Mesa Bus Accident Lawyer
Bus Accident Lawyer in Mesa: Where to Start After a Bus Crash
A bus accident lawyer in Mesa can work out who operated the bus, who owns it and which deadline applies, because a crash involving a public transit bus often has a notice of claim due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01). Most other Arizona injury claims have a two-year deadline (A.R.S. 12-542(1)). Valley Accident Law is in Scottsdale, about 12.6 miles by road from downtown Mesa, and we start by phone, so a Mesa bus accident attorney can hear what happened and explain your options.
- Notice of claim, public entity
- Within 180 days, with a specific sum certain
- A.R.S. 12-821.01
- Lawsuit, public entity
- 1 year after accrual
- A.R.S. 12-821
- Private bus claims
- Generally 2 years from the injury
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
Bus Accident Lawyer in Mesa: Why the Deadline Can Be 180 Days
If a public agency runs or owns the bus, Arizona generally requires a written notice of claim within 180 days after the claim accrues. It must state the facts and a specific sum certain, and the claim is deemed denied if the agency does not answer within 60 days. A lawsuit against a public entity generally must be filed within one year after accrual (A.R.S. 12-821). A person hurt on a bus often cannot know the full cost of the injury in 180 days, which is why we ask you to call as soon as you can. These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you. Our guide to the Arizona notice of claim walks through the paperwork.
Public Transportation Accident Lawyer in Mesa: Buses, Circulators and Paratransit
Mesa provides public transit through an agreement with Valley Metro, which covers local bus routes, express and rapid buses and light rail. The city also runs its own circulators, the Mesa Downtown Buzz and the Mesa Fiesta Buzz, and offers paratransit services, including ADA paratransit, East Valley Paratransit, the East Valley RideChoice Program and the ADA Platinum Pass Program. Mesa Transit Services is at City Hall, 20 E. Main Street. That is a lot of vehicles, and in a bus crash the first question is always which one it was.
Buses are not all the same in the eyes of the law. A Valley Metro route, a city circulator, a school bus, a charter or tour coach, a hotel shuttle and an airport shuttle can each have a different owner, operator, insurer and deadline. School buses are a Mesa fact of life too: Mesa Public Schools is the largest district in Arizona, with about 57,000 students in 2023-24, and parts of the city fall within Gilbert, Higley and Queen Creek school districts. A crash involving a school bus may call for both a district and a contractor to be looked at.
Our page for a personal injury lawyer in Mesa covers the other case types we take from the city, and the statewide guide from our Arizona bus accident lawyer page explains how bus claims work across the state.
Arizona
Main Street, the Light Rail Line and Where Bus Claims Come From in Mesa
Light rail is part of the picture in Mesa, and a light rail accident in Mesa can look a lot like a bus crash on paper. These are the places that come up.
Main Street and the A Line
The Central Mesa Extension opened August 22, 2015, adding 3.1 miles and four stations in the Main Street median: Alma School Road, Country Club Drive, Center Street and Mesa Drive.
Stapley and Gilbert Road stations
The Stapley/Main and Gilbert Road/Main stations opened May 18, 2019. Gilbert Road is the eastern end of the line.
Sycamore/Main park-and-ride
A station and park-and-ride with 802 spaces, where riders, drivers and pedestrians cross paths.
Main Street and Mesa Drive park-and-ride
A 500-space park-and-ride at the northeast corner of the intersection.
Mesa Transit Services, 20 E. Main Street
City Hall office for Mesa's transit programs, open Monday to Thursday. Ask about complaint and incident procedures, but speak with us before you sign anything.
Mesa Police Department
Writes reports for crashes on city streets. Reports can be bought online through BuyCrash for $5.00 with the department report number.
Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Baywood Medical Center
Mesa hospitals with emergency departments. Banner Desert is a state-designated Level I trauma center.
Public Transit, School Bus or Private Coach: What Changes
The type of bus changes the deadline and the person you claim against. This is the first thing we sort out.
Public transit and city-run buses
- A notice of claim within 180 days if a public entity is involved (A.R.S. 12-821.01).
- A lawsuit generally within one year after accrual (A.R.S. 12-821).
