According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, buses and motor coaches are involved in thousands of injury crashes nationally each year, and New York's dense transit network makes it one of the highest-volume states for these claims.
What makes bus accident cases particularly demanding is the combination of government immunity rules for MTA and public transit defendants, strict Notice of Claim filing deadlines, and the frequent involvement of multiple potentially liable parties including the bus operator, the transit authority, the vehicle manufacturer, and the municipality responsible for road conditions.
The lawyers on this list handle bus accident cases across New York State, from New York City transit claims to upstate highway collisions involving charter and commercial buses. Each is included based on publicly available credentials, practice focus, and professional recognition. This is a list of individual attorneys, not law firms.
Note: Attorney rankings reflect publicly available credentials and practice information. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. This article is attorney advertising.
Find the Best Bus Accident Lawyers in New York
CONTACT USOur Recent Case Results
Settlement
Jury Verdict
Settlement
Settlement
1. Michael S. Porter, J.D. — Porter Law Group (Syracuse, NY)
Michael S. Porter is the founder and managing partner of Porter Law Group, and is one of the most experienced bus and vehicle accident attorneys practicing in New York State.
Admitted to the New York bar since the late 1990s and based in Fayetteville, Porter has built a serious injury practice that covers the full range of motor vehicle collision cases, including bus accidents involving public transit carriers, school districts, charter companies, and commercial operators throughout Central New York and beyond.
Porter's approach to bus accident litigation reflects the same depth he brings to medical malpractice and catastrophic injury cases: rigorous pre-suit investigation, immediate evidence preservation, and trial-ready preparation from the first day of representation.
His firm represents injured passengers, pedestrians struck by buses, and occupants of vehicles hit by commercial buses, pursuing every available theory of liability against every responsible party.
Why Michael S. Porter Ranks First for Bus Accident Cases in New York
Bus accident litigation in New York requires mastery of procedural rules that trip up less experienced attorneys. Porter's personal injury practice covers every stage of these cases, including:
- Notice of Claim requirements against public transit defendants, which must be filed within 90 days of the accident under General Municipal Law § 50-e
- Liability claims against the MTA, NFTA, and other public transit authorities
- School bus accident claims involving school district liability and negligent supervision
- Charter and private bus operator claims under federal motor carrier safety regulations
- Multi-defendant cases involving the bus operator, vehicle manufacturer, and road authority
Location: Fayetteville / Syracuse, NY | Bar Admission: New York State | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, Motor Vehicle Collisions, Medical Malpractice
2. Eric C. Nordby, J.D. — Porter Law Group (Syracuse, NY)
Eric C. Nordby is co-founder and senior trial attorney at Porter Law Group, bringing nearly three decades of personal injury litigation experience to the firm's vehicle accident practice..
Nordby handles bus accident claims that arise from the full range of transit scenarios common in upstate New York, including collisions on state highways, accidents involving regional transit authorities, and school bus crashes in Central New York school districts.
Working alongside Michael S. Porter, he applies a methodical approach to these cases: identifying all liable parties, preserving electronic evidence before it is overwritten, and building a damages presentation that accounts for both immediate trauma and long-term disability.
Location: Fayetteville / Syracuse, NY | Bar Admission: New York State | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, Motor Vehicle Collisions, Medical Malpractice
3. Jeff S. Korek — Gersowitz Libo & Korek (New York City, NY)
Jeff S. Korek is a name partner and senior trial attorney at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, a New York City plaintiffs' firm that markets itself as among the best-rated bus accident law practices in New York. Korek has tried and settled numerous serious personal injury cases in motor vehicle, construction, and municipal liability contexts, and as a named partner he is one of the identifiable individuals behind the firm's bus accident representations.
The firm's bus accident practice emphasizes MTA and public transit claims, with attorneys who understand the procedural requirements of suing governmental transit authorities in New York. Korek is listed among Super Lawyers recognized New York personal injury attorneys, reflecting peer acknowledgment of his trial practice across the state's most competitive legal market.
Location: New York City, NY | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, MTA Claims, Municipal Liability
4. Ben B. Rubinowitz — Gair, Gair, Conason (New York City, NY)
Ben B. Rubinowitz is managing partner and lead trial attorney at Gair, Gair, Conason, one of New York's most established plaintiffs' personal injury firms. He has decades of experience trying catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, including vehicle, mass transit, and premises liability matters, and is closely associated with the firm's high-value transit litigation.
