MASSACHUSETTS MBTA & BUS ACCIDENT LAWYER
A bus crash changed your life fast.
A bus crash can seriously injure passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers in an instant, and when the bus is an MBTA vehicle, the deadline to act can be far shorter than people expect.
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A Massachusetts bus accident lawyer takes on the carrier.
A bus crash claim is different from an ordinary car accident claim, and the differences can make or break a case. The first is the deadline. Many bus crashes in Massachusetts involve the MBTA, which is a government entity, and a claim against a public body is governed by the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, with a written-presentment requirement that comes years before the ordinary deadline. Miss it, and a valid claim is gone. The second is the standard of care. Buses are common carriers, held to a high duty to protect their passengers and the public, so a driver’s inattention, speeding, or failure to yield is strong evidence of fault. The third is the range of victims and responsible parties: a bus crash can injure riders, people in other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, and the party at fault may be the MBTA, a regional transit authority, a private bus or motorcoach company, a school district, or another driver entirely. Identifying the right operator sets the deadline and the path of the claim. Sorting out who is responsible, meeting the notice requirements, and preserving the evidence, the bus’s data, camera footage, and the driver’s record, is exactly where these claims are won. Larson Law handles MBTA and bus crash claims across Massachusetts. If a bus crash hurt you, a Massachusetts bus accident lawyer can review your situation at no cost.
What our clients say
Bus claims often mean a strict government deadline.
- We handle MBTA and bus crash claims statewide, for passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists
- We move fast to meet the strict notice deadline that a claim against the MBTA or a public body requires
- We hold bus operators to the high common-carrier duty of care they owe their riders and the public
- We preserve the bus’s data, camera footage, and the driver’s record before they are gone
- We identify every responsible party, from the MBTA to a private company or another driver
- No fee unless we win your case
- No upfront costs
- Direct attorney access throughout
- Same-day and hospital visits anywhere in Massachusetts if you cannot travel
$300K+ Won For Clients
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8+ Years of Legal Expertise
98% Legal Success Rate
100+ Injured Victims Helped
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Massachusetts holds careless bus operators liable.
The MBTA is a government entity, and the deadline is short
This is the most important point in many bus crash cases. When the bus is an MBTA vehicle, or another public body is responsible, the claim is governed by the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, MGL Ch. 258 Sec. 4, which requires written presentment to the responsible entity within two years, well before the ordinary three-year deadline, and limits the damages available. Missing the presentment requirement bars the claim entirely. Identifying that a public entity is involved, and serving notice in time, is the first and most urgent step a bus crash lawyer takes.
Buses are common carriers held to a high duty
Bus operators, the MBTA, regional transit authorities, private bus and motorcoach companies, and school transportation providers, are common carriers, which means they owe their passengers and the public a heightened duty of care. A driver who was inattentive, speeding, failed to yield, or operated an unsafe vehicle breached that duty, and the breach is strong evidence of negligence. The operator can also be liable for inadequate maintenance, poor training, or hiring an unfit driver, each of which a bus crash investigation examines.
Your coverage, comparative fault, and the deadlines
If you were in a vehicle struck by a bus, personal injury protection under MGL Ch. 90 Sec. 34M pays initial bills regardless of fault, and underinsured motorist coverage under MGL Ch. 175 Sec. 113L may apply. Claims run on modified comparative fault under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 85. The ordinary deadline is three years under MGL Ch. 260 Sec. 2A, but a claim against the MBTA or another public body must meet the two-year presentment requirement. When a bus crash is fatal, the family may bring a wrongful death claim under MGL Ch. 229.
Bus crashes happen on routes across Massachusetts.
Where bus crashes happen in Massachusetts
Bus crashes happen across the Commonwealth. MBTA buses run throughout Greater Boston, regional transit authorities operate across the rest of the state, school buses travel every community, and intercity motorcoaches use the highways. Each kind of bus injures people in a different setting, at stops and crosswalks, at intersections, and on the open road, and each involves a different responsible operator. Identifying which operator was involved is what determines the deadline and the route of the claim.
Who the bus claim is against
The defendant in a bus crash claim depends on the bus. An MBTA crash is a claim against a government entity under the Tort Claims Act. A regional transit authority or a public school district is also a public body with its own notice rules. A private bus, charter, or motorcoach company is judged under ordinary negligence and the common-carrier duty. When another driver caused a crash involving a bus, that driver may be the responsible party. Pinning down the operator early is essential.
Where these cases proceed
A bus crash claim is filed in the county where the crash occurred, in the District Court or county Superior Court depending on its size, confirmed from mass.gov, after any required presentment is made. Because bus crashes often cause serious injuries and involve public entities, these cases are frequently complex. Larson Law handles MBTA and bus crash claims across all of Massachusetts, and the first review of your claim is always free.
A bus crash claim covers far more than the fare.
What a bus crash claim may support depends on the severity of your injuries, the operator responsible, and the coverage available. The losses reach far past the first hospital bill, into long-term treatment, lost income, and the lasting effect of a serious crash, whether you were a rider, a driver, a pedestrian, or a cyclist.
Medical Bills and Future Treatment Costs
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Pain, Suffering, and Permanent Injury
Wrongful Death of a Loved One
What to do after a bus crash.
Get care and note the bus
Get medical care right away, even if you feel only shaken, and keep every record. Note the bus, the route, and the witnesses, because a bus crash claim can run on a short deadline, so do not wait now.
Talk to a bus accident lawyer
Call us or send the form. A Massachusetts bus accident lawyer will review how the crash happened, explain the deadline, and map your next steps, at absolutely no cost to you, at all, today, right now.
