A board certified Civil Trial Lawyer with almost five decades of experience in Ohio Personal Injury Law.
The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) provides public bus services to thousands of people every day, and while accidents involving these buses are rare, what happens if you are hit by a TARTA bus in downtown Toledo? While you may expect your legal proceedings to mirror what would happen after most other vehicle accidents, the reality is that you face a very different type of case, and you should hire a bus accident lawyer right away to assist you.
What Happens If You Are Hit by a TARTA Bus in Downtown Toledo
Many people catch TARTA buses at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza or at various stops throughout downtown Toledo, and accidents involving these buses are not very common. However, if a pedestrian is hit by a TARTA bus, they are likely to sustain severe injuries and will face a difficult series of legal proceedings as they attempt to recover compensation for their damages.
The first steps you take after this type of accident are crucial. You may have suffered severe injuries and may not remember much of the accident, so hiring an experienced attorney at your first opportunity is crucial to your case. Your attorney can gather various types of evidence that may help you establish liability and then explain what you will need to do if a TARTA bus driver is liable for your injuries.
Even if you think you only suffered minor injuries, you should seek medical treatment right away. This will create a record showing you sought care immediately and can ensure you receive appropriate care for any injuries that may not be immediately obvious. The Toledo Police Department will likely create an official report of the accident, and your attorney can obtain this and other evidence to help you establish liability.
Your attorney can obtain statements from bus passengers and other witnesses to help you prove exactly what caused your accident. The Ohio State Highway Patrol recorded 11,350 vehicle crashes in Lucas County in 2025, and every year in Ohio, vehicle accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths. The at-fault driver is typically liable for damages, but this can be difficult when the defendant in your case is a TARTA employee.
Filing a Claim for a TARTA Bus Accident in Toledo
In Ohio, vehicle accident cases are resolved based on fault, meaning whoever caused an accident is liable for the resulting damages. However, since TARTA is a government-operated bus service, there are different rules for filing a claim against any government entity in Ohio. Most government entities have sovereign immunity from civil liability, so you need to prove that the TARTA bus driver was negligent in a way that directly caused your injuries.
You also face a much shorter time limit for filing your case. You must send an official notice of your intent to file a claim to TARTA very soon after the accident, so it’s crucial to hire a bus accident lawyer who can help you handle all of the procedural requirements for your case. Your attorney can help you prove that the TARTA bus driver was negligent while acting within the scope of their job duties, and that their negligence directly caused your injury.
Success with your claim could yield compensation for your medical treatment costs, any income you are unable to earn while you recover, and for the pain and suffering you experienced. However, Ohio law limits how much compensation you can receive in a claim against a government entity, and you will need the help of an experienced Toledo bus accident attorney to assist you with recovering as much compensation as state law allows for your damages.
FAQs
How Much Compensation Can You Claim for Being Hit by a TARTA Bus?
The amount of compensation you can claim for being hit by a TARTA bus depends on the severity of your injuries. While there are certain restrictions when it comes to claiming compensation for an injury from any government entity, an experienced Toledo bus accident attorney can help you meet the procedural requirements for filing your claim, and you are more likely to obtain a suitable recovery with their help.
How Long Do You Have to File a Bus Accident Claim in Toledo?
In Toledo, you do not have very long to file a bus accident claim if you were hit by a TARTA bus. While the usual statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Toledo is two years, starting on the date your injury occurred, if you have grounds to file a claim against any government entity, the deadline to file your claim is much shorter. You must also file notice of your intent to file the claim immediately.
Why Should I Hire a Bus Accident Lawyer?
You should hire a bus accident lawyer because these accident cases are more difficult to resolve than most others, especially if you were hit by a TARTA bus in downtown Toledo. You need an attorney who has proven experience handling claims against public entities and who you can trust to pursue as much compensation as Ohio law allows. You’re more likely to reach a favorable outcome with a Toledo bus accident attorney representing you.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bus Accident Lawyer in Toledo?
The cost to hire a bus accident lawyer in Toledo depends on the attorney you choose to handle your case. When you hire Gervelis Law Firm to represent you, there is no upfront cost. We accept personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we will only charge a fee after we secure compensation for your damages. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
How Long Does a TARTA Bus Accident Claim Take to Resolve?
The time it takes to resolve a TARTA bus accident claim largely depends on the specifics of your case, the scope of damages you suffered, and whether you hire a bus accident lawyer to represent you. Most claims against government entities are resolved relatively quickly, but you have the greatest chance of reaching a swift result with an experienced Toledo bus accident lawyer representing you.
The attorneys at Gervelis Law Firm have decades of proven experience handling all types of injury claims for Toledo clients. Founding attorney Mark Gervelis is a Board Certified Trial Lawyer with an extensive record of success in difficult cases throughout Ohio, so our team is confident we can get real results. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation, and we can explain what happens if you are hit by a TARTA bus in downtown Toledo.
