Charleston Bus Accident Lawyer
Bus crashes are rarely simple. The bus may belong to a transit authority, a school district, a charter company, or a private employer, and each one plays by different rules. Claims against government buses have shorter deadlines and limits on what can be recovered. We identify who owns the bus, which rules apply, and what it takes to protect your claim from the first day.
Every kind of bus, and everyone it can hurt.
We represent passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists hurt in bus crashes across Charleston and South Carolina.
- CARTA and other public transit buses
- School bus crashes
- Charter and tour bus crashes
- Intercity buses like Greyhound
- Airport, hotel, and parking shuttles
- Church and nonprofit buses
- Passengers hurt by sudden stops or falls
- Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists hit by a bus
If a commercial truck was involved, see our truck accident page. If you lost a family member, our wrongful death lawyers can help.
Who owns the bus decides the rules.
The same crash can follow very different rules depending on whether the bus belongs to a government agency or a private company. Getting that question right early protects your claim.
Bus companies owe passengers a high duty of care
Companies that carry paying passengers are known as common carriers, and South Carolina courts have long held them to a high degree of care for their passengers’ safety. That standard is stricter than the ordinary care expected of other drivers. It can matter in cases where a passenger is thrown by a sudden stop, falls while boarding, or is hurt because a driver pulled away too soon.
Government buses: the Tort Claims Act SC Code §15-78-110 SC Code §15-78-120
Public transit buses and public school buses are operated by government entities, so claims against them fall under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act. A lawsuit generally must be filed within two years, or within three years if a verified claim is filed with the agency first. The Act also limits how much can be recovered from a government entity and does not allow punitive damages.
Those rules are stricter than a typical car accident claim, and missing a step can end the case. If a school bus or city bus was involved, call early.
Charter and intercity buses: federal insurance rules 49 CFR §387.33
Federal law requires for-hire bus companies that carry passengers across state lines to carry substantial liability insurance: at least $5 million for vehicles that seat 16 or more people, including the driver, and at least $1.5 million for smaller vehicles. That coverage often makes charter and intercity bus cases very different from a typical car crash.
Who can be held responsible
Depending on the facts, responsibility may fall on the bus driver, the company or agency that employs the driver, the company that maintained the bus, a manufacturer if a defective part contributed, or another driver who caused the crash. Many bus crashes involve more than one of these.
Time limits SC Code §15-3-530
Claims against private bus companies generally must be filed within three years. Government bus claims usually have a shorter deadline, as explained above. In every case, video footage, driver logs, and maintenance records are easier to secure early.
In a bus crash, the first question is who owns the bus. The answer decides the deadline, the insurance, and the rules for the entire claim.
Protecting a bus accident claim.
Bus companies and transit agencies start their own investigations right away. Here is what to do.
Get medical care
Get checked out even if you feel fine. Injuries from sudden stops and falls often show up later.
Write down the bus details
The bus number, route, company or agency name, time, and location. A photo of the bus is ideal.
Get witness information
Other passengers are often the best witnesses. Get names and phone numbers if you can.
Be careful with statements
Transit agencies and bus company insurers may contact you quickly. Do not give a recorded statement or sign anything before talking to a lawyer.
Call us
We identify who owns and operates the bus, meet every deadline, and request onboard video and maintenance records before they are lost.
Big companies and government agencies. A trial attorney on your side.
Transit agencies, school districts, and bus companies have lawyers and adjusters working for them from the moment a crash happens. You should have an experienced trial attorney working for you just as quickly.
Joe Cunningham is a trial attorney and former U.S. Congressman. Joe Cunningham Law keeps a selective caseload so every client gets real attorney attention, from the first call through resolution.
U.S. District Court, D.S.C.
Bus accident questions we hear most.
Yes. Claims against public transit buses fall under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, which has its own deadlines and limits on recovery. Because those rules are stricter than a typical car accident claim, call as soon as you can.
Get your child checked by a doctor, then call us. Public school bus claims are handled under the Tort Claims Act. We handle the claim process so you can focus on your child.
Claims against government-operated buses generally must be filed within two years, or three years if a verified claim is filed with the agency first. Claims against private bus companies generally have three years. The safest move is to call early.
Possibly. Bus operators must take care of passengers while they board, ride, and get off. Falls caused by sudden stops, pulling away too early, or unsafe conditions on the bus can support a claim.
Interstate bus companies are regulated by federal law and must carry substantial insurance. We can pursue claims against out-of-state companies for crashes that happen in South Carolina.
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, so our fee comes from the recovery. If we don’t win, you owe nothing.
Talk to a Charleston bus accident lawyer.
If you were hurt in a bus crash, call Joe Cunningham Law. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless we recover for you.
Charleston, S.C. 29407
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