Legally Reviewed by Frank P. Marsalisi on August 11, 2026
Buses operated by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), along with charter buses, shuttles, and other public transportation vehicles, move thousands of people through Largo every day along corridors such as East Bay Drive, Ulmerton Road, and Missouri Avenue. When a bus driver’s negligence, a mechanical failure, or unsafe operating conditions cause a crash, the passengers and other motorists involved can be left with serious injuries and a confusing set of legal questions about who is actually responsible.
Determining liability after a Largo bus accident depends heavily on who owns and operates the vehicle. Claims against a private charter or shuttle company generally follow the same process as any other motor vehicle injury claim. Claims involving a bus owned or operated by a government entity, such as PSTA, involve additional legal requirements and potential limits on recoverable damages that do not apply to private at-fault parties. Frank P. Marsalisi is a bilingual personal injury lawyer with over 18 years of experience representing injured victims throughout Pinellas County, and he remains personally involved in every case he takes on, whether the claim is against a private company or a public transit agency.
Time-Sensitive: Bus & Transit Accident Claims Involve Extra Deadlines
Florida’s standard filing deadline is two years from the date of the crash, but claims against PSTA or another government transit agency carry a separate, shorter notice requirement on top of it.
Frank P. Marsalisi personally handles your case; 18+ years of experience; bilingual representation; no fee unless we recover monetary compensation for you.
How Florida Bus & Transit Accident Claims Work
Florida bus and public transportation accident claims move through a legal framework that depends heavily on whether the vehicle involved is privately owned or operated by a government transit agency like PSTA. That distinction affects how quickly you must act, what notice steps must be satisfied, and whether any limits apply to the monetary compensation you may recover.
Statute of Limitations and Notice Deadlines at a Glance
Florida Bus & Transit Accident Deadlines at a Glance
Personal Injury Claims
2 years from the date of the accident; Fla. Stat. § 95.11, as amended by HB 837.
Claims Against PSTA or Other Government Transit
A separate pre-suit notice requirement under Fla. Stat. § 768.28 applies in addition to, not instead of, the standard two-year deadline.
Wrongful Death Claims
2 years from the date of death; Fla. Stat. § 95.11.
Under Florida’s current law, most personal injury claims — including those arising from bus and public transportation accidents that occurred on or after March 24, 2023 — must be filed within two years from the date of the accident. This deadline is set by Florida Statute § 95.11, as amended by House Bill 837. Claims that accrued before that date may still be governed by the prior four-year deadline. If a government-operated transit agency such as PSTA is involved, separate notice requirements under Fla. Stat. § 768.28 apply on top of this deadline, and missing either one can permanently bar your ability to recover compensation. Because evidence in bus accident cases can be lost quickly, and because government-related claims involve extra steps, waiting to speak with an attorney can meaningfully limit your options.
Florida’s Modified Comparative Negligence Law and the 50 Percent Bar Rule
Florida’s shift to modified comparative negligence under HB 837, effective March 24, 2023, directly affects Largo bus and transit accident victims just as it affects other personal injury claims, and it can determine whether you recover any monetary compensation at all.
50 Percent or Less at Fault
You can still recover monetary compensation, reduced proportionally by your percentage of fault.
More Than 50 Percent at Fault
You are completely barred from recovering any monetary compensation whatsoever.
Before March 24, 2023
Florida used pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery even at 99% fault.
Why It Matters Now
Insurers and government claims adjusters have a direct financial incentive to push your fault share above 50 percent.
In a bus or transit accident, comparative fault questions can be complicated by multiple potentially responsible parties, including the bus operator, the transit agency or charter company, another motorist, or a combination of all three. A personal injury lawyer can help build the evidence needed to counter attempts to inflate your share of fault before an insurer’s or agency’s version of events becomes the only version on record.
Claims Against PSTA and Other Government-Operated Transit
When a bus involved in a crash is owned or operated by a government entity like PSTA, the claim is generally subject to Florida’s sovereign immunity statute, Fla. Stat. § 768.28. Under current law, damages recoverable directly from a state or local government agency are generally capped at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, absent a separate legislative claims bill.
Claims against a government transit authority also involve pre-suit notice and procedural requirements that are separate from, and in addition to, the standard statute of limitations, and failing to satisfy them correctly can prevent an otherwise valid claim from moving forward. Because these requirements are technical and case-specific, it is advisable to speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a bus accident involving a public transit agency.
Common Causes of Bus & Transit Accidents in Largo
Bus and public transportation accidents in Largo can result from a range of factors, including the following:
Driver Negligence
Distracted driving, fatigue, speeding, or failure to yield.
Improper Training or Supervision
Inadequate oversight of bus operators.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Mechanical failure from deferred or inadequate upkeep.
Negligent Hiring or Retention
Retaining a driver with a known history of unsafe driving.
Hazardous Conditions
Road or weather conditions that were not properly accounted for.
Other Motorist Negligence
A crash that causes a bus to collide or passengers to be thrown from their seats.
Injured parties may include seated or standing passengers, pedestrians or cyclists struck by a bus, and occupants of other vehicles involved in the collision. Each of these situations can raise different legal questions about fault and available compensation.
Damages Available After a Largo Bus or Transit Accident
When an injured victim establishes that another party’s negligence caused a bus or transit accident, Florida law generally allows recovery of two primary categories of damages, subject to the sovereign immunity limits described above when a government transit agency is involved.
| Damage Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Economic Damages | Past and future medical expenses, emergency care, physical therapy, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and transportation to medical appointments. |
| Non-Economic Damages | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship or consortium, and permanent scarring or disfigurement. |
When a bus or public transportation accident results in a death, surviving family members may be able to pursue monetary compensation through a wrongful death claim in Florida, within the deadlines described above, though these claims can differ from a standard injury claim, particularly when a government entity is involved.
How Frank P. Marsalisi Approaches Your Case
Frank P. Marsalisi works on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost, and a fee is only owed if compensation is recovered on your behalf. After a bus or public transit accident, Marsalisi Law investigates how the crash happened, identifies every party who may share responsibility, and pursues the monetary compensation available to injured passengers, pedestrians, or other motorists. That process may include reviewing bus maintenance and driver-training records, obtaining surveillance or onboard camera footage before it is overwritten, coordinating with the correct government agency when a public entity is involved, and negotiating with insurance carriers on your behalf. Frank P. Marsalisi personally handles the claims process so clients have direct access to the attorney working their case, not just a case manager.
Why Largo Residents Choose Marsalisi Law
Frank P. Marsalisi has built his practice around giving every client the same level of personal attention, regardless of whether the case involves a single at-fault driver or a government transit agency. Frank regularly handles car accident and public transportation claims throughout Largo and Pinellas County, giving him a working understanding of local roadways, PSTA bus routes, and the conditions that most often contribute to serious transit-related crashes. In cases where a bus accident results in the loss of life, Marsalisi Law is also equipped to guide families through a wrongful death claim in Florida with care and diligence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bus & Transit Accidents in Largo
Let Marsalisi Law Fight for You After a Largo Bus Accident
Bus and public transportation accident victims in Largo deserve a lawyer who takes their claim seriously, whether the at-fault party is a private company or a government transit agency like PSTA. Frank P. Marsalisi is available around the clock and is committed to standing by your side from the very first conversation through the resolution of your claim.
Contact Marsalisi Law today through our online contact form to schedule your free consultation with a personal injury lawyer committed to fighting for you. Marsalisi Law is Where Law Gets Personal!