Getting hurt on public transit in Los Angeles is serious. What happens in the next six months can determine everything.
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Injuries on a city bus, Metro rail, subway, or trolley can come with legal deadlines that are much shorter than standard personal injury timelines. Akaragian Law helps injured passengers and bystanders understand their rights.
Getting hurt on public transit is unexpected. The legal timeline that follows doesn't wait for you to figure it out.
If you were injured on a Los Angeles bus, Metro train, subway, or trolley, you may be dealing with physical pain, missed work, and questions about what to do next. Here is what some people don't know until it's too late: claims against public transit agencies in California are not governed by the standard two-year personal injury deadline. Under the California Government Claims Act, most injured transit passengers must file a formal government tort claim within six months of the date of injury. Missing that window typically eliminates your right to pursue compensation entirely, regardless of how serious your injuries are.
Akaragian Law works with people hurt in public transit crashes throughout Los Angeles. Assuming we are hired on time, we file the required government tort claim on your behalf, identify the correct responsible agency(ies), and build a clear picture of what happened and what you may be owed.
What to Expect When You Work With Akaragian Law on a Public Transit Injury Claim
Free Consultation & Deadline Assessment: We start by reviewing what happened and assessing the government claims deadline. For most transit injuries, the clock starts on the date of injury. Knowing exactly where you stand on that timeline is one of the things we investigate.
Case Investigation: If we move forward, we identify the correct responsible agency(ies), file the required government tort claim on your behalf if needed, request the incident documentation, and try to preserve the evidence before it becomes harder to obtain or disappears. Every transit agency has its own claims procedures, and filing against the wrong one can complicate a claim.
Communication & Updates: You will know where things stand. Clear, direct communication throughout your case is something we take seriously.
Pursuing Compensation: Transit injury claims may include compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and the impact your injury has had on daily life. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney's fees or costs unless a recovery is obtained.
Why Los Angeles Transit Injury Victims Choose Akaragian Law
Claims against government-operated transit agencies require a different approach than standard car accident claims. What you need is an attorney who understands the procedural requirements, files the right documents with the right agency(ies) on time, and builds a claim supported by clear evidence.
Our promise is straightforward. You get honest answers about what your case looks like, clear communication throughout the process, and a team that takes the legal complexity off your plate so you can focus on recovering. You are never passed off or treated like a file number.
You can learn more about Armen Akaragian and verify his standing through the California State Bar's official attorney profile. He is locally established, actively licensed, and committed to serving clients throughout Los Angeles.
What clients typically value most about working with our firm:
Clear, direct communication throughout their case
Practical guidance on claims that come with rules some people have never encountered
A team that treats them like a person, not a file number
Sabi
“Very caring and responsive. My family has used him 3 times. He’s always come through for us. Excellent attorney. Highly recommend.”
What should you do after a public transit accident in Los Angeles?
Get medical care first. Your health is the priority. Some injuries, including head injuries and soft-tissue damage, may not be apparent immediately. A medical record connecting your injuries to the transit incident can be useful for any subsequent claim.
Document the scene if you can safely do so. Take photos of the vehicle, the location, any visible injuries, and any contributing conditions. Note the bus or train number, route, and approximate time.
If able, report the incident to the transit operator. Do not assume the agency's internal report, if prepared, fully reflects what happened.
Try to gather witness information. Names and contact details from other passengers or bystanders can be essential. Surveillance footage from transit vehicles is typically preserved for a limited period.
Consider speaking with an attorney before giving a statement. Some transit agencies employ claims staff whose role is managing the agency's exposure. Early statements can be used to minimize or dispute a claim.
Contact a public transit accident lawyer to learn about your rights. In most transit cases, the six-month government claims deadline begins on the date of injury. An attorney can file the required government tort claim on your behalf and protect your right to pursue the case.
Who is responsible after a public transit accident in Los Angeles?
Liability in a public transit accident can involve the transit agency, another driver, a vehicle manufacturer, a government agency responsible for road conditions, or some combination of them all. Los Angeles operates one of the largest public transit networks in the United States. The primary operators are the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), commonly called LA Metro, which runs the Metro bus and rail system, and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), which operates the DASH (Downtown Area Short Hop) shuttle network. Both are government entities, which is why the claims process works differently than a standard car accident claim.
Under California Civil Code § 2100, transit operators owe passengers a heightened duty of care as common carriers, meaning they are held to a higher standard of care than ordinary drivers. That standard does not eliminate the government claims process, but it does inform how liability is evaluated once a claim is properly filed.
| Operator | Type | Claims Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| LA Metro (LACMTA) buses and rail | Government entity | Typically 6 months — Government Code § 911.2 |
| LADOT DASH | Government entity | Typically 6 months — Government Code § 911.2 |
| Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica) | Government entity | Typically 6 months — Government Code § 911.2 |
| Private bus or charter company | Private operator | Typically 2 years — standard personal injury SOL |
| Amtrak | Federal entity | Separate federal claims process |
What is the government claims deadline and why does it matter so much?
Before you can sue a California public transit agency, you must first file a formal government tort claim within six months of the date of your injury. (California Government Code § 911.2)
This six-month deadline is not the deadline to file a lawsuit. It is a procedural prerequisite. Missing it typically bars the injured party from filing any lawsuit at all, regardless of how strong the underlying claim is or how serious the injuries are. The six-month clock typically starts on the date of injury, not the date you hire an attorney or the date your medical treatment concludes.
California courts have consistently held that failure to comply with the Government Claims Act is a complete bar to recovery against a public entity. Filing against the wrong entity can also render the claim defective. An attorney can handle this on your behalf, which is one of the most practical reasons to get legal guidance early after a transit injury.
How is a public transit accident claim different from a standard car accident claim?
The combination of a shorter deadline, a more complex procedural path, and a government entity on the other side makes transit injury claims meaningfully different from standard car accident claims.
| Factor | Standard Car Accident | Public Transit Accident |
|---|---|---|
| Filing deadline | 2 years (personal injury SOL) | Typically 6 months (Government Claims Act prerequisite) |
| Typical first step | File a lawsuit or open a claim | Submit government tort claim |
| Defendant type | Private party | Government agency |
| Duty of care standard | reasonable care | Heightened common carrier duty if a passenger (Civ. Code § 2100) |
Public Transit Accident FAQs
If you want to talk through your situation, view all FAQs or call us directly at (818) 922-8522 for a free consultation.
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The California Government Claims Act (Government Code § 810 et seq.) sets the procedural rules for claims against public entities in California. For transit accidents, it requires an injured party to submit a formal written government tort claim to the responsible public agency usually within six months of the date of injury, before any civil lawsuit may be filed.
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A government tort claim is a formal written notice filed directly with the responsible public agency. It is a required procedural step, not a lawsuit. It notifies the agency of the injury, gives it an opportunity to respond, and preserves the injured party's right to sue if the claim is denied or ignored.
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Missing the government claims deadline typically bars the claim entirely, regardless of how serious the injuries are. In limited circumstances, an application for late claim relief may be filed within one year of the injury date.
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No. The six-month government claims deadline applies specifically to public entities. If a private bus company or charter operator caused your injury, the standard two-year personal injury statute of limitations applies.
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California uses a pure comparative negligence system under Civil Code § 1714, meaning your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from filing a claim simply because you were partly responsible.
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Written by Armen Akaragian. Armen is a seasoned injury attorney with decades-long track record of winning high-stakes injury cases. Known for his hands-on approach and care for clients, Armen has secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements across California. He’s represented victims against major corporations and earned recognition as a top-rated auto accident attorney. Whether you need steady guidance or aggressive representation, Armen brings heart and experience to every case.
