SEPTA Bus Accidents and Philly Car Accidents: What Legal Rights Pedestrians Should Keep in Mind

SEPTA bus accidents involving pedestrians or getting hit by a reckless Philly driver can be some of the most devastating types of accidents. These crashes may result in more serious injuries, such a traumatic brain injuries, broken legs or arms, facial disfigurement, or death.

Accidents of any kind can leave victims and their families with significant financial, emotional, and psychological damages. After a pedestrian accident, focus on your immediate medical care and then seek assistance from an experienced Philly Septa bus accident attorney. An attorney can help you understand liability, your rights, and potential compensation. 

Where should I go if I was hit by a car or SEPTA bus?

The first few days after getting hit by a car on the narrow streets of Philly or a Philly Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus can transform your life instantly. The first step is to create a medical record to help ensure you have a viable personal injury claim.

• It is important that even if you do not feel hurt, you should still seek medical attention and start a treatment plan as soon as possible. 
• A timely medical evaluation from a local Penn Presbyterian, Temple University, or Thomas Jefferson Hospital physician can help you understand the extent of your injuries and determine how long your recovery will take. 

Additionally, if you did not do so at the scene of the accident, you should contact 911 and request a police crash report. Insurance companies often cite the lack of emergency treatment or police reports to deny responsibility.

New Data: What “The City of Brotherly Love” Reveals About Crashes Involving Pedestrians

Philadelphia’s pedestrian crash data shows that these incidents remain a significant local safety issue, and hit-and-runs play a large role in the worst outcomes.

• Drexel’s Urban Health Collaborative reported that Philadelphia recorded 55 pedestrian deaths in 2024, and 26 of those 55 deaths involved hit-and-runs.
• The same Drexel report stated that hit-and-runs were also tied to severe injuries, with 52 of 116 serious pedestrian injuries in 2024 involving hit-and-runs.

Speed is another recurring factor in severe crashes. Drexel’s Urban Health Collaborative noted that speeding accounts for about 20% of Philadelphia’s severe crashes, underscoring why evidence on speed and impact matters so much after a collision.

I was hit while crossing the street. What should I do?

After a SEPTA bus crash with a pedestrian or a car wreck involving a local resident, a person may have questions about their evidentiary burdens. Some of the following questions can help narrow down what a person should gather and save:

• Was I in a crosswalk, and does that affect who is at fault?
• What if the driver says I stepped out too fast?
• What if the police report is wrong or incomplete?
• What if I did not go to the ER until later that day or the next day?
• What if the driver fled the scene or has no insurance?
• What if the vehicle were a SEPTA bus, a delivery driver, or a rideshare?

These questions are normal, and a clear plan helps answer them with facts rather than assumptions. It’s best to discuss your incident with an experienced attorney to determine the best course of action. Each case is different and will need a unique approach to build a compelling case. 

When a SEPTA Bus Is Involved In An Accident 

A SEPTA bus crash often raises different questions than a typical passenger vehicle collision, and the process can feel less straightforward.

• The bus operator may be an employee, there may be onboard cameras, and incident reporting can involve agency procedures and paperwork that do not apply in a regular crash.
• Start by identifying the route number, the bus number (if visible), and the exact stop or intersection.
• Ask witnesses to confirm the bus route and direction of travel. 
• Look for onboard or exterior cameras and note their location. 

Keep your SEPTA Key or trip details if you were approaching a stop or crossing near a station area. These details help preserve what matters before footage is overwritten and before memories fade.

When a Delivery Driver Is Involved in a Philly Car Wreck

Delivery crashes often involve more than one potentially responsible party. The driver may be working for a large company, a contractor, or a third-party fleet, and insurance coverage can depend on work status and vehicle ownership.

• Document anything that identifies the delivery role, such as uniforms, company branding, and the type of vehicle. 
• Save any doorbell camera footage from nearby homes if the crash happened in a residential area. 
• Note whether the driver was actively delivering, double-parked, turning across a crosswalk, or backing up, since those details often become central in how fault is argued. 
• The earlier you preserve identifiers, the less room there is for the company to claim confusion about who was involved.

Rideshare cases can be very complex because liability depends on the driver’s status at the time of the crash. Coverage varies depending on whether the driver was transporting a passenger, en route to a pickup, waiting for a request, or offline. If it is safe to do so, mark down the vehicle’s make, model, license plate, and rideshare company.

If you were the passenger and got hit after exiting the vehicle, make sure to screenshot any trip receipts. These cases often involve various parties, so the more information you have, the easier it is to pursue your claim.

Visit a Local Medical Center or Hospital in Philly: Get Care That Matches Your Symptoms

Medical care is about recovery, but it also serves as a timeline that insurers and defense attorneys rely on. Insurance companies have a harder time refuting a record when a victim has created a consistent timeline of events. This makes it harder for an insurer to claim that your pain is being exaggerated or falsified. 

• You should follow up with your primary medical provider even if you sought emergency treatment at an ED or urgent care facility. 
• Provide as much detail as you can about your symptoms, especially anything related to mood changes, nausea, confusion, headaches, or dizziness. 

These symptoms can point to a traumatic brain injury or concussion. Similarly, note any wrist, shoulder, hip, back, or knee pain. Swelling and adrenaline can mask the severity of these types of injuries. 

How To Start Building a Compelling Bus Accident Claim: Preserve Evidence Before It Disappears

Evidence can disappear quickly in a pedestrian case, especially video and witness memories. A few practical steps can prevent the claim from turning into a credibility contest.

• Write down the exact location, the direction you were walking, and what you remember about the walk signal or crossing conditions. 
• Get witness names and contact information, and ask witnesses to send a short text describing what they saw so it is time-stamped. 
• Save any photos you took at the scene and back them up. If you can identify cameras, note the business name and address. 
• If the crash involved a commercial vehicle, such as a SEPTA bus, photograph the logos, DOT numbers, license plates, and any company identifiers.

Compiling these records ensures that you have a clearly documented case. Next, reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney at MyPhillyLawyer.

Contact Our SEPTA Bus Accident Attorneys at MyPhillyLawyer for a Free Consultation Today

If you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one to a bus accident involving a pedestrian or an accident where a person was struck by a car, you should contact MyPhillyLawyer. The personal injury lawyers on our team have extensive experience successfully representing Philly accident victims. 

We have comprehensive and local knowledge of the statutes and procedural rules governing these types of cases. Our attorneys can help you recover the financial compensation to which you are entitled. Contact our office at (215) 227-2727 to schedule a free consultation with MyPhillyLawyer.