Gair, Gair, Conason's bus accident practice covers MTA, charter, and private bus crashes throughout New York, with the firm's attorneys representing both injured passengers and pedestrians struck by transit vehicles.
Rubinowitz, as the firm's most prominent trial lawyer, is the individual behind many of the firm's complex transit verdicts. He is recognized on Best Lawyers directories for his personal injury trial work in New York.
Location: New York City, NY | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, Mass Transit Litigation, Wrongful Death
5. Michael A. Godosky — Godosky & Gentile (New York City, NY)
Michael A. Godosky is a founding partner of Godosky & Gentile, a long-standing New York City plaintiffs' firm with more than 30 years of bus accident practice. He has represented injury victims in motor vehicle, construction, and municipal liability cases throughout his career, and as founding partner he is the individual whose experience underlies the firm's transit injury representations.
The firm's bus accident practice focuses on helping victims maximize compensation against bus operators and transit authorities, with particular experience in cases involving serious bodily injury and permanent disability.
Godosky's three decades of New York personal injury practice give him familiarity with the procedural demands of public transit claims, including Notice of Claim requirements and the defenses transit authorities regularly raise.
Location: New York City, NY | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, Municipal Liability
6. David H. Perecman — The Perecman Firm, PLLC (New York City, NY)
David H. Perecman is the founder and lead trial attorney of The Perecman Firm, an NYC plaintiffs' practice focused on serious injury and mass transit cases.
He has decades of trial experience in high-profile construction, transit, and catastrophic injury litigation, and is the principal named attorney behind the firm's MTA and bus accident practice.
The Perecman Firm's bus accident practice covers MTA bus, school bus, and private bus crashes in New York City, with the firm's attorneys representing injured passengers and others harmed in transit collisions.
Perecman's long history in New York transit litigation and his willingness to take cases to verdict make him a meaningful choice for victims whose cases are contested by well-funded transit authority defense teams.
Location: New York City, NY | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, MTA Claims, Construction Accidents
7. Howard A. Raphaelson — Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm, P.C. (New York City, NY)
Howard A. Raphaelson is co-founder of Raphaelson & Levine, a Manhattan personal injury firm that has won numerous claims against the NYC Transit Authority on behalf of bus accident victims.
He has represented New Yorkers in serious injury cases since the early 1990s and is a principal trial attorney for the firm, which brands itself as "The Voice of the Injured."
Raphaelson's bus accident practice covers both passenger and pedestrian claims arising from MTA and private bus collisions in New York City..
His decades of experience navigating those defense strategies give bus accident victims a more level playing field.
Location: Manhattan, New York City, NY | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, MTA and Transit Authority Claims
8. Daniel Wasserberg — Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP (New York City, NY)
Daniel Wasserberg is a founding partner of Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, a New York City plaintiffs' firm that handles bus accident, personal injury, and mass tort cases.
As co-founder and named trial attorney, Wasserberg is one of the identifiable individuals responsible for the firm's bus accident litigation, which covers bus passenger injuries, pedestrian strikes, and other transit-related claims throughout New York City.
Wasserberg's background in high-stakes plaintiff litigation makes him an effective advocate in cases where injuries are severe and transit authority insurers contest both liability and damages.
Location: New York City, NY | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, Mass Tort Litigation
9. William K. Mattar — William Mattar Law Offices (Statewide, NY)
William K. Mattar is the founder of William Mattar Law Offices, a New York personal injury firm with statewide reach and a dedicated bus accident practice covering MTA and transit claims in New York City as well as upstate and regional bus collisions.
His firm is one of the more widely recognized plaintiff-side vehicle accident practices in the state, operating under the well-known "Hurt in a car? Call William Mattar" brand.
Mattar's bus accident practice focuses on the complex procedural requirements of New York City transit claims, including Notice of Claim filings and the legal framework for suing governmental transit authorities.
Location: Statewide, New York | Practice: Personal Injury, Bus Accidents, Motor Vehicle Collisions, MTA Claims
Key Legal Rules Affecting Bus Accident Claims in New York
This is the single most important procedural rule in New York bus accident cases involving public transit. Before you can sue the MTA, New York City Transit Authority, or any other public entity, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident under General Municipal Law § 50-e.
Missing this deadline is generally fatal to your claim, even if you file your lawsuit within the three-year statute of limitations. An experienced bus accident attorney files this notice immediately and preserves your right to sue.
For claims against private bus operators, the general personal injury statute of limitations under CPLR § 214 gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.
