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A bus accident can leave you facing serious injuries, mounting expenses, and unanswered questions, which is why working with an award-winning Washington, DC bus accident lawyer matters from the start. Bus crashes often involve public transit agencies, private operators, and layered insurance coverage, all of which can complicate how responsibility is assigned and how compensation is pursued.
Regan Zambri Long is rated among the Best Law Firms in America by Best Lawyers, and our board-certified founding partners have AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell. We bring nearly 200 years of combined experience to representing injured bus accident victims, which has led to over $1 billion in recoveries, including bus accident results of $20 million, $4.1 million, $3 million, and $2.75 million. Clients also trust a firm backed by over 100 5 star Google reviews, substantial legal resources, and the ability to retain highly qualified expert witnesses to support complex claims.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) operates over 1,500 buses in the DC Metro area, covering 325 routes in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. If you’ve been injured in a bus accident in Washington, DC, contact a bus accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our attorneys will call you back. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you don’t pay unless we win your case.
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Bus accident claims can be challenging to navigate on your own. Dealing with a government agency or an insurance company can be frustrating. They can easily reject your claim and blame you for the accident. If your claim is approved, you may only receive the bare minimum of what your claim is worth. You need a bus accident attorney from a law firm with the experience to get you the compensation you deserve.
The Washington, DC bus accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have the experience and resources to take on the WMATA or a private bus company. We understand the complexities of these types of personal injury lawsuits and will fight for your rights so you receive the maximum compensation your crash injury claim is worth.
Washingtonian Magazine called Senior Partner Patrick Regan the “lawyer you call when you want to sue WMATA,” as he has successfully handled hundreds of bus accident claims throughout the DMV. Washingtonian Magazine has also referred to fellow Senior Partner Salvatore Zambri as “one of Washington’s best, most honest and effective lawyers.” Pat, Sal, and partner Paul Cornoni are all named among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, and have each been honored as Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers.
They are joined by fellow partners Victor Long, Jacqueline Colclough, and Christopher Regan on Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America, selected from more than 135,000 personal injury lawyers nationwide. Sal, Victor, and Paul have each served as President of the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, with Jackie Colclough and Chris Regan currently sitting on the organization’s Board of Governors. Patrick Regan serves on the Board of Governors of the American Association of Justice, while Victor Long acts as Chair of the DC Court of Appeals Client Security Trust Fund.
Our bus crash attorneys have won tens of millions of dollars in damages for our clients and understand the complexities of handling bus accident claims against the WMATA and private bus companies. That record includes a $20 million verdict in a DC federal court case involving brain injury and paralysis of an 18 year old struck by a Smithsonian Institution bus, a $4.1 million verdict for U.S. Army soldiers injured in a Greyhound bus crash, a $3 million settlement for a bicyclist whose leg was injured after being struck by a bus, and a $2.75 million settlement for a pedestrian injured in a crosswalk collision.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a bus accident, call the DC bus accident attorneys of Regan Zambri Long today for a no-obligation, free consultation.
The cause of a bus accident and the type of bus involved can determine who may be held responsible for your injuries or the loss of a loved one. Depending on the circumstances, possible responsible parties for the bus accident may include:
One of the major causes of bus accidents in Washington, DC, can be traced back to driver error. Too often, a crash could have been avoided if one or more parties had acted responsibly. The most prevalent causes of bus accidents in the DC metro area include:
Bus drivers need to be adequately trained to handle these large vehicles. But even the best-trained driver could easily ignore the rules of the road. Therefore, when a driver violates their duty of care and drives recklessly, you have cause to file a claim against the bus driver.
Examples of driver negligence include:
Like trucking companies, bus companies may cut corners and fail to maintain their buses regularly. A defective part can quickly endanger the public without regular maintenance to keep buses from running correctly.
The bus company may also be held responsible for how its employees acted before and after the accident. For example, the company could be liable for the accident if the bus driver was not adequately trained.
Inclement weather can easily make driving dangerous for even the most experienced driver. For example, a sudden winter storm can turn the roadway into ice. Adequately trained drivers know they must drive cautiously in bad weather; however, many take chances to meet their schedules. This can easily result in a deadly accident.
Another driver’s negligence can cause a bus crash. Like bus drivers, other drivers must drive safely and follow the road rules. However, this is not always the case, which can result in a deadly accident.
It’s the government’s responsibility to maintain the roads. But if the road was either poorly constructed or not being maintained, and the road conditions caused the accident, the government may be held liable for the accident.
