The Shoulder
The Shoulder
64
brave-wren-471

Got hit by a city bus running a red — they're claiming I'm at fault. Anyone dealt with this?

I still can't believe I'm typing this out but here goes.

About four months ago I was driving through an intersection on a solid green. A municipal transit bus blew straight through the red on the cross street and slammed into my passenger side. My car got pushed halfway up onto the curb. Airbags deployed, I had a messed up shoulder and some cracked ribs — nothing that required surgery but definitely not "walk it off" injuries either.

Here's where it gets infuriating. The city's risk management office just sent me a formal response basically saying their driver followed proper protocols, that I should have yielded, and they're denying my claim entirely. I had the green light. There was a delivery truck stopped at the corner that partially blocked my sightline — I genuinely did not see the bus coming until it was already in the intersection.

To make things worse, my coverage situation was... complicated at the time. I'd switched carriers and there was a gap of a few days that I didn't realize until after the crash. I know, I know. I'm already kicking myself for it.

This whole thing has snowballed. I missed almost six weeks of work, I'm still doing PT for my shoulder, and my car is totaled. The city is acting like it just never happened.

Has anyone gone up against a government entity or transit authority after an accident? How did that even go for you? I feel like they're just hoping I give up and disappear.

13replies

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13 replies

  • 17
    curious-swift-334

    Oh man, I went through something similar with a county vehicle a couple years back. The government angle makes everything harder — they have their own legal teams and they bank on you not knowing your rights. I almost dropped it too until a friend pushed me to at least consult an attorney. Please don't just accept their denial as the final word.

    • 7
      tired-walker775

      Thanks for sharing. Hope things are getting a little easier for you.

  • 12
    daring-otter-911

    Not legal advice, but this is worth flagging: claims against government or municipal entities often have much shorter deadlines than regular personal injury claims — sometimes as little as 60-90 days to file a formal notice, depending on where you live. If you haven't already, I'd really encourage you to talk to a PI attorney soon just to understand the timeline you're working with. Many do free consultations.

    • 2
      quiet-wanderer388

      Solid advice. Getting it in writing is the part most people skip.

  • 17
    spry-kestrel-726

    The coverage gap is exactly the kind of thing they'll use to pressure you into walking away. Don't assume that because your situation isn't perfect, you have no case. They know most people won't fight back. That's the whole strategy.

    • 7
      quiet-wanderer534

      Seconding this. The same approach worked for me last year.

  • 9
    clever-hare-086

    I used to work claims and I can tell you that a denial letter from a city or transit authority is not the end — it's almost a form letter in a lot of cases. They send those hoping you'll fold. The actual liability picture, especially with a partial sightline obstruction and a green light on your side, is way more complicated than they're making it sound. Document everything — photos, medical records, any witnesses, and see if there's traffic cam footage at that intersection before it gets overwritten.

  • 19
    curious-otter-207

    Please keep going to PT and don't skip appointments even when life gets hectic. Cracked ribs and a shoulder injury can linger way longer than people expect, and gaps in treatment can actually hurt you later if you do end up pursuing a claim. Your health comes first, but documentation of consistent treatment matters too.

    • 8
      quick-dove-960

      Were there any witnesses at the scene? And did the police report actually show the light in your favor, or is that still disputed? The sightline issue with the delivery truck is interesting but a lot depends on what the official record says happened.

  • 7
    kind-grouse-400

    Six weeks out of work and still in PT… that's so much to carry. I'm really sorry you're dealing with this on top of recovering. You're not being dramatic — this genuinely derailed your life and you deserve to at least have someone take it seriously.

  • 9
    cool-sparrow-761

    Two things you need to do right now: 1) Find out the exact deadline for claims against your city or transit authority — Google it or call a PI lawyer today. 2) Request any incident reports, dashcam footage, or maintenance logs for that bus through a public records request. Do both this week, not next week.

    • 6
      kind-parent176

      This is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you.

  • 19
    bold-owl-899

    I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but the fact that you're pushing back and asking questions instead of just accepting the denial puts you ahead of where a lot of people are at this stage. That instinct to fight for yourself matters. Keep going.