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Buses carry commuters, students, tourists, and seniors across Florida every day, and when a bus crashes, the injuries often reach far beyond one vehicle. Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers represents passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and families hurt in bus accidents throughout the state. Our first conversation about your case is free and can happen at any hour, and as Florida bus accident attorneys, we collect no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Bus cases often involve a government agency or a large transportation company, each with its own rules and deadlines. Call 561-800-8000 so those rules work for you instead of against you.
What Types of Bus Accidents Do We Handle in Florida?
We handle claims involving every major type of bus on Florida roads, and the type of bus decides who is responsible and which rules apply. The table below shows how the most common bus claims differ.
| Type of bus | Who usually operates it | What shapes the claim |
|---|---|---|
| City and county transit buses | A county or regional transit agency | Government notice rules and damage caps under sovereign immunity law |
| School buses | A school district or a private contractor | District claims follow government notice rules; contractor claims follow ordinary negligence rules |
| Charter, tour, and intercity coaches | A private passenger carrier | Interstate carriers must carry high federal insurance minimums |
| Hotel, airport, and private shuttles | A hotel, parking company, or other business | The business's commercial auto policy and its driver hiring and training |
| Paratransit and senior community vans | A transit agency, a contractor, or a private facility | Extra duties when helping passengers board, ride, and exit safely |
Federal rules require interstate passenger carriers with 16 or more seats, counting the driver, to carry at least $5 million in liability coverage under 49 CFR 387.33. Public transit buses, by contrast, are usually covered by sovereign immunity limits that cap what a government agency pays.
Who Can Bring a Bus Accident Claim in Florida?
Anyone hurt because a bus driver, bus company, or transit agency was careless may have a claim in Florida. The person's role in the crash affects which insurance applies first.
Passengers
Passengers can be hurt in collisions and also in crashes that never involve another vehicle, such as sudden stops, sharp turns, or a bus pulling away before a rider is seated. They rarely share any fault, which can make their claims more direct.
Drivers and Occupants of Other Vehicles
A bus that runs a light, changes lanes into a car, or stops without warning can injure the people in other vehicles. These claims usually involve the bus operator's insurance or a government claim against the transit agency.
Pedestrians and Cyclists Near Stops
Bus stops bring people close to moving traffic. A bus that pulls into a stop too fast, mounts a curb, or turns across a crosswalk can injure people waiting or walking nearby.
Families After a Fatal Crash
When a bus crash takes a life, the personal representative of the estate brings a wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving family. These claims generally must be filed within two years of the death, and a claim against a government agency also requires written notice before suit is filed.
How Does PIP Work When You Are Hurt on a Bus?
Personal injury protection (PIP) after a bus accident usually comes from your own car insurance or the policy of a relative you live with, not from the bus. Florida's PIP law treats public transit buses differently from cars, which surprises many passengers.
The Public Transit Exception
Under section 627.732, the definition of a motor vehicle for PIP purposes excludes large mass-transit vehicles owned by a city, transit authority, or other government body, other than public school transportation. A transit passenger who has no PIP of their own generally cannot collect PIP from the bus.
School Buses Are Treated Differently
Public school buses are not part of that exception, so a student or other person hurt on a school bus may be able to look to the bus's coverage for PIP in some situations. The district's insurance and sovereign immunity rules still shape any claim beyond PIP.
When PIP Is Not Enough
PIP pays only part of medical bills and lost income, up to $10,000. A claim against the at-fault driver, bus company, or agency may cover the rest of those losses, along with pain and suffering when the injury is permanent.
Government Bus Claims: Notice Rules and Caps
Claims against a public transit agency or school district follow Florida's sovereign immunity law, which changes both the process and the amount available. Missing a step can end an otherwise strong claim.
Written Notice
Before filing suit, an injured person must present the claim in writing to the agency within three years. Claims against state agencies and many other public bodies must also go to the Florida Department of Financial Services, while claims against a city or county need notice only to that city or county.
Damage Caps
Government agencies generally pay no more than $200,000 per person and $300,000 for all claims from the same incident. A judgment above those amounts can be paid only through a separate act of the Florida Legislature, known as a claims bill.
Other Responsible Parties
A private driver who caused the crash, or a private contractor operating the bus, is not protected by these caps. Identifying every responsible party early can open coverage beyond the government limits.
What Evidence Proves a Bus Accident Claim?
Bus accident claims often turn on records that the bus operator controls. Requesting them quickly matters, because some are kept only for a limited time.
