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Colorado Bus Accident Lawyers
We represent passengers, pedestrians, and families hurt in RTD, transit, school, and charter bus crashes across Colorado. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
No fee unless we winA Colorado bus crash is not a standard car accident. When the bus is run by RTD or another public agency, your claim is governed by the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, with its own deadlines and limits.
- If a public entity like RTD operated the bus, you must file a written Notice of Claim within 182 days of the discovery of the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109). Miss that window and the claim is barred for good.
- Bus operators are common carriers held to the highest degree of care for passenger safety, which can make negligence easier to prove than in a typical car accident.
- When a private contractor runs the route, the government damage caps may not apply, and the contractor's commercial insurance can open access to far higher limits.
CGH Injury Lawyers represents passengers, pedestrians, and families hurt in RTD, municipal transit, school, and charter bus crashes across Colorado. We move quickly to identify the true operator, preserve bus camera footage before it is erased, and protect your claim before the 182-day window closes, with no upfront fees and a free first consultation.
Why these cases are different
The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act and your bus accident claim
The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (C.R.S. 24-10-101 et seq.) changes how an injury claim works the moment a government entity is involved. It gives public entities sovereign immunity, meaning they generally cannot be sued for their employees' governmental functions. The Act includes a key waiver for motor vehicle crashes under C.R.S. 24-10-106, which is what allows an injured rider to bring a claim against RTD, a municipal transit system, or another public transportation provider.
Three restrictions that do not apply to ordinary injury cases
- Strict notice requirement. You must file a formal Notice of Claim within 182 days of the discovery of the injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109), far shorter than the standard statute of limitations.
- Damage caps. Colorado law sets statutory limits on what you can recover from a public entity, no matter how severe your injuries are.
- Limited discovery. Government entities carry certain procedural protections during investigation and litigation that private defendants do not have.
Procedural missteps here can permanently bar an otherwise strong claim. That is why a transit case calls for action and specialized knowledge from the first week.
Who is actually liable
Who operated the bus changes everything
One of the most misunderstood parts of a Colorado transit case is figuring out who actually operated the bus. This is not a technical detail. It decides which legal framework, and which insurance, governs your recovery.
RTD direct operations
- RTD employs the driver and owns the bus
- Your claim falls under the CGIA in full
- Government immunity, damage caps, and the 182-day notice all apply
- The Notice of Claim goes to RTD's legal department
Private contractor operations
- RTD often contracts routes to companies like Transdev, First Transit, and MV Transportation
- The contractor provides the bus and employs the driver
- The CGIA damage caps may not apply
- Commercial general liability insurance, often with much higher limits, becomes the primary source of recovery
A bus's exterior branding can mislead you. An RTD-branded bus may actually be run by a private contractor. Determining the true operator means examining the driver's employment records, the vehicle registration and insurance documents, the service contracts between RTD and third-party operators, and the driver's uniform and identification.
This investigation has to happen fast, before evidence disappears and before the 182-day deadline runs. The operator question is often the difference between a case capped at $505,000 and one with access to multi-million-dollar commercial insurance. When another vehicle helped cause the crash, that driver may share liability too, and their insurance is not subject to the CGIA caps.
The common carrier standard
Why bus operators are held to a higher duty of care
Colorado law does not treat all drivers the same. A private motorist must use reasonable care under the circumstances. Bus operators, as common carriers, are held to the highest degree of care for passenger safety. That elevated duty exists because riders entrust their safety to the carrier and have little ability to protect themselves once the bus is moving.
Where the higher standard applies
- Sudden stops and starts. Jerk-and-jolt injuries happen when a bus brakes or accelerates abruptly and throws standing passengers to the floor, even when the driver hit nothing.
- Door closures. Closing doors on a passenger trying to board or exit, without verifying clearance, can violate the duty of care.
- Failure to secure mobility devices. Wheelchair users and riders with mobility aids are entitled to proper securement before the bus moves.
