The Altman Law Firm helps victims of public bus accidents navigate complex claims against government entities to seek the compensation they deserve.
Free consultation: (305) 373-3730.
The Altman Firm Difference defines our strict focus on catastrophic loss and wrongful death in public bus accidents, leveraging our legacy since 1998 and Jeffrey S. Altman's status in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We do not operate as a general practice, focusing exclusively on high-leverage mass transit litigation.
Public bus accidents often result in severe injuries due to the size and weight of these vehicles, combined with a lack of seatbelts and safety restraints for passengers. Whether you were a passenger on a Miami-Dade Transit bus, a pedestrian, or a driver of another vehicle, the physical, emotional, and financial toll of a collision can be overwhelming. Recovering from these injuries should be your primary focus, but dealing with government transit authorities and their insurance adjusters often adds unnecessary stress. At The Altman Law Firm, Jeffrey S. Altman brings over twenty-five years of experience to personal injury claims, including complex public transportation collisions. We understand the unique challenges involved when taking action against a municipality or county government. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate, thorough representation to hold negligent parties accountable. Please note that reading this information does not create an attorney-client relationship, and we cannot promise specific outcomes, but we are committed to advocating fiercely for your rights.
The process begins with a comprehensive consultation where we review the details of your accident and explain your legal options without providing formal legal advice until representation is established. Next, we initiate an independent investigation, sending preservation letters to the transit authority to prevent the destruction of vital evidence. Because public bus accidents involve government entities, we must then navigate the strict pre-suit notice requirements dictated by Florida law, filing a formal claim with the appropriate agency within the required timeframe. If the government denies the claim or offers an insufficient settlement, we proceed with filing a lawsuit. Throughout the discovery phase, we gather sworn testimonies and exchange evidence. If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation or mediation, we are fully prepared to present your case before a judge and jury.
Public bus accidents in Florida are heavily governed by sovereign immunity laws, specifically Fla. Stat. Section 768.28. This statute dictates how and when you can pursue a claim against a government entity, imposing strict pre-suit notice requirements and capping the amount of damages that can be recovered from the state or municipality. Additionally, the statute of limitations under Fla. Stat. Section 95.11 sets a strict deadline for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, and cases against government entities often have even shorter notice deadlines. We also navigate comparative negligence under Fla. Stat. Section 768.81, which means your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault, if any. Understanding these specific statutory frameworks is vital for protecting your right to pursue a claim.
Yes, but public buses are legally exempt from carrying Personal Injury Protection under Florida Statute § 627.736. As an injured bus passenger, medical coverage is pursued through a specific order of priority: 1. Your own motor vehicle insurance policy provides initial PIP benefits of up to $10,000. 2. A resident relative's auto insurance policy provides PIP benefits if you do not own an insured vehicle. 3. If no household PIP policy exists, your private health insurance applies, and you can file a bodily injury negligence claim against the transit entity. The Altman Law Firm helps bus accident victims coordinate these complex insurance sources.
Yes, but coverage typically comes from your personal automobile policy rather than the bus agency. Under Florida Statute § 627.732, public transit buses are excluded from the statutory definition of a motor vehicle required to carry PIP coverage. Consequently, if you are injured as a passenger, your primary medical coverage is provided by your own personal auto PIP policy or a resident relative's policy, providing up to $10,000 in immediate medical benefits. If you do not own a vehicle, medical expenses must be sought through health insurance or a direct negligence claim against the transit authority with assistance from The Altman Law Firm.
Under Florida Statute § 768.28, public transit authorities like Miami-Dade Transit are protected by sovereign immunity, which imposes strict procedures and financial caps. 1. You must present formal written notice of your claim to the transit authority and the Florida Department of Financial Services within three years of the incident. 2. You must allow a mandatory six-month administrative investigation period to elapse before filing a formal lawsuit, unless the agency denies the claim earlier. 3. Total recovery against the government is capped at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence. Jeffrey S. Altman at The Altman Law Firm guides injured individuals through these stringent pre-suit notice protocols.
Yes, but Florida law requires showing that the stop was unusually abrupt, violent, and unnecessary. Because routine motion is expected on transit vehicles, an injured rider must establish an actionable "jerk and jolt" caused by driver negligence rather than normal traffic conditions. Proving liability typically involves: 1. Preserving interior onboard camera footage that shows the physical impact of the stop. 2. Securing the transit agency's electronic event data recorder (telematics) to evaluate speed and braking force. 3. Gathering testimony from fellow passengers who were also thrown or displaced. The Altman Law Firm investigates these incidents to establish whether the bus operator breached their legal duty of care.
