A board certified Civil Trial Lawyer with almost five decades of experience in Ohio Personal Injury Law.
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is a state-sponsored agency providing bus transportation to the public in Columbus and throughout the area. While accidents involving COTA buses are rare, what happens if you are hit by a COTA bus in downtown Columbus?
You may have grounds to claim compensation, but taking legal action against a government agency is very different from filing a personal injury case against a private defendant.
What Happens If You Are Hit by a COTA Bus in Downtown Columbus?
Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths in Ohio every year. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 1,033 fatal crashes and 5,959 crashes resulting in serious injuries statewide in 2025. Ohio enforces the fault rule for vehicle accident cases involving two or more parties, meaning whoever caused the accident is liable for the resulting damages. Proving fault is an essential first step in many vehicle accident claims.
When the party responsible for an accident is an employee of a state-sponsored agency like COTA, the injured victim faces a stricter set of rules when it comes to claiming compensation for their damages. Most government entities are immune to civil liability except under very specific conditions. If you were hit by a COTA bus in downtown Columbus, you will need to prove that the bus driver’s negligence directly caused the accident.
What to Do After a COTA Bus Accident in Downtown Columbus
The first steps you take after any vehicle accident in Columbus are crucial. You have a short time to gather the evidence you need to prove liability for the accident, and there are procedural deadlines for filing auto insurance claims and personal injury cases in Ohio. Time is an even more crucial concern when you are filing a claim against a state-sponsored agency, and you need to hire a bus accident lawyer you can trust as soon as possible to help you with this case.
You should seek medical attention immediately, even if you believe you only sustained minor injuries. Prompt medical care can identify any injuries that may not have yet caused noticeable symptoms, and it will also create a record showing that you sought care immediately. After your condition stabilizes, you should seek a copy of the police report from the accident and contact an experienced Columbus bus accident attorney at your first opportunity.
Your attorney can gather and preserve the evidence you need to prove how the accident happened. You will only be able to claim compensation for your damages from a state-sponsored agency if you can prove that its employee’s negligence directly caused your damages. You may need to prove that the COTA bus driver ran a red light or stop sign, was driving while distracted, or was operating the bus under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If you have grounds to claim compensation from COTA, your Columbus bus accident attorney can help you prove the full scope and severity of the damages you suffered. An injured plaintiff in this type of case is usually eligible to claim compensation for all medical expenses resulting from the accident and for any income they are unable to earn while they recover. A plaintiff may also claim pain and suffering compensation, but this is capped under state law.
Ultimately, personal injury cases against state-sponsored agencies are more difficult than typical personal injury claims against other private parties. It is crucial to hire a bus accident lawyer with proven experience handling these cases to have the greatest chance of reaching a favorable outcome.
Mark Gervelis is a Board Certified Trial Lawyer with decades of experience handling some of the most challenging injury claims in Ohio, and the team at Gervelis Law Firm is ready to provide compassionate, results-driven legal representation after your recent COTA bus accident in downtown Columbus. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn how an experienced Columbus bus accident attorney can help with your case.
FAQs
How Do You Prove Fault for a COTA Bus Accident in Downtown Columbus?
To prove fault for a COTA bus accident in downtown Columbus, you may need various types of evidence that your attorney can help you secure. You may need witness statements, security footage from the bus’s onboard camera, if available, police reports, and physical evidence from the scene of the crash. Hire a bus accident lawyer right away after your accident so they can start gathering evidence immediately.
What Does Comparative Negligence Mean for a Bus Accident Case?
Comparative negligence could mean a diminished recovery in a bus accident case. Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence law, meaning if a plaintiff shares any liability for their damages, they lose a percentage of their total compensation equal to their percentage of fault for causing the accident, but only as long as they are found less at fault than the defendant. If the plaintiff is found more at fault, they are barred from claiming damages.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Bus Accident in Columbus?
The amount of compensation you can claim for a bus accident in Columbus depends on the severity of your injuries. Your Columbus bus accident attorney can calculate economic losses like medical bills, lost wages, and lost earning capacity, and they will also help you determine a suitable amount of pain and suffering compensation to claim from the defendant.
Why Should I Hire a Bus Accident Lawyer in Columbus?
You should hire a bus accident lawyer in Columbus to have a better chance of reaching a favorable outcome in your case. Proving liability and navigating the procedural rules for pursuing legal action against a state-sponsored agency like COTA will likely be far more difficult than you expect, so you need to hire a bus accident lawyer who has proven experience handling this type of claim.
You should have some idea of what happens if you are hit by a COTA bus in downtown Columbus and the specific rules you must follow if you intend to claim compensation for your damages from COTA. The team at Gervelis Law Firm has years of proven experience handling bus accident claims throughout Ohio, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Columbus bus accident attorney you can trust with your case.