- Inadequate weather precautions. In Colorado winters, operators are expected to salt steps, allow extra boarding time, and adjust to conditions.
Because of this standard, you do not have to prove recklessness or extreme carelessness. You only have to show the operator failed to exercise the extraordinary care the law requires of common carriers, which often makes negligence easier to establish than in an ordinary car crash.
Colorado's strictest deadline
The 182-day Notice of Claim requirement
If you plan to bring a claim against RTD or another Colorado public transit agency, the 182-day Notice of Claim is the most important deadline you face. Miss it and the case is over before it begins, no matter how strong the evidence. The clock is set by C.R.S. 24-10-109.
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The clock starts at discovery of the injury
The 182 days run from the date of discovery of the injury, not the date you learned the full extent of your damages. A crash on January 1 where the injury is discovered that day means the notice must arrive by July 2.
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It must be received, not just mailed
Mailing by the deadline is not enough. The written Notice of Claim must be received by the correct office, RTD's legal department for RTD, or the city attorney for a municipal system.
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What the notice must include
Your name and address, the date, time, and location of the crash, a description of the injury and how it happened, the names of any public employees involved, and the compensation you are seeking.
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This is not the statute of limitations
The 182-day notice is a prerequisite to suing, separate from the personal injury statute of limitations. File on day 183 and the entity can move to dismiss, with little room for a court to extend it.
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What happens after you file
Once the public entity receives the notice, it has 90 days to accept, deny, or offer settlement. If it denies the claim or the 90 days pass, you may file suit, while the underlying statute of limitations still controls.
Many injured riders do not realize a government vehicle was involved until a denial letter arrives from RTD's insurer weeks later, when precious time has already passed. The safest move is to talk with an attorney right away so the notice and evidence preservation begin at once.
Compensation
Damage caps and the exceptions that can lift them
When the CGIA applies, C.R.S. 24-10-114 caps what you can recover from a public entity. For claims accruing on or after January 1, 2026, the statutory limits are $505,000 per person for injuries caused by a single public employee or incident, and $1.42 million in total when several people are hurt in the same incident. These figures are adjusted for inflation periodically, so confirm the current amounts when your claim is filed.
What counts toward the cap
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost income and rehabilitation costs
- Pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life
- The cap applies only to the public entity's share, not to other responsible parties
When the caps may not apply
- A private contractor operated the bus, opening access to commercial insurance
- A third-party driver shares liability, whose insurer is not capped
- Federal funding requires minimum coverage that can exceed state caps
For a catastrophic injury that requires lifetime medical care, the government caps can fall far short. That is exactly why the operator investigation in the first weeks matters so much. Finding a private contractor or a third-party driver can be the difference between a capped recovery and a full one.
Causes and evidence
Common causes and the evidence that wins transit claims
Transit crashes come from many causes, each raising different liability questions. Building a strong claim often depends on evidence that is not part of an ordinary car accident, and some of it disappears fast.
Common causes
- Operator error: distraction, fatigue, speeding, or failure to yield
- Maintenance failures: brake failures, tire blowouts, steering faults
- Inadequate driver training for Colorado weather, altitude, and mountain routes
- Road design and conditions, which can shift liability to CDOT or a municipality
- Third-party drivers who cut off buses or run red lights
Evidence that matters
- Bus camera footage, often overwritten on a 30-day cycle, so it must be preserved at once
- Electronic data recorders that log speed, braking, and acceleration
- Operator logs showing shift schedules, breaks, and fatigue
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Transit agency policies and witness statements from riders and bystanders
Because bus camera footage and operational data can be erased on a fixed cycle, an immediate preservation demand is one of the first things a transit case needs. Wait too long and the most objective proof of what happened may be gone.
Shared fault
What if you were partly at fault?
Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule under C.R.S. 13-21-111. If you were partly to blame, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but only if you were less than 50 percent responsible. At 50 percent or more, you recover nothing.
