Bus accidents are not like ordinary car crashes. The vehicles are larger, the forces involved are more severe, and the legal questions — who is responsible, which deadlines apply, and which agency or company you are filing against — can be far more complex than in a standard personal injury claim. When a bus crash causes serious injuries, having an experienced bus accident attorney in your corner from the start can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
At the Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello, we represent bus accident victims throughout Delaware County, Philadelphia, and the surrounding region. Whether you were a passenger on a SEPTA bus, a student on a school bus, or a driver whose vehicle was struck by a transit bus, you have legal rights — and the at-fault party should be held accountable.
We offer a free consultation, and our law firm handles bus accident claims on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Attorney Deborah M. Truscello has served the Delaware County community for decades and has received positive feedback from clients who appreciate her straightforward guidance and commitment to their cases.
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Reading client experiences can help individuals better understand what to expect when working with a personal injury attorney in Media, PA.
Delaware County is served by an extensive network of public transit and private transportation. SEPTA buses run through communities across the county, and SEPTA’s Route 101 trolley connects Media — the county seat — to the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby. Routes 110 and 118 serve Media Borough directly. School districts throughout Delaware County operate school bus fleets transporting tens of thousands of students daily. Tour buses and charter coaches travel I-95, Route 1, and Baltimore Pike regularly.
Each type of bus presents its own liability framework:
SEPTA buses — Claims against SEPTA involve special procedural requirements under Pennsylvania’s Sovereign Immunity Act that do not apply to private vehicle accidents.
School buses — Claims may involve school districts, private bus contractors, and, in some cases, other drivers whose vehicles caused or contributed to the crash.
Private charter and tour buses — Claims fall under commercial motor carrier regulations and may involve the bus company, the bus driver, maintenance contractors, or vehicle manufacturers.
Private transit and shuttle buses — Claims involving private operators follow standard negligence rules but may involve multiple parties depending on the circumstances.
Understanding which rules govern your specific bus accident case is one of the most important reasons to consult with an experienced bus accident attorney before taking any steps with an insurance company or transit authority.
Bus accidents result from a wide range of conditions — both human and mechanical. Among the most common causes:
Driver error and negligence:
Distracted driving — including mobile phone use, interacting with passengers, or attending to the bus’s dispatch system
Drowsy driving — studies show that severe driver fatigue impairs judgment and reaction time comparably to a blood alcohol level of 0.08
Reckless driving or speeding
Failure to yield or check blind spots
Impaired driving (drug or alcohol use)
Overcrowding that causes the bus driver to lose focus or control
Mechanical and maintenance failures:
Brake failure or deterioration from poor maintenance
Tire blowouts
Steering system defects
Mechanical failure resulting from a bus company’s failure to maintain vehicles to the required safety standards
External conditions:
Dangerous road conditions — potholes, uneven pavement, poorly marked construction zones
Inclement weather
Defective auto parts on other vehicles involved in the collision
When a bus crash results from the bus driver’s negligence, the bus company or transit authority is typically liable — because employers are generally responsible for the negligent acts of their employees performed within the scope of their duties. Bus companies have a legal obligation to screen drivers, train them properly, and maintain their vehicles. When those obligations are not met, injured victims have the right to seek compensation.
Because large buses carry many passengers — often without individual seat belts — bus crashes frequently cause serious and catastrophic injuries. Buses are also prone to rolling over in certain crash types, which dramatically increases the severity of injuries sustained.
Bus accident injuries commonly include:
Traumatic brain injuries and concussions from impacts with seats, windows, or the ground following a rollover
Spinal cord injuries, which may cause permanent paralysis
Broken bones — particularly in the arms, legs, and ribs
Lacerations and soft tissue injuries from being thrown forward or ejected
Neck and back injuries, including whiplash and herniated discs
Emotional trauma and psychological injury, especially for children involved in school bus accidents
One critical point: injuries sustained in a bus crash do not always feel serious in the immediate aftermath. The shock and adrenaline of the incident can mask pain, and certain injuries — particularly those involving the head, neck, and back — may not cause significant symptoms until hours or days later. Seek medical attention promptly after any bus accident, even if you feel okay at the scene.
