Justice for Public Transit Injuries
If you have been injured in a collision involving a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) bus, a Jefferson Transit (JeT) vehicle, or a private motorcoach in the Crescent City, your path to recovery requires a legal team that knows the local landscape — from the Westbank to Lakeview.
Navigating the aftermath of a bus crash is vastly different from a standard car accident. These cases involve complex liability layers, government immunity questions, and strict notification deadlines that can permanently bar your claim if missed.
At Justin Reese Law Group, we represent individuals who have suffered due to the negligence of common carriers and transit entities — and we know how to hold them accountable under Louisiana's specific transit laws.
Steps to Take Immediately After a Bus Crash in New Orleans
Your actions in the first few minutes after a bus accident can determine the success of your case. Transit insurance adjusters move quickly — you need to move just as fast to protect your rights.
Call 911
Ensure the NOPD or Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office files an official report. Without a police report, transit entities will dispute that the accident happened the way you say it did.
Document the Vehicle Number
Every RTA or JeT bus has a specific ID number displayed on the exterior. This is vital for tracking maintenance logs, driver records, and prior incident reports that may prove a pattern of negligence.
Photograph Everything
Capture the position of the bus, damage to all vehicles, road hazards like potholes, missing signage, and any visible injuries. This visual evidence cannot be recreated once the scene is cleared.
Gather Witness Contact Information
Bus accidents often have many witnesses — passengers, pedestrians, and nearby drivers. Their statements are invaluable before they leave the scene and before memory fades.
Do Not Sign Anything
Transit insurance adjusters may approach you quickly with a lowball settlement or release form. Do not sign anything before speaking with Justin Reese Law Group — once you sign a release, you can never ask for more money.
Why Bus Accidents in New Orleans Demand a Specific Legal Strategy
New Orleans is a city defined by narrow historical streets, high-density tourist areas, and a public transit system that operates 24/7. Whether it's a city bus navigating the tight turns of the French Quarter or a commuter bus on the Westbank Expressway, the sheer mass of these vehicles makes any collision potentially catastrophic.
Unlike Private Vehicle Accidents, Bus Accidents Involve:
- Multiple Injured Parties — A single RTA collision can result in dozens of simultaneous injury claims, creating complex priority and insurance issues.
- Governmental Entities — Suing a public entity like the RTA or a parish-run transit service involves shorter statutes of limitation and specific administrative hurdles that can permanently bar your claim if missed.
- Common Carrier Law — Under Louisiana law, buses are common carriers — held to a higher standard of care for their passengers' safety than ordinary drivers. This higher duty works in your favor.
- Federal Motor Carrier Regulations — Private charter and tour buses must comply with FMCSA regulations on driver hours, vehicle maintenance, and safety standards — violations that become powerful evidence of negligence.
Types of Bus Accident Cases We Handle
Justin Reese Law Group provides comprehensive representation for all types of transit-related incidents — from public RTA collisions to school bus crashes to private charter accidents involving out-of-state companies.
Public Transit — RTA & JeT
We hold public agencies accountable when poor driver training or failure to maintain the fleet leads to injury. Government entity claims require specific administrative procedures and tighter deadlines — we manage every step.
School Bus Collisions
Protecting the rights of children and families when school district drivers or contracted transportation companies fail to follow safety protocols. These cases often involve both government and private contractor liability.
Private Charter & Tour Bus Crashes
Often involving out-of-state companies and federal FMCSA regulations, these cases require a firm that can navigate multi-jurisdiction issues and hold national carriers accountable in New Orleans courts.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Strikes
Buses have massive blind spots. We represent those hit by buses while walking or biking in high-traffic areas like the Garden District, Mid-City, or the French Quarter — where bus routes and pedestrian activity converge daily.
Passenger Injuries
If you were a passenger on a bus that braked suddenly, jolted violently, or collided with another vehicle, you are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain — regardless of whether the bus driver was at fault.
Greyhound & Interstate Bus Accidents
Long-distance bus operators are subject to strict federal safety requirements. When driver fatigue, inadequate maintenance, or speeding causes an interstate bus crash, we pursue both the operating company and its insurers.
High-Risk Locations for Bus Accidents in New Orleans & Gretna
Our team has identified the specific hotspots where bus-related collisions most frequently occur — due to heavy traffic, complex intersections, and the density of transit routes across the city.
Westbank Expressway (US-90 BUS)
As a primary artery for Gretna and Harvey residents, the Westbank Expressway sees heavy JeT and Greyhound traffic. The merging lanes near Whitney Ave. and the Manhattan Blvd. exit are notorious for sideswipe accidents involving large buses with significant blind spots.
Canal Street & the CBD
The intersection of Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue is one of the busiest transit hubs in the South — where RTA buses share limited space with streetcars, delivery trucks, and thousands of pedestrians. Distracted driving or mechanical failure here leads to pedestrian strikes and multi-vehicle pileups.
I-10 & the High Rise Bridge
Tour buses and regional transit frequently use the I-10 corridor. Accidents near the I-10/I-610 split or the High Rise Bridge over the Industrial Canal are particularly dangerous because of high speeds and the difficulty of maneuvering a heavy bus during sudden traffic shifts.
