Phoenix Bus Accident Attorney
Phoenix, AZ Bus Accident Attorney: Guidance After a Bus Crash
If you were hurt on or by a bus in Phoenix, a bus accident attorney in Phoenix can explain who may be responsible, and why the deadline can be as short as 180 days when a public agency runs the bus. Valley Accident Law serves Phoenix from our Scottsdale office and can begin by phone. Most other Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years, so the earlier you call, the better.
- Public entity notice of claim
- 180 days after the claim accrues, with facts and a specific sum certain
- A.R.S. 12-821.01
- Public entity lawsuit
- 1 year after accrual
- A.R.S. 12-821
- Private bus companies
- 2 years from the injury, for most claims
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- Fault rule
- Pure comparative fault, no percentage bar
- A.R.S. 12-2505
Bus Accident Attorney in Phoenix: The Clock Starts Sooner Than You Think
Most Arizona injury claims have a two-year deadline. When a public entity operates the bus, a written notice of claim is due within 180 days of the day the claim accrues. It must state the facts and a specific sum certain, and if the entity does not respond within 60 days, the claim is deemed denied (A.R.S. 12-821.01). A lawsuit generally must follow within one year after accrual (A.R.S. 12-821). 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 steps.
Valley Metro, the City and Other Bus Operators in Phoenix
Phoenix is the largest member of Valley Metro, the regional transit authority that oversees light rail and coordinated bus service across 18 member municipalities. The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department runs Dial-A-Ride service for seniors and people with disabilities, and DASH, a free weekday shuttle in the downtown area. School districts, charter companies, tour operators and private shuttles run other buses. Which one hit you decides who gets the notice, which insurer answers, and how many days you have.
A Phoenix bus accident lawyer starts by identifying that operator and the right person to receive a notice of claim. If the City of Phoenix is involved, claims go on the City's claim form to the City Clerk Department, 200 W. Washington St., 15th Floor. For other agencies, we find the right address for you.
This page is about Phoenix. For the statewide guide, see our page for an Arizona bus accident lawyer. For our work across the city, visit our page for a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix.
How People Are Hurt by Buses and Light Rail in Phoenix
A bus crash claim looks different depending on where you were. A bus injury lawyer in Phoenix asks first whether you were a rider, a driver or someone outside the vehicle.
- A passenger thrown by sudden braking or a hard turn
Standing riders and people in the aisle have little to hold. Camera footage from inside the bus may show what happened, and operators often keep it for a limited time.
- A crash with another vehicle
A bus can be hit by a car, or can hit one. Both drivers' insurers, and the operator, may be involved.
- A pedestrian or cyclist struck near a stop
Bus stops draw people across streets and into bike lanes. See our pages on pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents in Phoenix.
- A light rail accident in Phoenix
Light rail runs along Central Avenue and crosses Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln streets. Cars turning across the tracks, people on foot and bicycles share the space. The A Line and B Line serve Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, and the South Central extension opened June 7, 2025.
- A fall getting on or off
Steps, ramps, lifts and wet floors can all play a part. Dial-A-Ride riders may also depend on a lift.
Arizona
Phoenix Transit Corridors, Hospitals and Records
A bus claim depends on where the bus was and who holds the records. These are the places that usually matter in Phoenix.
Downtown Phoenix Hub and the Central Avenue light rail corridor
A transfer point where buses and trains meet, with heavy foot traffic and turning vehicles around it.
The DASH route in the downtown area
A free weekday circulator that has run since 1991 from the Arizona Capitol to Fourth Avenue and Washington Street.
35th Avenue
Listed by the Public Transit Department as a priority Bus Rapid Transit corridor.
Indian School Road, Thomas Road and McDowell Road
In the city's 2020 to 2024 High Injury Network these appear in 7, 6 and 5 flagged street segments, for crashes that killed or seriously injured people on any kind of vehicle or on foot.
Valleywise Health and Banner University Medical Center Phoenix
Level I trauma centers at 2601 E. Roosevelt and 1111 E. McDowell Rd.
Phoenix Police Public Records, 100 W. Washington St.
Where crash reports are requested through the city's online portal under the Traffic Crash category.
The Government Claim Timeline After a Phoenix Bus Crash
This is the usual order of events when a public agency runs the bus. The dates are counted from the day the claim accrues, which is usually the day of the crash.
Right away
Get care and identify the bus
Note the route, the bus number, the operator's name on the side and the time. Take a photo if you can do so safely.
Within 180 days
Serve the notice of claim
The notice must state the facts and a specific sum certain. Choosing that number is a judgment about the full value of the claim, which is one reason not to file it alone (A.R.S. 12-821.01).
60 days after the notice
Deemed denied if there is no response
If the entity does not respond, the claim is treated as denied (A.R.S. 12-821.01).
Within one year after the claim accrues
A lawsuit is filed if needed
A lawsuit generally must follow within one year after accrual (A.R.S. 12-821). Cases are filed in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Arizona
Public Transit Bus or Private Bus: Different Rules, Different Deadlines
Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and the kind of operator changes who is at the table.
A public agency's bus
- Written notice of claim within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01).
- A lawsuit generally within one year after accrual (A.R.S. 12-821).
- A child's deadlines are paused until age 18, but the parents' own claim for medical bills they paid is not, and their notice is due within 180 days of the injury.
- Records may be requested from the agency, but they can be slow.
A private charter, tour or shuttle bus
- Generally two years from the injury (A.R.S. 12-542).
- A bus crash lawyer in Phoenix will look at the company's insurance, driver records and maintenance.
- Federal hours-of-service and record rules can apply to some commercial drivers, and a preservation letter should go out early.
- Fault is still argued, and a share placed on you reduces your recovery (A.R.S. 12-2505).
Evidence to Ask Us to Protect After a Bus Crash
Much of it is held by the operator and can be overwritten or discarded on a schedule.
- Video from inside and outside the bus, and from nearby businesses.
- The bus number, route, driver schedule and dispatch records.
- Maintenance and inspection records for the bus.
- The crash report. Our guide on how to get a police report explains the process.
- Names and contact details for other riders, who may be the best witnesses.
- Your own medical records and bills.
Related pages
Questions
Questions about Phoenix bus accident cases
How long do I have to file a claim after a Phoenix bus accident?
If a public entity ran the bus, written notice is due within 180 days, and a lawsuit generally within one year after accrual. For a private bus company, two years for most claims. These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you.
Who receives a notice of claim against the City of Phoenix?
The City Clerk Department, at 200 W. Washington St., 15th Floor, Phoenix. The City's own page says claims go on the City of Phoenix Claim Form. If another agency ran the bus, the notice goes to that agency, and we will help you find who to send it to.
Does Valley Metro or the City of Phoenix run the bus I was on?
It can be hard to tell from the outside. Valley Metro oversees coordinated bus service, and the City runs some services itself, like Dial-A-Ride. The route number, the vehicle number and the operator name on the bus usually answer it.
I was hurt in a light rail accident in Phoenix. Is it the same process?
It may be, if the operator is a public entity. The crash report, video from the train and the intersection, and the signal timing all matter. Call us early and we will help you work out who must receive the notice.
Where would the lawsuit be filed?
In Maricopa County Superior Court, which lists Civil at the East Court Building, 101 W. Jefferson St., in downtown Phoenix. Many claims resolve before anyone files.
How much does a bus accident attorney in Phoenix cost?
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Our office is at 5635 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, about 13 miles from downtown Phoenix, and Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. We can start by phone.
Free case review
Talk to Us About a Bus Accident in Phoenix
Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and the deadlines that apply to you. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights. Contact Valley Accident Law.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
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