What to do after a SEPTA bus accident
After a SEPTA bus accident, get medical care, report the incident, and make sure written notice of your claim is filed within 6 months of the injury, because that notice is usually required before you can sue a government unit like SEPTA (42 Pa.C.S. § 5522). Missing it can end the claim.
SEPTA keeps sovereign immunity except where Pennsylvania law waives it, and one of the waivers covers injuries caused by the operation of a motor vehicle in SEPTA's possession or control, which includes its buses (42 Pa.C.S. § 8522(b)(1)). So a bus crash claim is allowed, but it follows the rules explained on our main SEPTA accident lawyer page, including a cap on damages.
If a SEPTA bus hits your car
Call police, get the bus number and route, photograph the scene and both vehicles, and get the names of witnesses, including passengers if they are willing. Your own auto policy's first-party medical benefits, at least $5,000 on every Pennsylvania policy, generally pay your early medical bills regardless of fault (75 Pa.C.S. § 1711).
Your claim against SEPTA for injuries and vehicle damage then follows the government-claim rules: written notice within 6 months, recovery only for the categories of damages the statute allows, and a cap of $250,000 per plaintiff and $1,000,000 per occurrence (42 Pa.C.S. § 8528). If you chose limited tort on your own policy, your right to pain-and-suffering damages may depend on the injury being serious or on an exception, so have a lawyer review your policy.
If you were hurt as a passenger
Passengers can be hurt without any collision. Sudden stops, sharp turns, doors closing on a rider and a bus pulling away while someone is boarding or getting off can all cause falls and serious injuries. Whether SEPTA is responsible depends on whether the operator drove or handled the bus carelessly, and the bus's video is often the key evidence.
Being a bus passenger can help if you have limited tort on your own car insurance. Pennsylvania law says a person bound by limited tort keeps full tort rights if injured while an occupant of a motor vehicle other than a private passenger motor vehicle (75 Pa.C.S. § 1705(d)(3)). A bus is not a private passenger motor vehicle, so a SEPTA passenger may be able to seek pain-and-suffering damages without proving a serious injury.
If a SEPTA bus hit you while walking or riding a bike
Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a bus can bring a claim under the same vehicle-liability exception. First-party medical benefits may come from a household auto policy, and a lawyer can identify the right source if you do not have one. The 6-month notice rule and the damages cap still apply.
What causes SEPTA bus crashes
Bus crashes have many of the same causes as other crashes, plus some specific to large transit vehicles. Common factors include:
- Operator distraction or inattention at intersections and stops.
- Wide right turns and blind spots around a long vehicle.
- Pulling out from a stop into traffic without room.
- Following too closely or braking hard in heavy traffic.
- Another driver cutting off or striking the bus.
Buses around the 69th Street Transportation Center
According to SEPTA, more than a dozen bus routes serve the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby, along with the L, M and D lines. Buses move through the terminal, onto West Chester Pike and other local roads, and out across Delaware County and West Philadelphia. That concentration of buses, cars and people on foot is part of why the area needs careful attention after a crash.
When another driver shares the blame, that driver's insurance is not limited by SEPTA's damages cap. Identifying every responsible party is one of the first things a lawyer does.
Evidence and next steps
SEPTA buses carry cameras, and operators report incidents. Ask for the incident to be reported at the scene, and have a lawyer send a written demand to preserve video and records as soon as possible. Keep your fare card or ticket, your medical records and photos of your injuries.
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Questions People Ask About SEPTA Bus Accidents
What happens if a SEPTA bus hits my car?
Your own auto policy's first-party medical benefits generally pay your early medical bills. Your injury and vehicle damage claim against SEPTA is allowed under the vehicle-liability exception to sovereign immunity, but you usually must file written notice within 6 months, and damages are capped at $250,000 per person. If another driver helped cause the crash, that driver's insurer may also be responsible.
Can you sue SEPTA after a bus accident?
Yes. Pennsylvania law waives SEPTA's immunity for injuries caused by operating a vehicle in its control, including buses. The claim must follow the government-claim rules: written notice within 6 months as a general rule, a lawsuit generally within 2 years, and a damages cap of $250,000 per plaintiff and $1,000,000 per occurrence.
I was hurt when the bus stopped short. Do I have a claim?
Possibly. A passenger injured by a sudden stop or sharp turn can have a claim if the operator drove carelessly, for example by braking hard because of following too closely. Normal starts and stops are part of riding a bus, so the evidence matters. Report the injury, get medical care, and have a lawyer request the bus video quickly.
Does limited tort apply if I was a SEPTA bus passenger?
Often not. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1705(d)(3), a person bound by limited tort keeps full tort rights when injured as an occupant of a motor vehicle other than a private passenger motor vehicle. A SEPTA bus fits that description. That can allow a passenger to seek pain-and-suffering damages without proving a serious injury. Confirm the details with a lawyer.
Do SEPTA bus drivers get disciplined after a crash?
Any discipline is an internal SEPTA employment matter and does not decide your claim. Whether you can recover depends on proving the operator or another party was negligent and on following the government-claim rules. SEPTA's internal investigation materials may still matter as evidence, which is one reason to have a lawyer request records early.
How long do I have after a SEPTA bus accident?
Plan on 6 months for the written notice required by 42 Pa.C.S. § 5522, and generally 2 years to file the lawsuit. A court can excuse a late notice for a reasonable excuse, but you should not rely on that. The sooner a lawyer is involved, the more video and witness evidence is still available.
Sources
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 5522 (six-month notice to government units)
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 8522 (exceptions to sovereign immunity; vehicle liability)
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 8528 (limitations on damages)
- 74 Pa.C.S. § 1711(c)(3) (transportation authority sovereign immunity)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 1705(d)(3) (limited tort exception for occupants of non-private-passenger vehicles)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 1711 (required first-party medical benefit)
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 (two-year limitation)
- SEPTA: Upper Darby destination page (bus routes and L, M, D service at 69th St Transit Center)
Written for general information by the office of Warren I. Siegel, Esq., Pennsylvania Attorney ID 65342. Last reviewed 2026-09-25. This is not legal advice for your situation, and deadlines vary by claim. Talk to a lawyer before relying on any date.