Hit by a City Bus, MTA Vehicle, or on a Poorly Maintained Road?

The King County Metro bus pulled away before you finished crossing. Now you’re staring at medical bills and wondering who’s going to pay. There’s no driver’s insurance card because the driver works for the government. You called customer service and got a claim number instead of an apology.

Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner can step in to help if you’ve been hit by a city bus or other government vehicle. We understand the different filing processes that apply in these cases and the evidence needed to hold negligent parties responsible. That way, you don’t miss the chance to file a claim and recover the compensation you deserve.

Why Do Government Injury Claims Work Differently?

Being hit by a government vehicle puts you up against a different legal process than a typical car accident claim. Washington law requires you to file a formal claim with the government agency first. You then have to wait a set period before you can even file a lawsuit.

This entire process has to finish before the three-year deadline runs out. Otherwise, you can lose your right to recover damages, even if the crash was clearly not your fault.

What If You Were Hit by an MTA Vehicle, King County Metro Bus, or Another Transit Vehicle?

Washington does not have a transit agency called MTA. If that is the term you searched, you are likely thinking of:

• King County Metro, 
• Sound Transit, or 
• Pierce Transit.

These three agencies run most of the state’s buses and light rail services. Whatever you call the vehicle that hit you, the underlying process is the same: you’ll need to deal with a government agency and its insurance program, not a private driver.

Where Do You Send a Claim for Government Agencies?

Each transit agency handles its own claims. King County Metro claims route through King County’s Risk Management Services. Sound Transit and Pierce Transit each maintain their own claim forms and offices.

Claims against a pothole or road defect on a city street go to that city. You send a claim for damages arising from a poorly maintained county road to the county. An injury on a state highway, such as Interstate 5, goes to the state’s Office of Risk Management.

Naming the wrong agency or sending your claim to the wrong office can cost you time you don’t have. Besides that, more than one agency can share responsibility for a single stretch of road or a single bus route:

• A city might own the road,
• A county might handle the traffic signals, and 
• A private contractor might have been repaving the shoulder at the time. 

Sorting out which claim goes where and making sure that you file everything on time is easier with someone who has done it before.

What Counts As a Government Vehicle in Washington?

This kind of claim covers more than buses. You’ll need to file a government vehicle claim if you’re hit by:

• A police car, 
• A city maintenance truck, 
• A county work vehicle, 
• A school district van, or 
• A Washington State Department of Transportation vehicle.

Each type of collision triggers the same claims process. The same rules apply when a poorly maintained road causes an injury. This could be from a pothole, a collapsed shoulder, or a missing guardrail on a road that a city, county, or the state failed to maintain.

What Should You Do After You’re Hit by a City Bus?

What you do in the first hours and days after an accident can shape your entire claim. Get medical treatment right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries do not show symptoms until later. A gap in treatment gives the government’s adjuster a reason to doubt you.

Write down the bus or vehicle number, the route, and the time. Photograph the scene, your injuries, and anything that shows the vehicle or road was unsafe. Gather any witness details, too.

Avoid giving a recorded statement to the agency’s claims office before you talk to a lawyer. You do not have to explain what happened on the spot. Even a casual comment about being fine can follow you through the rest of your claim.

What Do You Need to Do Before You Can Sue?

You cannot sue a city, county, transit agency, or other local government body in Washington right away. There is a preliminary step. You must present a written claim using the state’s standard tort claim form.

Once you file, you must wait 60 calendar days before you can bring a lawsuit. Claims against the State of Washington, including the Department of Transportation, follow this same pattern.

Your claim needs to include specific information. A complete claim covers:

• Your name, address, and contact information;
• A description of the conduct that caused your injury;
• The date, time, and location of the crash;
• The names of anyone else involved; and
• The amount of damages you are claiming, to the extent you know it.

An incomplete claim can be rejected and sent back, restarting your 60-day wait.

Does Filing a Claim Give You More Time to Sue?

Not exactly, and this is where a lot of people trip up. Washington law pauses, or tolls, your statute of limitations for the 60 days your claim is pending. That pause protects the days you have left. It does not hand you extra days on top of them.

If you file your claim with plenty of time to spare, the 60-day wait barely affects you. But if you wait until your deadline is almost up to file your claim, you will come out of that wait with almost no time left to actually file your lawsuit. Filing your claim early protects your case. Waiting until the last minute does not.

How Much Compensation Can You Claim If You’re Hit by a Government Vehicle?

Washington law does not cap the damages you can recover from a government agency. State and local governments are liable for their wrongdoing the same way a private person or company would be. That means your claim can cover medical bills, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. These are the same categories of compensation available in a crash against a private driver.

Being partly at fault does not automatically end your claim, either. Washington reduces your compensation by your share of fault. It does not bar you from recovery altogether.

An attorney can give you a clearer sense of what your claim may be worth. That estimate depends on the extent of your injuries and how fault is divided among those involved.

Why Involve a Lawyer Early in the Process?

Government injury cases move fast in ways that catch people off guard. Onboard bus cameras and incident reports do not stay on file forever. The agency reviewing your claim also answers to its own budget and taxpayers, not to you.

Juggling more than one agency, more than one form, and more than one deadline takes real coordination. Early involvement from a lawyer means every deadline can be tracked while you focus on recovery.

Get Experienced Help Before Your Claim Window Closes

Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner has handled many government claims over 40 combined years of representing injured people across Washington. We can identify the right agency, meet strict notice deadlines, and build a record that holds up against a public entity’s defense.

Our attorneys have been recognized through Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Clients have also rated the team highly on Avvo, reflecting years of steady work on cases like this one. 

If you’ve been hit by a city bus or other government vehicle, let us review what happened. We can work to identify every party who may be responsible and start protecting your claim right away. Contact us for a free consultation.

FAQs

What If I Don’t Know Which Agency Owns the Bus or Road That Hurt Me? 

That is common, and it’s not something you need to sort out yourself. An attorney can identify the transit agency, city, county, or state department involved. Sometimes more than one entity is responsible. Your attorney can file the correct claim with each before your deadline runs out.

Can I Still File a Claim If the Police Report Did Not Name Anyone at Fault? 

Yes. A police report is only one piece of evidence, not a requirement for filing a claim. Bus camera footage, maintenance records, and witness statements can all establish fault. This applies even when an officer’s report is inconclusive, incomplete, or absent.

Does the 60-Day Waiting Period Apply to Every Government Claim in Washington?

Generally, yes. Both state claims and local government claims require a 60-day waiting period after filing before a lawsuit can begin. An attorney can file your claim early enough that this waiting period does not threaten your deadline.

What If the Bus That Hit Me Belonged to a Private Charter Company, Not a Transit Agency? 

Then the government claim process likely does not apply. People usually sue private charter and shuttle companies through their commercial insurance. This means no pre-suit claim or waiting period. An attorney can confirm which process fits your situation.

Legal References Used to Inform This Page

To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:

• Actions limited to three years, RCW 4.16.080
• File a Claim, King County Risk Management Services
• How to File a Claim, Sound Transit
• Claim for Damages, Pierce Transit
• Tortious conduct of local governmental entities—Claims—Presentment and filing—Contents, RCW 4.96.020
• Tortious conduct of state or its agents—Claims—Presentment and filing—Contents, RCW 4.92.100
• Tortious conduct of local governmental entities—Liability for damages, RCW 4.96.010
• Tortious conduct of state—Liability for damages, RCW 4.92.090
• Effect of Contributory fault, RCW 4.22.005