- Maintenance records, route and schedule data and video are in the hands of the agency or a contractor.
- A child's deadlines are paused until 18, but a parent's claim for medical bills is not (A.R.S. 12-821.01(D); 12-502).
Charter, tour, hotel or other private coach
- Generally two years to file (A.R.S. 12-542(1)).
- A company and its insurer will defend the claim.
- Driver qualifications and company safety practices are central.
- Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and the company's insurer will look at it first.
Evidence That Can Disappear After a Bus Crash
Buses carry cameras and records, and some of those records are not kept for long.
- Onboard video
Many buses have interior and exterior cameras. A written request to keep the video should go out quickly.
- Driver records
The driver's schedule, hours, training and any earlier incidents.
- Maintenance and inspection history
Brakes, tires, doors and lifts, including repairs done after the crash.
- Dispatch and route data
Where the bus was, how fast, and when it was told to be there.
- The passenger list
Other riders are witnesses. Their names can be lost within minutes of the crash.
- The other vehicle
If a car and a bus collided, the other driver's insurance and the road conditions matter.
Step by step
What to Do After a Bus Crash in Mesa
If you were hurt, medical care comes first. After that, these steps help.
- 1
Get checked by a doctor.
A bus crash can leave you with no or seemingly minor symptoms at first. A medical record from the day of the crash helps later.
- 2
Write down what you can remember.
Route, bus number, time, stop, the driver and the people around you.
- 3
Ask for the incident report number.
If Mesa police responded, get the report number before you leave. If you believe you were not at fault, make sure you explain this to the officer.
- 4
Do not sign a release or agree to a recorded statement.
An agency's or insurer's first call is not a neutral one.
- 5
Call us before the 180 days pass.
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
What to Have Ready for a Bus Claim Call
Bring what you have. We will help find the rest.
- The bus route, number or company name, and where and when the crash happened.
- A photo of your ticket, pass or phone app record.
- Names and contact details of witnesses.
- Any police report number and the officer's name.
- Your medical records and bills.
- Every letter or call you have received from an agency or insurer.
Related pages
Questions
Questions about Mesa bus accident cases
Can I sue the city or transit agency after a Mesa bus accident?
Often yes, but a written notice of claim with the facts and a specific sum certain generally must be served within 180 days, and a lawsuit generally must follow within one year (A.R.S. 12-821.01 and 12-821). Call early so we can explain how these rules apply to your case.
I was a passenger on a Valley Metro bus. Do I have a claim even if the driver was not at fault?
Possibly. Another driver, a road hazard or a mechanical failure can cause a bus crash. We look at every party. Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and your share can reduce but does not bar a recovery (A.R.S. 12-2505).
What if the crash involved a Mesa light rail train?
A light rail accident in Mesa raises the same first question: who operated the train and who had the duty to keep the crossing safe. Public entity rules may apply. Take photos if safely possible, and call us early.
Where do I get a police report for a bus crash in Mesa?
If Mesa police wrote it, buy it online through the BuyCrash portal for $5.00, with the department report number, date and a credit card. Reports are available from February 24, 2009 forward, and fatal crash reports must be requested from the department.
My child was hurt on a school bus in Mesa. What deadlines apply?
A child's own claim against a public entity is paused until age 18, with 180 days after the 18th birthday for the notice and one year after to file. A parent's claim for medical bills is not paused: it needs a notice within 180 days of the injury (A.R.S. 12-821.01(D); 12-502). Please call us promptly.
Where would a bus crash lawsuit be heard?
Usually Maricopa County Superior Court. The county's Southeast Regional Court Center at 222 E. Javelina Ave is in Mesa, and a civil case can be filed at any Superior Court location in the county.
Does a bus accident attorney in Mesa cost anything to talk with?
The case review with a bus crash lawyer in Mesa at our firm is free. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Free case review
Hurt in a Bus Crash in Mesa? Call Us
If you were hurt on a bus or light rail in Mesa, or struck by one, request a free case review at Contact or call (602) 584-8054. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and which deadline may apply. Start with our guide to the Arizona statute of limitations if you want to read first.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
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