We meet every deadline from here
We identify the right operator, meet every notice deadline, deal with the insurer directly, and pursue every part of your bus crash claim through to its full and fair resolution, all the way, for you.
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Talk to a Massachusetts bus accident lawyer.
A bus crash claim depends on identifying the operator, meeting a notice deadline that can come two years before the ordinary one when the MBTA or a public body is involved, and preserving the bus’s data and footage before it is gone. Tell us how the crash happened and where you are in your recovery, and we will identify who is responsible and explain what your claim may support and what to do now. When a bus crash takes a life, the surviving family may bring a wrongful death claim under MGL Ch. 229. The first review is free, and there is no fee unless we win.
By submitting this form, you acknowledge that doing so does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not include confidential information. Contacting us does not obligate you to retain our services.
Our Clients.
Our Practice Areas.
We handle MBTA, transit, school bus, and motorcoach crash claims across all of Massachusetts, from the first call to the final resolution. Whatever happened, we will tell you where you stand at no cost.
Bus crash questions riders ask most.
I was hurt on or by an MBTA bus. Is the deadline different?
Yes, and it is critical. The MBTA is a government entity, so a claim is governed by the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, MGL Ch. 258 Sec. 4, which requires written presentment to the responsible body within two years, well before the ordinary three-year deadline, and limits the damages available. Missing the presentment requirement bars the claim. This is why identifying that an MBTA or other public bus is involved, and serving notice in time, is the first step in these cases.
What is the common-carrier duty, and how does it help my claim?
Buses are common carriers, which means operators owe their passengers and the public a heightened duty of care. A bus driver who was inattentive, speeding, failed to yield, or operated an unsafe vehicle breached that elevated duty, and the breach is strong evidence of negligence. The operator can also be liable for poor maintenance, inadequate training, or hiring an unfit driver. This higher standard often strengthens a bus crash victim’s claim.
Who can be held responsible for a bus crash?
It depends on the bus. An MBTA crash is a claim against a government entity. A regional transit authority or a public school district is also a public body with its own notice rules. A private bus, charter, or motorcoach company is judged under ordinary negligence and the common-carrier duty. And when another driver caused a crash involving a bus, that driver may be responsible. Identifying the operator sets both the deadline and the path of the claim.
I was in my car when a bus hit me. What coverage applies?
Several. Personal injury protection under MGL Ch. 90 Sec. 34M pays your initial medical bills and a share of lost wages regardless of fault. A claim against the bus operator, whether the MBTA, a transit authority, or a private company, pursues the full injury. If the responsible party’s coverage is short, underinsured motorist coverage under MGL Ch. 175 Sec. 113L on your own policy may add to it. We identify every coverage that applies to your bus crash.
I was a pedestrian or cyclist struck by a bus. Do I have a claim?
Yes. A bus operator’s common-carrier and general duty of care extends to pedestrians and cyclists, not just passengers. If a bus driver failed to yield, turned without looking, or drove inattentively and struck you, the operator may be liable. If the bus was an MBTA or public vehicle, the Tort Claims Act notice deadline applies, so acting quickly to preserve your claim is essential.
What if I was partly at fault for the crash?
You may still recover. Massachusetts follows modified comparative fault under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 85, so you can recover as long as your share of the fault is not greater than the other side’s, with the award reduced by your percentage. Bus operators and their insurers sometimes try to shift blame onto the injured person. Holding any fault finding to the actual evidence, including the bus’s data and camera footage, is part of protecting the claim.
How long do I have to file a bus crash claim?
It depends on the operator. For a private bus company, the general deadline is three years under MGL Ch. 260 Sec. 2A. But for a claim against the MBTA or another public body, the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, MGL Ch. 258 Sec. 4, requires written presentment within two years, and missing it bars the claim. Because the public-entity deadline is shorter and the evidence fades quickly, contacting a lawyer immediately is essential.
What evidence matters in a bus crash case?
Bus crashes generate specific evidence that must be preserved quickly. Modern buses carry data recorders and multiple cameras, and the MBTA and other operators keep maintenance, training, and driver records. The police report, witness accounts, and footage from nearby cameras fill in the rest. Because operators control much of this evidence and footage is overwritten within days, sending preservation demands early is one of the most important steps a bus crash lawyer takes.
What is a bus crash claim worth?
There is no fixed figure. What a claim may support depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs and future treatment, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, and the pain and disruption the crash caused, along with the coverage available and any damages limits that apply to a public-entity claim. We do not promise a number; we build the claim so its full value, including future losses, is documented and pursued.
Do I have to pay anything upfront?
No. Larson Law handles bus crash claims on a contingency basis, so there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we win. The first review is free, and you can ask every question before deciding anything. These cases can involve public entities, strict deadlines, and significant investigation, and we advance those costs so you can pursue a full recovery while you focus on healing.
Does Larson Law handle bus crash cases statewide?
Yes. Larson Law handles MBTA, regional transit, school bus, and motorcoach crash claims across all of Massachusetts, in every county. Wherever the crash happened, reach out by phone, text, or the form on this page at no cost, and we will identify the responsible operator, explain the deadline that applies, and tell you what your claim may support.
Where is a Massachusetts bus crash case handled?
A bus crash claim is filed in the county where the crash occurred, in the District Court or county Superior Court depending on its size, confirmed from mass.gov, after any required presentment is made to a public operator. Because these cases often involve serious injuries and public entities, they can be complex. When a bus crash is fatal, the wrongful death claim under MGL Ch. 229 proceeds through that county’s courts.
Results Disclaimer: Past case results, settlements, and verdicts mentioned on this website do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is unique and depends on its own facts and legal issues.