Prioritize safety and seek medical care. Call 911 when emergency assistance is needed. If possible, record the bus number, route, location, and time; photograph the scene; and collect witness contact information. Report your injury to the operator and keep the incident reference. Reporting an incident to a driver or customer-service team does not necessarily satisfy formal government claim requirements.

Responsibility depends on the cause of the accident. Potentially responsible parties can include a negligent driver, the bus operator or employer, another motorist, a maintenance contractor, or a manufacturer if defective equipment contributed. The operating agency is not always liable, and a thorough review of the situation may be needed to determine the financially responsible party. A bus accident attorney can investigate the evidence and identify the appropriate parties.

Potentially. A passenger may be injured during boarding, exiting, sudden braking, or a fall inside the bus. A claim requires evidence supporting legal responsibility, not simply proof that an injury occurred. Witness accounts, incident reports, and available onboard footage may help establish what happened. Reach out to an attorney for more information on your options moving forward.

A public transit accident attorney can preserve evidence, document your injuries, identify responsible parties, and review insurance and government claim procedures. Upon taking on your case, an attorney can also handle relevant claim communications and explain whether negotiation or litigation is appropriate.

Claims against local governmental entities generally fall under RCW 4.96.020. A formal tort claim must be presented to the correct designated agent, and 60 calendar days must pass before a covered lawsuit can begin. The statute provides tolling during that waiting period, meaning it won't prevent you from taking legal action within required deadlines. Confirm the proper entity, recipient, and procedure for your specific accident rather than treating an ordinary incident report as sufficient.

Personal injury lawsuits generally have a three-year limitation period under RCW 4.16.080, often measured from the accident date. Exceptions and additional requirements may apply. Government claims involve a separate presentment process and waiting period. The 60-day waiting period is not a deadline to report the accident within 60 days. Have your specific deadlines reviewed promptly.

Washington generally follows comparative fault under RCW 4.22.005. Your share of responsibility can reduce compensation rather than automatically bar recovery. For example, $100,000 in damages would generally be reduced to $80,000 if you were found 20% responsible. Being a standing passenger does not automatically make you at fault.

Depending on the evidence and applicable law, compensation may include medical expenses, future treatment, lost earnings, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. No settlement amount is guaranteed.

Senft Legal offers a free initial case review. Before representation begins, the firm will explain the proposed attorney fees, case expenses, and payment terms in writing.

Senft Legal’s Washington practice serves clients in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Everett, Spokane, and other Washington communities. Share your accident location, the agency or operator involved, and your injury details so the team can confirm whether it can assist.