Bus Accidents
Bus Accident Attorney in Phoenix
Personal Injury Representation Built for Complex Bus Accident Claims
Bus accidents in Phoenix involve a wider web of liability than a typical car crash. Whether you were riding a Valley Metro bus, a school bus, a charter coach, or a private carrier, identifying who bears legal responsibility depends on the type of bus involved and who operated it. Our practice is limited to personal injury and accident claims, so these questions sit at the center of what we do every day.
If you were hurt in a Phoenix bus accident, the clock may already be running on a filing deadline shorter than you think. Call to speak with our team now.
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Phoenix Bus Accident
Under Arizona law, bus operators are generally treated as common carriers. When a bus driver falls short of the reasonable care standard, both the driver and their employer can face liability.
Responsibility doesn’t always stop with the driver. Under respondeat superior, an employer such as a transit agency or private bus company can be held liable for a driver’s negligent acts committed within the scope of employment. Depending on the facts, the potentially liable parties in a Phoenix bus accident can include:
- The Bus Driver for negligent operation
- The Transit Agency or Bus Company as the driver’s employer
- Another Driver whose negligence contributed to the crash
- A Manufacturer or Maintenance Provider if a defective part or inadequate upkeep played a role
Valley Metro is actually two separate entities: Valley Metro Rail, Inc. oversees light rail operations, while the Regional Public Transportation Authority coordinates the regional bus system. Individual member cities, including the City of Phoenix, directly operate much of the bus service within their own boundaries. Knowing which entity operated the bus matters because it determines where and how a claim must be filed.
Arizona’s 180-Day Notice of Claim Deadline for Public Transit Accidents
Claims against public entities in Arizona follow a different timeline than claims against private companies. Under A.R.S. 12-821.01, anyone injured by a public entity, public school, or public employee must file a written Notice of Claim within 180 days after the cause of action accrues. Miss that window, and the claim is barred regardless of its merits.
This requirement applies directly to Valley Metro bus accidents and school bus accidents, since school districts are also government entities subject to the same statute. Once a Notice of Claim is filed, the public entity has 60 days to respond in writing. If it doesn’t, the claim is treated as denied and litigation can proceed.
Claims against private bus, charter, and tour operators follow Arizona’s general personal injury statute of limitations: two years from the date of the accident under A.R.S. 12-542.
Compensation Available in a Phoenix Bus Accident Claim
Bus accident injuries range from soft-tissue sprains to traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and fatalities. The compensation a claim can pursue reflects that range and typically includes medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering.
When a crash results in a death, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. We handle wrongful death cases arising from Arizona accidents and understand the distinct procedural requirements those claims carry.
Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence rule under A.R.S. 12-2505. If you share some portion of fault for the accident, your compensation is reduced proportionally, but it isn’t eliminated. Even a passenger found partially at fault retains the right to recover.
Why Rafi Law Group Handles These Claims Differently
Since 2015, Rafi Law Group has represented more than 50,000 clients across Arizona and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Bus accident claims against public entities like Valley Metro or a school district require a posture built for litigation from the start, not a strategy that pivots to trial preparation only after a settlement offer falls short.
We intentionally keep caseloads low so each claim gets the attention it requires. Your case isn’t handed off to a paralegal or managed in volume. When a claim must work through a public entity’s administrative process or proceed against a bus company’s insurer, our attorneys’ courtroom experience shapes how the file is built from day one.
Steps to Take After a Phoenix Bus Accident
What you do in the days immediately following a bus accident can shape the strength of a future claim. Three actions matter most:
- Get Medical Care Promptly. A medical record created close in time to the crash documents the connection between the accident and your injuries, which insurers and courts look for when evaluating compensation claims.
- Preserve Evidence Early. Onboard camera footage, maintenance logs, and dispatch records are held by transit agencies and bus companies for only a limited time. A formal preservation request sent by an attorney can prevent that material from being overwritten or destroyed.
- Contact a Bus Accident Attorney in Phoenix Quickly. With only 180 days to file a Notice of Claim against a public entity, there’s little margin for delay if Valley Metro or a school district is involved.
Talk to a Phoenix Bus Accident Lawyer Today
Bus accident claims move fast, especially when a public entity is involved. We’re available 24/7, we offer bilingual services, and we handle every case on a contingency fee basis, meaning there’s no cost to you unless we recover compensation.
To discuss your Phoenix bus accident claim with our team, call now. We can help.