We have a contingency fee agreement with all of our Personal Injury clients. Our fee is based on a percentage of what we obtain for you, and we will not charge you any fee unless and until we settle your case, prevent the loss of your benefits or obtain benefits for you.
Determining liability after a bus crash is one of the most complex aspects of these cases, because multiple parties may share responsibility:
The bus driver — for negligent operation of the vehicle
The bus company or transit authority — for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or failure to maintain vehicles
Other drivers — whose negligence may have caused or contributed to the crash
Vehicle or parts manufacturers — when mechanical failure caused by a defect contributed to the accident
Government entities — when dangerous road conditions or traffic control failures played a role
Pennsylvania uses a modified comparative negligence rule: bus accident victims can still recover compensation as long as they were less than 51% responsible for the accident. Their recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault — but if another party bears the majority of responsibility, full compensation remains available.
SEPTA — the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority — is a government entity, which means claims against SEPTA are governed by Pennsylvania’s Sovereign Immunity Act (42 Pa. C.S. § 8521). This creates procedural requirements that differ significantly from those for claims against private parties, and failing to meet them can permanently eliminate your right to pursue compensation.
If you intend to file a claim against SEPTA, you must provide SEPTA with formal written notice of your claim within six months of the accident. This is far shorter than the two-year statute of limitations that applies to most personal injury claims in Pennsylvania. The notice must include specific information about the date, location, and nature of the accident, as well as your injuries.
This deadline is strict. Missing it can bar your claim entirely, regardless of how serious your injuries are. If you were injured on or by a SEPTA bus, contacting a bus accident attorney as soon as possible is essential.
Under the Pennsylvania Sovereign Immunity Act, compensation for injuries in a SEPTA claim is capped at $250,000 per person and $1 million for multiple claimants arising from the same incident. This is a hard limit regardless of the severity of the injuries. These caps make it critical to document and present the full scope of your losses — including future medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering — to recover the maximum available compensation.
SEPTA bus drivers are held to a higher standard of care than ordinary drivers because they are common carriers — meaning they operate transportation for the public and bear heightened responsibility for the safety of bus passengers. When a SEPTA bus driver’s failure to meet that standard causes an injury, the injured victim may have a valid claim despite SEPTA’s sovereign immunity protections.
If you were injured on a SEPTA bus and have personal auto insurance (or live with a household member who does), your no-fault PIP benefits may cover initial medical treatment costs while your claim is being resolved. If you do not have auto insurance, SEPTA may provide up to $5,000 in medical benefits for treatment.
School buses are statistically among the safest ways to transport children — but accidents do occur, and the consequences for children, parents, and other drivers can be serious. From 2015 to 2024, there were 962 fatal school-bus-related crashes nationwide, resulting in 1,069 deaths — an average of 107 per year.
When a school bus accident occurs, liability may involve the school district, a private bus contractor operating on the district’s behalf, or the driver of another vehicle involved in the crash. Claims against public school districts in Pennsylvania may also involve governmental immunity considerations and specific notice requirements.
If your child was injured on a school bus or if a school bus struck your vehicle, speaking with an experienced bus accident attorney promptly protects your right to full compensation.
The steps you take at and after the accident scene significantly affect your ability to recover compensation.
Call 911 and report the accident. Law enforcement will document the scene and create an accident report that becomes an important piece of evidence.
Seek medical attention immediately — even if you do not have visible injuries. Some injuries, particularly head, neck, and back injuries, do not produce obvious symptoms right away. A medical record created at the time of the accident is critical to your claim.
Document the scene. If you are physically able, photograph the buses and vehicles involved, the accident scene, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Collect contact information from the bus driver, other drivers involved, and any witnesses.
Record the bus information. For SEPTA buses, note the bus number and route number. For school buses, note the school district name and bus number. This information helps your attorney gather evidence quickly.
Do not give a recorded statement to the bus company, transit authority, or insurance companies before speaking with an attorney. Statements made without legal guidance can be used to minimize your claim.
Contact a bus accident lawyer immediately — particularly if SEPTA or a school district is involved. The six-month notice deadline for SEPTA claims means time is genuinely critical.