Yes, you can pursue compensation if your fall was caused by an unreasonable hazard or negligent operation by the driver. As common carriers, transit operators must maintain bus aisles, entry steps, and handrails in a reasonably safe condition. Claims frequently involve standing water on worn flooring, broken handrails, or sudden, erratic swerving that throws a passenger off balance. Establishing liability requires proving that transit personnel created the danger or failed to address a known hazard within a reasonable timeframe. Jeffrey S. Altman examines maintenance logs, vehicle inspection reports, and interior video to support slip-and-fall claims aboard public transit.
To protect your health and legal rights following a public bus accident, follow these essential steps: 1. Notify the bus operator immediately and ensure an official transit incident report is created before exiting. 2. Record the bus number, route, badge number of the driver, and contact information of fellow passengers. 3. Seek immediate medical evaluation to document your trauma within the Florida statutory timeframe. 4. Preserve physical evidence, including your transit fare pass or digital boarding receipt. 5. Consult Jeffrey S. Altman at The Altman Law Firm to secure vehicle surveillance footage before it is routinely overwritten by the transit authority.
Claims against public transit authorities like Miami-Dade Transit are governed by Florida's sovereign immunity statute under Fla. Stat. § 768.28. Injured claimants cannot immediately file a lawsuit; they must first submit formal written notice of the claim to the municipal entity and the Florida Department of Financial Services. The statute mandates a six-month administrative investigation period before a complaint can be filed in court. Furthermore, damages against government entities are statutorily capped at $200,000 per individual and $300,000 per incident, unless a legislative claims bill is passed. Jeffrey S. Altman and The Altman Law Firm guide clients through these strict procedural requirements.
Claims involving government-operated transit like Miami-Dade Transit are governed by Florida's sovereign immunity law under Florida Statute § 768.28. Pursuing a claim requires following strict statutory procedures: 1. Provide formal written notice of the claim to the municipal entity and the Florida Department of Financial Services. 2. Allow the mandatory six-month administrative investigative period to run before filing a lawsuit in court. 3. Comply with statutory liability caps, which limit recovery against government agencies to $200,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence. Jeffrey S. Altman and The Altman Law Firm assist injured victims in navigating these complex municipal requirements.
Legal responsibility depends on which party acted negligently to cause the collision. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, Florida applies a modified comparative fault standard. If a public bus operator was distracted, speeding, or failed to yield right-of-way, the transit authority or municipality can be held liable under vicarious liability. If another motorist or pedestrian contributed to the crash, liability is allocated among all at-fault parties according to their percentage of responsibility. The Altman Law Firm investigates bus electronic control modules, intersection traffic cameras, and dispatch logs to establish liability across all responsible parties.
Under Florida law, public transit agencies are classified as common carriers and owe passengers the highest degree of care for their safety. This heightened standard requires public bus operators to exercise more caution than standard motorists. Transit authorities can be held liable if a driver accelerates before passengers are safely boarded, brakes violently without justification, turns recklessly, or ignores road conditions. Proving a breach of this duty requires demonstrating that the transit operator failed to exercise the utmost foresight and prudence. Jeffrey S. Altman reviews transit telematics, driver records, and witness testimony to establish common carrier negligence.
Under Florida law, public bus operators are classified as common carriers and owe their passengers the highest degree of care, diligence, and foresight. This heightened standard requires bus operators to take comprehensive precautions to prevent passenger injuries during boarding, transit, and exiting. When an operator causes injuries through excessive acceleration, turning too fast, or executing a severe and unnecessary stop, the transit agency can be held legally accountable for negligence. The Altman Law Firm examines onboard video footage, maintenance files, and electronic event data recorders to determine whether the transit operator breached this elevated standard of care.
Yes, you may have a claim, but you must overcome Florida's sudden stop doctrine. Florida law recognizes that public buses frequently undergo normal jolts and sudden stops during standard traffic. To establish liability when no physical collision occurred, an injured passenger must prove the stop was unusually violent, sudden, and unnecessary under the circumstances, indicating driver negligence rather than an unavoidable evasive maneuver. Jeffrey S. Altman and The Altman Law Firm gather traffic camera footage, electronic transit data, and witness accounts to demonstrate whether the operator acted negligently or followed other vehicles too closely prior to the abrupt braking.
Explore FAQs, related articles, and key legal terms for Public Bus Accidents — all in one place.