Bus accidents remain a serious safety issue locally and nationwide. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 86 people were injured in 114 bus-related accidents across the District of Columbia in 2024. Looking more broadly, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports that 32 people were killed and 12,669 were injured in bus accidents across the United States in 2023. These figures highlight how often bus crashes occur and why identifying their causes is essential when injuries happen.
For decades, our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have been helping victims and their families recover compensation after these types of negligence cause an accident to occur. Our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers will go after the other party responsible and ensure you get the justice you deserve.
The personal injuries caused by a bus accident can be extensive and severe. First, buses or coaches are much larger and heavier than typical vehicles. If a bus crashes into a car, the car will likely sustain much more damage than the bus. The same is true of accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists.
Second, bus passengers typically do not wear seatbelts and may stand if the bus is crowded. In an impact, riders could fall or be thrown into seats, against windows, or into other passengers.
Some of the most common types of bus accident injuries include:
If you suffered a severe injury in a bus accident, call the DC bus accident attorneys of Regan Zambri Long.
Like a truck accident, you can file a personal injury claim against the company’s insurance for your injuries. However, your claim can be a little more complicated when you have a claim against the government.
When filing a claim against the WMATA, the doctrine of sovereign immunity may apply. Sovereign immunity prohibits your ability to sue the government in some instances.
To file a lawsuit, you must first file a Notice of Claim with the Office of Risk Management within six months. The notice must contain the following information:
WMATA responds in approximately five business days; however, depending on the complaint, it may require additional time to investigate the accident.
Given the complexity of claims against the government, connecting with a Washington, DC bus accident lawyer is the only way to guarantee your rights are being preserved.
Depending on the severity of the injuries and the circumstances surrounding the accident, bus accident victims could receive the following compensation for their accident:
Call a Washington, DC bus accident lawyer from Regan Zambri Long to secure maximum compensation for your injuries. Our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers have secured multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, and we can do the same for you.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you and your bus accident lawyer may be able to hold the at-fault driver and/or bus company liable for your injuries. In some cases, the bus owner or a third party could be held at fault for the accident.
Contacting a bus accident attorney immediately after the accident is best to file a personal injury claim as a bus passenger.
If you lost a family member in a bus accident, you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party.
In Washington, DC, you have two years from the date of death to file a lawsuit. However, the responsible party may claim that the death was not connected to the accident injuries. A DC personal injury attorney will review your loved one’s medical records to ensure there is no question about what caused their death.
Depending on whether you’re a passenger, pedestrian, or driver, stay calm and call 911. If possible, move to safety and remain at the scene until police and emergency personnel arrive. Give factual statements to the police, take photos or videos of the scene, and seek medical attention—even for minor injuries. Notify your insurance company, and contact the DC bus accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long to protect your claim.
If the bus company or its insurance company calls you before you can speak with a Washington, DC bus accident attorney, keep the information about the accident to yourself. Do not agree to make a recorded statement, and do not sign any forms the company or insurance carrier sent you. Instead, contact a DC bus accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long immediately to protect your case.
Washington, DC offers optional Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage for medical expenses, but not for lost wages or pain and suffering. A DC bus accident lawyer can help you file a claim to recover all damages and ensure proper medical documentation for both immediate and long-term treatment.
If you’re a bus passenger, you are rarely at fault for an accident. However, if your actions—like sitting incorrectly or being rowdy—contribute to your injury, you could be partially responsible. DC, Virginia, and Maryland follow contributory negligence rules, meaning any degree of fault can bar you from recovering damages. A Washington, DC bus accident lawyer can explain how this affects your claim.
To determine fault, four elements must be met: the bus driver or company owed you a duty of care, that duty was breached (e.g., intoxicated driving or poor maintenance), the breach caused an accident, and the accident caused injury resulting in damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If these elements are met, the bus company or driver may be liable. Our DC bus accident lawyers can help establish fault and build a strong claim for your injuries.
Our Washington, DC bus accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Backed by decades of experience fighting against the WMATA, our firm has an established reputation for pursuing legal excellence in complex bus accident cases.
As our client, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing that we will protect your legal rights from start to finish. Our bus accident lawyers will do everything in our power to secure the maximum compensation you need to pay for injury-related expenses, such as medical care and lost income, as well as full compensation for all of your injuries and physical and emotional consequences.
Our DC personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations, and we work on a contingency fee basis. Call Regan Zambri Long at (202) 980-3405 or contact a lawyer online today to discuss your legal options.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.