Preserve all documentation. Keep records of every medical appointment, prescription, therapy session, and expense. Keep notes about how your injuries are affecting your daily life, work capacity, and family relationships.
If given an accident card by the bus company or transit authority at the scene, keep it — it documents your involvement in the incident and is relevant when filing your Pennsylvania bus accident claim.
Bus accident victims may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages:
Economic damages:
Medical bills and emergency treatment costs
Future medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
Lost wages during recovery
Reduced future earning capacity for serious or permanent injuries
Non-economic damages:
Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma
Permanent disability or disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
In cases involving particularly reckless conduct — such as a bus driver operating under the influence or a bus company knowingly ignoring critical safety defects — punitive damages may also be available.
Bus accident cases involve complex liability questions, tight procedural deadlines, and insurance companies or government agencies that have experienced legal teams working to minimize payouts from the moment an accident is reported. Our law firm levels the playing field for bus accident victims by:
Investigating the accident thoroughly — gathering police reports, surveillance footage, maintenance records, and witness statements before evidence disappears
Identifying all responsible parties, including bus drivers, bus companies, third-party vehicle operators, and transit authorities
Navigating the procedural requirements for SEPTA and school district claims to ensure all deadlines are met
Working with medical experts to document the full extent of current and future losses
Negotiating aggressively with insurance companies while preparing every bus accident case for trial, if a fair resolution is not reached
Pennsylvania bus accident attorneys who understand SEPTA’s specific legal framework, school district liability rules, and local Delaware County courts provide an important advantage. Our law firm represents bus accident victims throughout Delaware County, PA, Philadelphia County, Chester County, and Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Call (610) 892-4940 or complete the form below to schedule your free consultation with a bus accident lawyer in Delaware County, PA.
Yes. Whether you were a passenger on the bus, a driver whose vehicle was struck by a bus, or a pedestrian hit by a bus, you may have a valid personal injury claim. The process and deadlines vary depending on who operated the bus — claims against SEPTA and school districts involve different rules than claims against private bus companies.
Compensation depends on the severity of your injuries, the extent of your medical expenses and lost wages, and the degree of the other party’s negligence. Minor injuries may settle for a few thousand dollars, while serious bus crash injuries involving permanent disability or long-term medical needs can result in significantly larger recoveries. Claims against SEPTA are subject to a statutory cap of $250,000 per person.
Consult a bus accident lawyer before filing any claim, particularly when a government entity like SEPTA or a school district is involved. Procedural errors — including missing the six-month SEPTA notice deadline — can eliminate your right to compensation entirely. A bus accident attorney can ensure deadlines are met, evidence is preserved, and your claim is positioned for the best possible outcome.
If your child was injured on a school bus, or if a school bus struck your vehicle, liability may fall on the school district, a private contractor, or the driver of another vehicle. Claims involving public school districts may include governmental immunity considerations and specific notice requirements. An experienced bus accident attorney can identify the responsible parties and the proper filing procedure.
For most bus accident claims against private parties, Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations applies. However, if SEPTA or another government entity is involved, you must provide formal written notice of your claim within six months of the accident — far sooner than the general filing deadline. Missing this shorter deadline can bar your claim entirely.
Soft tissue injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and psychological trauma are among the most challenging to prove because they may not appear on standard imaging and can fluctuate over time. Insurance companies frequently dispute the severity of these injuries. Thorough medical documentation from the time of the accident forward — combined with expert testimony when needed — is essential to building a strong case.
Attorney Deborah M. Truscello has represented individuals and families in Delaware County for decades. Her office, conveniently located in Media, Pennsylvania, is located near the Delaware County Courthouse, and she is familiar with the procedures and timelines of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
Prospective clients can schedule a free consultation to discuss their situation and learn about their legal options.
If you were injured in a bus accident in Media, PA, or elsewhere in Delaware County, you may want to understand your legal rights and the options available to you.
The Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello offers free consultations for individuals who want to discuss their situation and learn about the legal process after an accident.
Discuss your case in person with an experienced lawyer. We are also readily available
by telephone at (610) 892-4940 or fill out the form to send us an email.