A bus ride across Ann Arbor should be a peaceful trip. When it ends in an accident instead, the injuries can be severe, and the questions come fast. At Christensen Law, our Ann Arbor bus accident lawyers help injured riders, pedestrians, and families hold the right parties accountable and pursue the full compensation Michigan law allows.
Bus crashes are rarely simple. A city transit bus, a University of Michigan campus shuttle, and a school bus each answer to different insurers and different legal rules. We understand those differences, and we build every case around them from day one.
We have advocated for injured Michiganders since 1991, and we treat each client like family during one of the hardest times of their life. If you were hurt on or by a bus in Washtenaw County, call Christensen Law 24/7 at (734) 519-7576 for a free, no-risk consultation. We will listen to your story, protect your rights, and fight to win the justice you deserve.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
How We Fight for Ann Arbor Bus Accident Victims
For more than 35 years, we have taken on insurance companies and government agencies that try to leave injured people undercompensated. We are trial lawyers first, and that changes how the other side treats your claim. When adjusters know a firm is ready to go to court, they stop making lowball offers.
Our results reflect that approach. We have secured a $17.8 million verdict in a motor vehicle accident case and a $9.5 million recovery in a wrongful death case, among many other multimillion-dollar outcomes for injured clients across the state.
Firm founder David Christensen is a Michigan Hall of Fame attorney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and holds AV Preeminent status from Martindale-Hubbell. Managing partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized Leader in the Law and also an ABOTA member.
As Sarah puts it, the client is the most important part of any case, and the defendant’s own conduct comes second. We let the treatment team tell the medical story, and we hold the at-fault parties to account for their own actions. That is how real cases are won, through careful preparation rather than empty promises.
Who Is Liable in an Ann Arbor Bus Crash?
Liability in an Ann Arbor bus crash can rest with more than one party, and identifying each one early is critical. Depending on how the crash happened, responsibility may fall on the bus driver, the agency that owns the bus, another motorist, or a combination of all three.
Buses that carry the public are treated as common carriers under Michigan law. That means the company or agency operating the bus owes passengers a high degree of care to keep them safe. When a driver speeds, brakes suddenly, runs a light, or fails to secure passengers, that duty may be broken.
Many Ann Arbor buses are run by government agencies, and that adds a layer most crash victims never expect. The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, known locally as TheRide, and University of Michigan campus buses are public entities.
Michigan generally shields government agencies from lawsuits, but an important exception under MCL 691.1405 allows claims when a government employee negligently operates a government-owned vehicle.
The individual driver has separate protection. Under MCL 691.1407, a government employee is usually immune unless their conduct rises to gross negligence, so the agency itself is often the proper defendant. Sorting out who to name and how is one of the first things we do.
Sometimes the bus itself did nothing wrong. If another driver runs a red light on Washtenaw Avenue and slams into a transit bus, that at-fault motorist and their insurer may be the ones responsible for your injuries. If your crash involved a passenger car rather than a bus, our Ann Arbor car accident lawyers handle those claims too.
Types of Bus Accidents We Handle in Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor moves an enormous number of people by bus every day, and each type of bus crash raises its own legal issues. We handle the full range of these claims across Washtenaw County.
- Public transit crashes: AAATA buses run heavy routes through downtown, along Plymouth Road, and out toward Ypsilanti from the Blake Transit Center, and a sudden stop or collision can throw standing riders hard.
- University campus shuttle crashes: University of Michigan blue buses connect Central Campus, North Campus, and the Michigan Medicine complex, carrying huge student volumes near State Street and the Diag.
- School bus crashes: Children riding to Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County schools can be hurt in a collision, at a bus stop, or while crossing the street to board.
- Pedestrians struck by a bus: Riders and walkers are often injured stepping off a bus or crossing busy corridors like South University, Fuller Road, and Stadium Boulevard.
Crash volume climbs even higher on football Saturdays near Michigan Stadium and around shopping hubs like Briarwood Mall, where buses, cars, and foot traffic all compete for the same streets. Whatever kind of bus was involved, we know how to preserve the evidence and identify every insurer before the trail goes cold. Reach out to our Ann Arbor bus injury attorneys to talk through what happened.
How We Build Your Ann Arbor Bus Accident Case
Strong bus cases are built on evidence gathered quickly, before it disappears. Buses and the agencies behind them generate a trail of records, and we move fast to preserve it. The sooner we start, the more we can protect.
Most transit and campus buses carry cameras and electronic data that can show speed, braking, and driver behavior at the moment of impact. That footage is often overwritten within days, so we send preservation demands right away. We also gather driver logs, maintenance records, and dispatch data.
We pair that hard evidence with the medical picture, working closely with your treatment team to document every injury and future need. Then we let the record speak for itself. This is the same disciplined approach that has driven our largest verdicts and settlements.
Bus cases also tend to involve several insurers at once, and they do not always cooperate. Your own No-Fault carrier, the agency behind the bus, and an at-fault driver’s insurer may all point fingers at one another. We coordinate those claims so the parties argue among themselves instead of stalling your recovery.
How Does Michigan No-Fault Apply to Bus Passengers?
Michigan No-Fault starts with your own auto insurance, even when you were hurt as a passenger on a bus. This surprises many riders, but it is the defensible reading of the law after the 2019 reforms.
