Bibb Transit Accident and Injury Lawyers in Macon

The Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority moves riders across Macon every day on its fixed bus routes and its paratransit service. When one of those buses is involved in a crash, an injured passenger, pedestrian, or motorist faces a claim that is very different from an ordinary car accident, because the transit authority is a government entity. At Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we handle these claims.

A claim against a public transit authority requires an ante litem notice

Because Macon-Bibb transit is operated by a governmental entity, a claim against it is subject to Georgia's ante litem notice requirement. You must give formal written notice of your claim on a deadline far shorter than the ordinary two years, as little as six months under O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5 for a municipal entity, before you can sue. Missing that notice can bar an otherwise strong case, which is why early, experienced counsel matters after any crash involving a transit bus.

A transit operator's high duty of care

A public transit operator owes its passengers a high degree of care for their safety. Injuries happen when a bus stops or accelerates suddenly, when a driver collides with another vehicle, when a passenger falls boarding or exiting, or when a pedestrian is struck. We investigate the operator's conduct, pull the vehicle's onboard camera footage before it is overwritten, and obtain the incident report to establish exactly what happened.

Georgia's fifty percent rule and full recovery

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, you recover nothing if you are found fifty percent or more at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share below that line. Because a claim against a government entity can be limited, it is essential to identify every other responsible party, such as another driver whose negligence contributed, whose insurance is not subject to the same rules. We pursue every available source of recovery. The most seriously injured are treated at Atrium Health Navicent, the region's Level I trauma center.

Serving injured riders and pedestrians across Middle Georgia

Our Macon team handles transit injury claims across Bibb, Houston, Monroe, Jones, Crawford, Peach, and Twiggs counties. We serve people hurt in Macon, Warner Robins, Perry, Forsyth, Gray, Byron, and the surrounding communities.

Reports, evidence, and filing your case

A transit crash is documented by the transit authority and, depending on where it happened, investigated by the Bibb County Sheriff's Office or the Georgia State Patrol. We move fast to preserve the onboard video and the incident report, serve the required ante litem notice, obtain your records from Atrium Health Navicent, and when a fair settlement cannot be reached, we file your lawsuit in Bibb County State Court, with high-value claims heard in Bibb County Superior Court.

Speak with a Macon transit accident attorney

A claim against a public transit authority has traps an ordinary car crash does not, and the notice deadline is unforgiving. Call (478) 449-0037 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Common questions

How quickly do I have to act after a transit bus crash?

Much sooner than the ordinary two years. Because the transit authority is a government entity, a claim requires written ante litem notice on a short deadline, as little as six months. Because that window is so short, it is important to contact a lawyer right away after any crash involving a transit bus.

I was in my own car when a transit bus hit me. Is that also subject to the notice rule?

Yes. Because the transit authority is a public entity, a claim against it for the negligent operation of its bus is subject to the ante litem notice rule whether you were a passenger, a pedestrian, or in another vehicle. We serve the notice and pursue any other at-fault parties separately.

How do I know if the bus that hit me was a transit vehicle?

We determine that quickly. Identifying the operator decides which rules and which deadline apply, so we confirm it early and serve any required notice, ensuring your claim is handled correctly from the start.