A short record for injured bus riders
Hurt While Riding a Metro Bus? Save Your Trip Details
30-second answer
Get care first. Write down your route, stop, time, and location inside the bus. Save original files and report numbers. A report to the driver or a request for video is not automatically a claim for damages.
Legal information from the Law Office of Arta Wildeboer · Updated
Do this now
- 1Write down the date, time, route, direction, and boarding stop. Add the bus number only if you know it.
- 2Record where you sat or stood, what you held, and what you struck. Note any mobility aid and assistance.
- 3Save fare records, trip messages, original photos, witness contacts, and agency report numbers. Keep private account details off social media.
- 4Keep medical papers and messages in one folder. Ask about preserving bus video and other records without waiting for a final report.
- 5Check the correct agency's claim process promptly. Keep copies and delivery proof. Get advice on deadlines; a video request does not replace a claim.
Avoid this
- Do not enter traffic, a depot, or a damaged bus to get evidence. Do not test damaged mobility equipment.
- Do not guess a bus number, impact sequence, or cause. Keep your own memory separate from news reports.
- Do not assume emailing Metro files a damage claim. Its current instructions require in-person or mail submission.
Save these
- Route, direction, stops, time, and any known bus number
- Fare records and trip messages already available to you
- Seat or standing location and mobility-aid details
- Original photos, videos, and witness contacts
- Police, fire, or transit report numbers
- Medical papers, expenses, claim copies, and delivery proof
Common questions
What if I do not know the bus number?
Save the route, stop, direction, and time. These can help narrow the trip. Do not fill in missing details with guesses.
Does telling the driver file my claim?
Not automatically. A report and a claim for damages are different. Check Metro's Legal Services instructions and get deadline advice.
Will asking for video keep it safe?
Do not assume so. Ask about preservation separately. Access to records, keeping evidence, and filing a claim are different steps.
Should I keep using damaged mobility equipment?
Do not test it to recreate the crash. Put safety first and ask your care or equipment provider about safe arrangements. Save photos and repair records when safely available.
Want more detail?
Read the full explanation
Reseda Metro Bus Crash: Records Riders May NeedOfficial resources
Questions about your situation?
Talk with Arta Wildeboer
A short guide cannot account for every fact. A free consultation can help you understand the next step without pressure.