Tchoupitoulas St. & Port Area
Heavy industrial traffic near the Port of New Orleans combined with RTA routes serving the Lower Garden District creates a high-risk environment. Narrow lanes and frequent stops near Tchoupitoulas are common sites for rear-end bus collisions and pedestrian strikes.
Who Is Responsible for Your Bus Accident Injuries?
In a bus accident, the driver is rarely the only party at fault. To maximize your recovery, we investigate every potential source of liability — because the more parties we identify, the more insurance coverage may be available to compensate you.
The Transit Authority
For negligent hiring practices, failure to properly train drivers, or inadequate maintenance of the vehicle fleet — the RTA or JeT bears institutional liability when systemic failures cause passenger or pedestrian injuries.
Maintenance Contractors
If a mechanical failure — brake failure on a steep bridge, tire blowout on the expressway, or steering defect — caused or contributed to the crash, the company responsible for maintaining the fleet may bear liability independent of the transit authority.
Third-Party Drivers
If another vehicle cut off the bus, ran a red light, or performed an unsafe maneuver that caused the bus driver to swerve or crash, that driver and their insurance company bear direct liability for your injuries.
Manufacturers
In cases involving defective parts or design flaws in the bus itself — failed braking systems, defective door mechanisms, or inadequate passenger restraint systems — the manufacturer may bear strict product liability separate from operator negligence.
Where to Seek Care After a New Orleans Bus Accident
If you are involved in a bus crash, your first priority is a medical evaluation — even if you feel okay at the scene. The impact forces in bus collisions frequently cause spinal injuries, soft tissue damage, and concussions that don't present symptoms immediately. These New Orleans and Westbank facilities are equipped to handle bus accident trauma.
University Medical Center (UMC)
2000 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112 — the region's Level 1 Trauma Center and the primary destination for the most severe bus accident injuries, including spinal trauma and head injuries.
West Jefferson Medical Center
Situated in Marrero — a crucial resource for those injured on the Westbank or in the Gretna/Harvey corridor, providing emergency trauma services close to the Westbank Expressway transit routes.
Ochsner Medical Center — West Bank
Located in Gretna near our office — providing comprehensive emergency services for commuters injured on the Expressway and in JeT bus corridors throughout the Westbank.
Tulane Medical Center
1415 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112 — a primary resource for those injured in the downtown or CBD area near major RTA routes, specializing in neurological and orthopedic trauma care.
Directions to Justin Reese Law Group
Office Address: 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200, Gretna, LA 70053 — conveniently located just across the river from downtown New Orleans, easily accessible from the Westbank, the East, and the CBD.
From Downtown New Orleans (CBD)
- Take the Crescent City Connection (US-90 Business West) across the Mississippi River.
- Take the exit toward Huey P Long Ave / Gretna.
- Continue onto the Westbank Expressway frontage road.
- Turn right onto Huey P Long Ave. Our office is at 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200 on your right.
From Metairie / Kenner
- Take I-10 East toward New Orleans.
- Follow signs for the Westbank / US-90 W.
- Cross the Crescent City Connection.
- Exit toward Huey P Long Ave / Gretna and turn right onto Huey P Long Ave.
From the Lower Westbank
- Take the Westbank Expressway (US-90 Business East) toward Gretna.
- Exit at Huey P Long Ave.
- Turn left onto Huey P Long Ave under the expressway.
- Our office is at 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200 on your left.
New Orleans Bus Accident FAQ
For accidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana provides a two-year prescriptive period for standard personal injury claims. However, if you are suing a government entity like the RTA, there are much shorter administrative notice requirements — often requiring you to file a formal notice of claim before the lawsuit can even begin. Missing these government-specific deadlines can permanently bar your right to sue. Contact a lawyer immediately after any bus accident.
Yes. As a common carrier, the RTA is held to a high duty of care for passenger safety. If a driver makes an unnecessarily violent or jerky stop that causes a passenger to fall and suffer injury, the transit authority can be held liable. The higher standard of care that applies to common carriers makes these cases stronger than standard vehicle collision claims.
Yes. Louisiana follows a pure comparative fault rule — you can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident. Your total award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. We fight aggressively to minimize the fault assigned to you by transit defense teams whose goal is to reduce their exposure by inflating your share of the blame.
You may be entitled to medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and property damage. Because buses are common carriers held to a higher standard of care, bus accident claims often support stronger damages arguments than standard vehicle collision claims — particularly when transit authority negligence is established.
Absolutely. Initial offers from transit insurance companies are almost always significantly lower than what your case is truly worth. An attorney will calculate the full long-term costs of your injuries — including future medical treatment, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages — to ensure you are fully protected before you sign anything. Once you sign a release, you can never ask for more money.
Contact a New Orleans Bus Accident Lawyer Today
Let us help you hold the transit companies accountable. Whether your injury involved an RTA city bus, a JeT commuter vehicle, a school bus, or a private charter — Justin Reese Law Group is ready to build your case and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Free consultation, no fees unless we win.
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