Evidence we pursue includes:
- Video from cameras inside and outside the bus
- GPS and vehicle data showing speed, braking, and route
- Maintenance and inspection records for brakes, tires, and doors
- The driver's training, licensing, and work-hour records
- Dispatch logs and radio or 911 recordings
- Statements from passengers and nearby witnesses
Once this evidence is secured, the questions about speed, timing, and responsibility become much easier to answer.
Bus Accident Lawyers in Florida Communities We Serve
Bus claims are local. The transit agency, the roads, and the county court all depend on where the crash happened. Our four offices, from Palm Bay down to Pompano Beach, put our team close to clients across South Florida and the Treasure Coast, and we work by phone or video with clients farther away.
| Region | Cities |
|---|---|
| Our office communities | Boynton Beach, Pompano Beach, Port St. Lucie |
| Palm Beach County | West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Jupiter |
| Broward County | Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Davie, Miramar |
| Miami-Dade County | Miami, Coral Gables, Hialeah |
| Treasure Coast | Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach |
| Central and North Florida | Daytona Beach, Gainesville |
Fault and Filing Deadlines for Florida Bus Claims
Florida reduces your recovery by your share of fault and bars recovery if you are more than 50% at fault under section 768.81(6). Passengers rarely share fault, but drivers and pedestrians often face arguments about speed, signals, and where they were standing.
A Bus Stop Example
Suppose a bus pulls away from a stop and sideswipes a car, and a jury values the driver's damages at $200,000. If the jury finds the driver 15% at fault for passing the bus too closely, the driver recovers $170,000.
The Two-Year Limit
Most negligence claims arising after March 24, 2023, must be filed within two years under section 95.11(5)(a). Government claims add the written notice step described above, so the practical deadline often arrives sooner than people expect.
Past Results for Our Clients
Our firm has recovered compensation for clients and families across Florida. Published results include:
- $1,550,000 in a wrongful death case
- $300,000 for cervical and lumbar injuries
- $250,000 for a cervical injury and a lumbar injury
- $105,500 for cervical and lumbar injuries
These results show the range of injuries we handle, and every outcome depends on its own facts, proof, and available coverage.
Why Bus Accident Victims Choose Frankl Kominsky
Bus accident victims choose Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers because we know how to handle claims against transit agencies, school districts, and private bus companies. With offices in Boynton Beach, Pompano Beach, Port St. Lucie, and Palm Bay, we meet clients in person across South Florida and the Treasure Coast and by phone or video everywhere else.
Clients count on:
- A lawyer who personally leads the case and stays in touch
- Over $250 million recovered for injured clients
- 60+ years of combined injury law experience
- Over 2,000 verified client reviews and a BBB A+ rating
- Staff fluent in Spanish and Creole
Government notice deadlines leave little room for delay. Call 561-800-8000 so we can start the notice process while the evidence is still available.
FAQs: Florida Bus Accidents
Can I bring a claim if I fell when the bus pulled away from a stop?
Yes, a passenger who falls because a bus started moving too abruptly may have a claim in Florida, even without a collision. Bus operators are expected to use reasonable care when starting and stopping, which often means giving passengers a chance to sit or hold on first.
How do I get the video from a public bus?
Video from a public bus can often be requested from the transit agency through Florida's public records law or through a formal preservation letter. Agencies may record over footage after a set period, so the request should go out as soon as possible.
Can I file a claim after returning home from a Florida vacation?
Yes, a visitor hurt on a Florida tour bus, shuttle, or transit bus can pursue a claim after going home. The claim generally follows Florida law, and much of the work can be handled by phone, email, and video.
What happens when a bus crash injures many passengers?
When a bus crash injures many people, everyone's claims may compete for the same insurance policy or the same government cap. Acting early helps make sure your injuries are documented, and your claim is presented before the available money is divided.
What if I was hurt while using a bus wheelchair lift or ramp?
A rider hurt by a malfunctioning wheelchair lift or ramp may have a claim against the bus operator. Operators are expected to keep lift equipment working and to train drivers to help passengers board and exit safely, and maintenance records often show whether problems were known.
Getting Back to Your Routine
A bus crash can disrupt the trip to work or school that you count on every day, and it can leave you depending on others while you heal. Getting your claim moving early keeps your options open.
Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers handles bus accident claims across Florida with attention to every deadline and every responsible party. Call 561-800-8000 for a free consultation with a Florida bus accident attorney, available 24/7.
