Injured on a CT Transit Bus? You May Only Have 90 Days to Act

Most people who are injured in Connecticut know they generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, as outlined in our full guide to Connecticut's personal injury statute of limitations. What far fewer people know is that this general rule does not apply if the bus that injured you was operated by a government transit agency. If your accident involved CT Transit, a regional transit district, or another publicly operated bus, a separate and much shorter deadline may apply, and missing it can permanently bar your claim, even if you are still well within the general two-year window.

Why Public Buses Are Different

Connecticut's public bus system includes CT Transit, operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and nine regional transit districts covering different parts of the state, including the Greater Hartford Transit District, the Greater New Haven Transit District, and the Southeastern Connecticut Transit District. Because these are government entities, claims against them are governed by different rules than claims against a private company or individual driver, as we cover in more depth on our bus accident lawyers page.

Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 13a-144, a person injured by a government-operated vehicle, including a public transit bus, may be required to provide written notice to the responsible government entity within 90 days of the accident, before a lawsuit can even be filed. This 90-day notice requirement exists in addition to, not instead of, the general statute of limitations.

What Happens If You Miss the 90-Day Window

Missing the 90-day notice deadline can bar your claim entirely, even if you file your lawsuit well within the general two-year statute of limitations. Connecticut courts have consistently enforced this notice requirement strictly. A valid, serious injury claim can be dismissed on procedural grounds alone if proper notice was not given in time.

This catches people off guard specifically because 90 days sounds like plenty of time when you're still recovering from an accident. In practice, many injured passengers don't realize they were dealing with a government transit operator, or don't realize a special notice rule even exists, until the window has already closed.

What the Notice Must Include

Connecticut's notice requirements for claims against government entities are technical, and a defective or incomplete notice can be treated the same as no notice at all. Generally, the written notice must identify:

• The date, time, and location of the accident
• A general description of how the accident occurred
• The nature of the injuries sustained
• The name and address of the injured party

Because courts have dismissed cases over technical defects in notice, this is not something to attempt without legal guidance if you believe your accident involved a government transit operator.

Private Charter and Tour Buses Are Different

It's worth noting that this 90-day rule applies specifically to public, government-operated buses, not private charter or tour bus companies. If you were injured on a private commercial bus, the general two-year personal injury statute of limitations typically applies instead, though other complexities can still arise depending on the operator and the circumstances of the crash.

What to Do If You Were Injured on a Public Bus

• Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine at first
• Note whether the bus displayed CT Transit branding or a specific transit district name
• Document the scene, the bus, and your injuries
• Contact an attorney as soon as possible, ideally within days, not weeks

If you were injured on a bus operated by CT Transit or a regional transit district, do not wait to see how your injuries progress before reaching out to an attorney. The 90-day clock does not pause for recovery time. You can also review our Connecticut bus accident statistics page for a broader look at how these accidents happen and what the data shows across the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if the bus that injured me was government-operated?

CT Transit buses are clearly branded, but regional transit district buses can be less obvious. If you're unsure, an attorney can help identify the operator quickly, this should be one of the first things confirmed after any bus accident.

What if I already missed the 90-day window?

Very limited exceptions exist, but they are narrow and fact-specific. Contact an attorney immediately to review your options rather than assuming your claim is barred.

Does this notice requirement replace the need to file a lawsuit within two years?

No. The 90-day notice is required in addition to the general statute of limitations, not instead of it. Both deadlines apply, and the shorter one is the one most people miss.

Related Pages

• Connecticut Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
• Connecticut Bus Accident Statistics
• Bus Accident Lawyers
• How a Personal Injury Case Works
• Free Case Evaluation

Contact Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki LLC — Free Case Evaluation

If you were injured on a CT Transit bus or another publicly operated bus in Connecticut, time is critical. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Call: (860) 589-8000 — available 24/7

Email: Info@Jazlowiecki.com

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