New York City MTA Bus Accident Lawyer

MTA buses carry millions of passengers across New York City every day, and when something goes wrong, the results can be devastating. A bus weighing several tons, even at low speed, transfers enormous force on impact. Passengers thrown from seats, pedestrians struck at crosswalks, cyclists knocked down by side mirrors, drivers hit at intersections, all of these injuries carry real medical weight and real financial consequences. What makes these cases legally distinct is not the severity of the injuries, though that matters, but who you are actually suing. Filing a claim against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is not the same as filing a claim against another driver. At Cohan Law Firm, we represent New York City MTA bus accident victims across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens, and we understand what these claims actually require to move forward.

Why Claims Against the MTA Follow Different Rules Than Other Accident Cases

The MTA is a public authority, and under New York law, claims against government entities come with procedural requirements that private accident claims do not. The most significant is the Notice of Claim requirement. Before you can pursue a lawsuit against the MTA, you must file a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident. Missing this window does not just complicate your case, it typically ends it.

After the Notice of Claim is filed, the MTA has the right to conduct an examination before trial, sometimes called a 50-h hearing, before any lawsuit can be filed. During this examination, you will be questioned under oath about the accident, your injuries, and your medical treatment. This is not a casual conversation. The MTA’s legal team is experienced and well-resourced, and they handle bus accident claims routinely. Claimants who enter that process without counsel frequently say things that limit their eventual recovery.

There is also a statute of limitations specific to MTA claims that differs from the general three-year window for personal injury cases in New York. These layered deadlines, the 90-day notice, the 50-h hearing, the reduced filing period, mean that the timeline in an MTA bus case begins moving the day of the accident. Waiting to see how your injuries develop before consulting an attorney is a risk that can cost you the claim entirely.

How MTA Bus Accidents Actually Happen in NYC

Bus accidents in New York City are not random events. They follow recognizable patterns tied to specific conditions, routes, and driver behaviors. Understanding those patterns matters because liability in a bus accident claim is rarely self-evident, and proving it requires evidence specific to how this type of accident occurs.

Passenger injuries that do not involve a collision are among the most common MTA bus claims. When a driver accelerates suddenly, brakes hard, or takes a sharp turn, standing or unseated passengers can fall and sustain serious injuries. These incidents often do not generate police reports, and there may be no other vehicle involved. Establishing liability depends on bus camera footage, witness accounts from other passengers, and records of prior complaints about a specific driver or route.

Pedestrian and cyclist accidents involving MTA buses happen most often during right turns and at bus stops. Buses have significant blind spots, and the rear wheels cut differently than the front, a factor in many cyclist fatalities. Pedestrians at bus stops sometimes step from between parked buses directly into oncoming traffic, creating complex liability questions about whether the MTA’s stop placement contributed to the hazard.

Intersection collisions, particularly where buses run signals or fail to yield, generate some of the most serious injury claims because of the vehicle weights involved. Door-related injuries, where passengers are struck by closing doors or partially expelled from an opening door while the bus is moving, are less common but well-documented in MTA records.

In each of these scenarios, preserving the right evidence quickly is critical. Bus cameras record continuously but footage is not kept indefinitely. The MTA investigates these incidents immediately and retains its own records for its own purposes. An attorney who moves quickly to send a preservation demand can often secure video that would otherwise be gone within days.

Injuries and Damages in MTA Bus Accident Claims

Bus accident injuries span a wide range. Passengers who fall inside the bus commonly sustain fractures, particularly to the wrist, hip, and shoulder from bracing or falling. Neck and back injuries are frequent, from both direct impact and the sudden force of a stop. Head injuries occur when passengers strike interior fixtures. Pedestrians and cyclists struck by buses face significantly more severe trauma: pelvic fractures, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and in the most serious cases, amputations or fatalities.

Compensation in a successful MTA bus accident claim can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages if the injury has affected your ability to work, and pain and suffering damages that account for the physical and personal toll of the injury. Where the injury is permanent or requires long-term care, the economic damages alone can be substantial. New York’s no-fault insurance system applies to some bus accident claims, but serious injury thresholds and specific circumstances will determine what falls outside that system and into tort recovery.

One factor that experienced counsel evaluates early is whether the MTA was the sole responsible party or whether other negligent actors contributed. A bus accident caused partly by a defective road surface, a negligent driver who cut off the bus, or a maintenance contractor may involve multiple defendants and multiple insurance carriers. Identifying all of them accurately affects how a claim is structured and how damages are ultimately allocated.

Questions Riders and Injured Parties Ask About MTA Bus Accident Claims

I was a passenger on an MTA bus when the driver braked suddenly and I fell. Do I have a claim even though no other vehicle was involved?

Yes. Passengers on common carriers like MTA buses are owed a heightened duty of care. A sudden stop that causes a fall can support a negligence claim without any other vehicle being involved. Bus camera footage and passenger witnesses are often central evidence in these cases.

How long do I have to file a claim against the MTA?

You must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident. The actual lawsuit must generally be filed within one year and 90 days of the incident. These deadlines are strictly enforced, and exceptions are rarely granted.

The MTA offered me a settlement shortly after the accident. Should I accept it?

Early settlement offers from government entities, including the MTA, typically reflect what the authority believes it can resolve the claim for before the claimant fully understands the value of their injuries. If your injuries are still being treated or the long-term effects are not yet clear, accepting an early offer can leave significant compensation on the table. A review of any offer with counsel before accepting costs nothing and can change the outcome substantially.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

New York follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility, but not eliminated entirely. A pedestrian who crossed against the light but was struck by an MTA bus that failed to yield may still recover a portion of their damages. The allocation of fault is contested, not assumed, and presenting your case effectively matters.

Does no-fault insurance apply to MTA bus accidents?

It depends on your situation. Passengers injured on an MTA bus may be entitled to no-fault benefits from the MTA’s own coverage for immediate medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of fault. Injuries that meet the serious injury threshold under New York law may support additional claims beyond the no-fault system. The interaction between no-fault coverage and tort claims in MTA cases requires careful attention to avoid inadvertent waivers or missed claims.

What evidence should I try to gather at the scene?

If you are physically able, photograph the scene, the bus number and route, any visible injuries, the location, and any relevant road conditions. Get the names and contact information of other passengers or bystanders who saw what happened. Report the incident to the bus driver and MTA staff before leaving. Seek medical attention promptly, both for your health and because documentation of your injuries close in time to the accident is important to your claim.

Can I sue if a family member was killed in an MTA bus accident?

Yes. New York’s wrongful death statute allows the estate of a deceased person to pursue a claim for damages arising from negligence. These claims include lost earnings, the value of support and services the deceased provided to surviving family members, and certain other losses. The same procedural requirements, including the Notice of Claim, apply to wrongful death claims against the MTA.

Cohan Law Firm Represents Bus Accident Victims Across New York City

Cohan Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for accident victims across New York City, handling claims in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and beyond. Our work on MTA bus accident cases reflects the firm’s broader approach: we investigate early, we move quickly on deadlines, and we evaluate every available avenue for recovery before the claim is filed. There are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. If you were injured in an MTA bus accident in New York City, contact Cohan Law Firm for a free consultation with a New York City bus accident attorney who will evaluate your claim, explain your options, and let you focus on recovering while we handle the legal side.