In transit cases, agencies often argue that a passenger was not holding a handrail during a sudden stop, that a pedestrian crossed against the signal or outside a crosswalk, or that a rider distracted the driver. Even so, you may still recover as long as the operator shares fault. A passenger who falls during a sudden stop might be 20 percent at fault for not holding on, yet still recover 80 percent of the damages if the driver violated the common carrier standard. An attorney can challenge an inflated fault percentage.
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How it works
How we handle your Colorado bus accident case
A transit claim moves through six stages, from a free case review to trial when an insurer or public entity refuses to be fair. Most cases resolve before a courtroom, but we prepare every one as if it will be tried.
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Free case review
We review the facts, explain how the CGIA affects your claim, and answer your questions at no cost.
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Identify the operator and preserve evidence
We move at once to determine the true operator and send preservation demands for bus camera footage and electronic data before it is overwritten.
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File the Notice of Claim
When a public entity is involved, we prepare and deliver the Notice of Claim well inside the 182-day window, to the correct office.
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Build and present the demand
We document the full extent of your damages and present a demand to the entity or the contractor's insurer.
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Negotiate or file suit
Most cases settle here. If the offer is not fair, we file in the appropriate Colorado District Court.
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Trial
Our trial lawyers are ready to present your case to a Colorado jury when that is what full recovery requires.
Not every case goes to trial. Many resolve in negotiation or mediation. We tell you honestly where your case stands at every stage.
Your team
The team handling your case
CGH Injury Lawyers is a Colorado firm founded in 2016, formerly Cheney Galluzzi & Howard. Managing Partner Kevin Cheney is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried over 25 cases to verdict. Timothy G. Tarr has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2023. Your transit case is handled by a licensed Colorado attorney, not a paralegal.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Colorado bus accident claims
Can I sue RTD for a bus accident in Colorado?
Yes, but with significant restrictions. The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act waives immunity for motor vehicle accidents, which allows lawsuits against RTD. However, you must file a Notice of Claim within 182 days, and damage caps limit recovery to $505,000 per person. If a private contractor operates the bus, different rules may apply.
What is the deadline to file a claim against RTD?
Before suing a Colorado public entity like RTD, you must submit a written Notice of Claim within 182 days of the discovery of your injury (C.R.S. 24-10-109). The notice must describe the accident, your injuries, and the compensation you are seeking. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim, regardless of its merit.
How much can I recover in a Colorado bus accident claim?
When the CGIA applies, you can recover up to $505,000 per person or $1.42 million per incident from a public entity (C.R.S. 24-10-114). These caps may not apply if a private contractor operates the bus or if third parties share liability, which can open access to higher insurance limits.
What is the common carrier standard for bus operators?
Common carriers must exercise the highest degree of care for passenger safety, a stricter standard than ordinary drivers face. This elevated duty makes it easier to prove negligence in cases involving sudden stops, door closures, or inadequate safety precautions.
How do I find out who actually operated the bus?
The bus's branding can be misleading. You need to examine the driver's employment records, vehicle registration, and the service contracts between RTD and third-party operators. This investigation should begin immediately after the accident, because the true operator decides which damage caps and insurance apply.
What if I was partly at fault for the bus accident?
Colorado's comparative negligence rule allows recovery if you are less than 50 percent at fault (C.R.S. 13-21-111). Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you are 20 percent at fault, you recover 80 percent of your total damages.
Does the 182-day deadline apply to school and charter bus crashes?
It depends on who operated the bus. A public school district bus is a government entity, so the CGIA notice deadline and caps generally apply. A privately owned charter or tour bus company is not a public entity, so a standard personal injury claim against its insurance may apply instead. Identifying the operator early is essential to protect the right deadline.
Related injury cases
Other Colorado injury cases we handle
Many bus crashes overlap with other serious injury claims. If your case is broader than a single collision, these practice areas connect to it.
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IT'S MORE THAN MONEY.
Injured on a Colorado bus? The clock is already running.
Free consultation. No fee unless we win. We act fast to preserve evidence and protect the 182-day deadline.
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