For claims against public entities like the MTA, the statute of limitations is one year and 90 days from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims arising from bus accidents must be filed within two years of the date of death under EPTL § 5-4.1.
What Compensation Is Available?
According to insurance industry data from the Insurance Information Institute, serious vehicle crashes involving buses and commercial carriers produce some of the highest average injury claim payouts in personal injury litigation.
New York bus accident victims may recover past and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and wrongful death damages where applicable. Cases involving spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and fatalities produce the largest recoveries.
Need a Trusted Bus Accident Lawyer in NY?
Explore experienced New York bus accident lawyers offering free consultations for injury victims seeking compensation and legal help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to file a Notice of Claim before suing the MTA in New York?
Yes, and this is the most critical procedural step in any MTA or public transit bus accident case. Under General Municipal Law § 50-e, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident before you can bring a lawsuit against the MTA, NYC Transit Authority, or any other public entity. The notice must include specific information about the accident, the injuries, and the damages claimed. An attorney should handle this filing immediately after you retain them. Missing the 90-day window generally ends your claim against the public entity defendant.
Can I sue the MTA directly for a bus accident in New York?
Yes, but the process is more complex than suing a private defendant. After the Notice of Claim is filed, the MTA has the right to conduct a 50-h hearing, which is essentially a pre-lawsuit examination under oath. You must attend and answer questions about the accident and your injuries. The lawsuit itself must then be filed within one year and 90 days of the accident. An experienced New York bus accident lawyer handles every step of this process.
What if I was a passenger on a bus that was in an accident?
As a passenger, you are not at fault for the collision. This simplifies the liability analysis considerably. Your claim can be directed at the bus operator, the transit authority, or the driver of any other vehicle involved in the crash. Passenger claims in bus accidents are strong cases because the plaintiff bears no comparative fault. Your attorney will identify all liable defendants and pursue every available source of compensation.
How long does a bus accident case take to resolve in New York?
Cases against private bus operators typically resolve within one to two years, depending on the severity of injuries and whether liability is disputed. Cases against the MTA or other public entities tend to take longer because of the mandatory 50-h hearing process, institutional defense resources, and court scheduling in New York City. Cases involving catastrophic injuries or fatalities that proceed to trial can take three to four years. Accepting an early settlement offer before your injuries have fully resolved is generally not in your interest.
What should I do immediately after a bus accident in New York?
Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel only mild discomfort. Spinal and head injuries frequently present with delayed symptoms, and a gap in medical treatment will be used against you by the defense. Document the scene, the bus number, and the route if you are able. Obtain contact information from other passengers and witnesses. Report the accident to the transit authority and to police. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance representative before consulting an attorney. Bus surveillance footage is typically preserved for only a short period and must be requested promptly by your lawyer.
What if the bus driver was texting or otherwise distracted?
Distracted driving by a bus operator is a significant factor in establishing liability and, depending on the circumstances, may support a claim for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. Your attorney will subpoena the driver's phone records, obtain any available dashcam or surveillance footage, and review the operator's employment and training history with the transit authority. Transit authorities are required to maintain records of driver conduct and training under state and federal regulations.
Is there a cap on damages in New York bus accident cases?
No. New York does not impose a statutory cap on personal injury damages in bus accident cases against private defendants. Claims against governmental entities like the MTA are also not subject to a formal damages cap, though court of claims procedures apply to some governmental defendants. You may recover the full measure of your proven economic and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, lost wages, and future medical care.
What if I was hit by a bus as a pedestrian in New York City?
Pedestrian strikes by MTA or Transit Authority buses are governed by the same Notice of Claim rules that apply to passenger injuries. You have 90 days to file the notice and one year and 90 days to file the lawsuit. Pedestrian cases often produce significant recoveries because the injuries tend to be severe and liability is frequently clear. Your attorney will investigate the driver's conduct, the bus's speed and route compliance, and any contributing road or signal conditions.
Choosing the Right Bus Accident Lawyer in New York
Bus accident cases in New York are procedurally demanding in ways that general personal injury cases are not. The Notice of Claim deadline alone disqualifies more claims than any other rule, and the institutional defense resources of the MTA and other transit authorities require an attorney who is prepared to litigate aggressively rather than settle cheaply.
The attorneys on this list represent New York's strongest bus accident practitioners across the state. For victims in Central New York and surrounding regions.
The 90-day Notice of Claim deadline runs from the date of your accident. If a public transit bus was involved, contact an attorney today.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