Under MCL 500.3114, an injured bus passenger who has their own auto policy generally turns first to that policy for Personal Injury Protection, called PIP. PIP pays medical bills and a portion of lost wages no matter who caused the crash. If you have no policy of your own, priority moves to a spouse’s policy, then a resident relative’s, and finally to the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
There is a specific reason buses work this way. Public transit and campus buses fall under a carveout for government-sponsored programs, so the transit agency’s own coverage steps in only when a rider has no other PIP source. If you were struck by a bus as a pedestrian, MCL 500.3115 directs you to that same personal-policy-first order.
PIP can reach further than many people realize. Beyond medical bills and wage loss, it may cover attendant care, replacement services, and mileage to appointments. These benefits often make the difference during a long recovery, so claiming them correctly matters.
PIP is only part of the picture. To recover for pain and suffering, you must bring a third-party claim and meet the serious impairment threshold in MCL 500.3135, which requires an injury that affects your ability to live your normal life.
Michigan also follows a modified comparative fault rule under MCL 600.2959. You can still recover as long as you are not more than 50% at fault, though your award is reduced by your share of the blame. Our bus accident lawyers in Ann Arbor handle Michigan bus accident claims statewide, and we know how to protect your recovery from these defenses.
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My name is Erin, my experience with Christensen Law was Overwhelming… But in the very... Christianson Law stepped in after my motorcycle accident when another firm had dropped the ball—and they completely and very quickly...
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I hired this law firm after being hit by a drunk driver in my of... They were communicative, compassionate, made the process easy for me to understand. I was able to effectively receive a size-able...
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From the moment I spoke with Dustin, I felt like I was in good hands He, Samantha, and the entire staff at Christensen Law treated me like family, demonstrating kindness, expertise, and a genuine interest...
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What Deadlines Apply to an Ann Arbor Bus Injury Claim?
Deadlines in bus cases are short and unforgiving, and government claims are the shortest of all. Missing one can end a strong case before it starts, so acting quickly matters more than most people expect.
For No-Fault PIP benefits, you generally have one year from the crash to file a written application, under MCL 500.3145. The same statute limits how far back your benefits can reach, which is one reason waiting is so costly.
Claims against a government agency like AAATA or the University of Michigan carry their own strict notice rules, and some are far shorter than the general injury deadline. These notice periods often must be met within a matter of months, and the exact requirement depends on which entity owns the bus.
Because a missed notice can bar your claim entirely, the safest step is to talk with us right away so nothing slips past you.
Why Ann Arbor Families Trust Christensen Law
Choosing the right firm after a serious bus crash changes everything about how your case is handled. Here is what sets us apart:
- Real trial lawyers: We prepare every case for court, so insurers take our clients seriously from the very start.
- Proven results: Our record includes a $17.8 million verdict and a $9.5 million recovery, reflecting the value we fight to secure.
- Elite credentials: David Christensen is a Hall of Fame and ABOTA trial attorney, and Sarah Stempky-Kime is a Leader in the Law and ABOTA member.
- Family-first care: We treat clients like family, keep you informed at every step, and charge nothing unless we win.
You have enough to carry after a bus crash, and the legal fight should not be one more weight on your shoulders. Let us handle the insurers and the agencies while you focus on healing. Call Christensen Law today for a free consultation, and let us show you what real advocacy looks like.
FAQs Answered by Our Bus Accident Lawyers in Ann Arbor, MI
Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from injured bus riders and families across Ann Arbor.
You may be able to, though the path differs from a claim against a private company. University of Michigan buses are run by a government entity, so your case must fit an exception to governmental immunity, most often the negligent-operation rule under MCL 691.1405. Because these claims carry short notice deadlines, it is wise to speak with a lawyer quickly.
In most cases, yes. Michigan No-Fault sends an injured bus passenger to their own auto policy first for PIP benefits, and the transit agency’s coverage applies only when you have no personal, spousal, or resident-relative policy.
Pedestrians struck by a bus can still receive No-Fault PIP benefits, usually through their own auto policy or that of a resident relative. If you were seriously injured, you may also bring a third-party claim against the party at fault. Corridors like Main Street and South University see heavy foot traffic, and these cases deserve close investigation.
Nothing up front. We handle injury cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Consultations are always free and available 24/7.
It depends on your injuries and the facts of your case. No-Fault PIP can cover medical care and wage loss, while a third-party claim can pursue pain and suffering and other damages when your injury meets the serious impairment threshold. We account for both your current and future accident-related needs.
It varies by the type of claim. No-Fault applications generally follow a one-year deadline, while government claims can require notice within just a few months. Talking with us early is the surest way to protect every deadline that applies to your case.
Contact Our Ann Arbor Bus Accident Lawyers Today
A serious bus crash can change your life in an instant, but you do not have to face what comes next alone. Our Ann Arbor bus accident lawyers are ready to listen to your story, protect your rights, and pursue the full recovery you deserve. We will stand between you and the insurance companies so you can focus on getting better.
Call Christensen Law 24/7 at (734) 519-7576 for a free, no-risk consultation, and let our team put more than three decades of trial experience to work for you. Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
