larry Zarian Transportation Center. Buses pull in and out of traffic at busy stops near the Glendale Galleria and the Americana at Brand, cross busy intersections downtown, and travel on and off the 134 and 2 freeways.
Crashes we see include buses striking cars while changing lanes, pedestrians hit near stops and crosswalks, cyclists caught in a bus’s blind spot, and passengers thrown by hard braking.
What If You Were a Bus Passenger?
Most passengers have no seat belt, and many are standing. A sudden stop can throw you into a pole, seat or the floor. Because bus operators owe passengers the highest duty of care, passenger claims can be strong even if the bus never hit anything.
Keep your fare receipt, transit card or app record, note the bus number and route, and get names of other passengers who saw what happened.
What If a Bus Hit You?
Pedestrians, cyclists and drivers hit by a bus often suffer severe injuries because of the bus’s size. Your claim goes against the bus operator, with the same six-month deadline if the bus is public.
- ●Pedestrians: see our Glendale pedestrian accident lawyer page
- ●Cyclists: see our Glendale bicycle accident lawyer page
- ●Drivers: see our Glendale car accident lawyer page
!
Public bus claims have a 6-month deadline, and bus video can be recorded over.Contact a lawyer early so your claim is filed on time and the footage is requested before it is lost.
Evidence That Wins Bus Accident Cases
- ●Onboard and exterior bus video: transit buses carry multiple cameras, but footage can be recorded over
- ●Driver records: hours, training, discipline and drug test results
- ●Maintenance and inspection logs for the bus
- ●GPS and route data showing speed and timing
- ●The police report and any transit incident report
- ●Passenger and witness statements
- ●Your medical records, photos of injuries and the scene
What to Do After a Bus Accident in Glendale
- 1Get medical care right away. Concussions and back injuries often show up later.
- 2Note the bus number, route and time, and photograph the bus and scene.
- 3Get names of witnesses and other passengers.
- 4Report the injury to the driver and ask that an incident report be made.
- 5Keep your fare receipt or transit card record.
- 6Don’t give a recorded statement to the transit agency or any insurer before talking to a lawyer.
- 7Call a lawyer early so the six-month claim deadline isn’t missed and the video is preserved.
How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Bus Accident?
There is no fixed amount. Bus accident claims are valued on your injuries and losses, including:
- ●Medical bills and future treatment
- ●Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- ●Pain, suffering and emotional distress
- ●Scarring or permanent disability
- ●Property damage
Public agencies cannot be ordered to pay punitive damages (Gov. Code § 818), so claims against Beeline or Metro focus on your actual losses. If a bus crash took a loved one, see our Glendale wrongful death lawyer page.
Some of the firm’s results in serious vehicle and pedestrian cases:
| Result | Case type |
|---|---|
| $5,000,000 | Auto vs. truck crash |
| $1,250,000 | Pedestrian hit in a crosswalk (policy limits recovered) |
| $850,000 | Freeway rear-end crash |
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See all case results.
What Percentage Do Bus Accident Lawyers Take?
Bus accident lawyers usually work on a contingency fee, a percentage of the recovery, often around a third, and sometimes more if the case goes to trial. With our firm, nothing is paid upfront, and no attorney’s fee is owed if nothing is recovered. Your percentage and how costs are handled are put in writing before you sign.
Talk to a Glendale Bus Accident Lawyer Now
Answered 24/7. Meet in person, by phone or by video. Hablamos español · Falamos português.
Why Bus Accident Victims Choose Our Firm
- ●Government claim experience: we file six-month claims against cities and transit agencies correctly and on time
- ●Fast evidence requests: we act to preserve bus video and driver records early
- ●Serious-injury results: including $5 million and $1.25 million recoveries
- ●Peer recognized: Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating
- ●English, Spanish and Portuguese
Glendale Bus Accident FAQs
How much money do you get from getting hit by a public bus?
It depends on your injuries, medical costs and lost income. Pedestrians hit by a bus often have serious injuries, so claims can be significant, but you must file a government claim within six months first.
Can I sue Glendale Beeline?
Yes. Beeline is run by the City of Glendale, so you start by filing a written government claim with the city within six months. If the city denies it, you can then file a lawsuit.
Can I claim if the bus braked suddenly and I fell?
Often yes. Bus operators owe passengers the highest duty of care, so injuries from hard braking or pulling away before you sat down can support a claim without any collision.
What if I missed the six-month deadline?
You may be able to ask the agency for permission to file a late claim, generally within one year of the accident. Call a lawyer right away; these requests are not guaranteed.
What should I not tell the bus company or insurer?
Don’t guess about what caused the crash, downplay your injuries, or give a recorded statement. Share basic facts only and let your lawyer handle the rest.
Does it matter if the bus driver was not at fault?
Passengers can still recover. If another driver caused the crash, that driver’s insurance pays, and some cases involve both the bus operator and another driver.
How long does a bus accident case take?
Claims against public agencies must first go through the government claim process, which takes at least 45 days. Many cases resolve within one to two years.
Talk to a Glendale Bus Accident Lawyer Today
The six-month clock for public buses starts on the day of the crash. Let us handle the claim while you focus on getting better.
When you call, we will:
- 1Figure out who runs the bus and which deadline applies to you.
- 2Request the bus video and records before they are lost.
- 3File your claim and deal with the agency or insurer for you.
Reach us at (626) 793-8607 or send us a message with the bus route and what happened. Hablamos español. Falamos português.
General information only, not legal advice. Every case is different.
