Can You Sue a Government Entity for an Indianapolis IndyGo Bus Accident?

March 28, 2026

Every day, more than two dozen IndyGo bus routes crisscross Indianapolis. From Downtown to Keystone. Through Broad Ripple. All the way across 38^th. Indianapolis punches above its weight in terms of public transportation, but such an expansive system is not without its risks.

Yet while bus accidents involving passengers, pedestrians, or other automobiles are not unheard of, and it’s natural to want to be compensated if you’ve been hurt by a bus, can you sue a government entity for an Indianapolis IndyGo bus accident?

The answer is yes you can, but how your case goes depends on what you do directly afterwards, and the Indianapolis bus accident attorney you decide on. Making the right decisions following an IndyGo bus accident can help your recovery be less of a journey.

What Kind of Bus Accidents Happen in Indianapolis?

There are a number of ways that you could be injured by an IndyGo bus in Indianapolis. Here are a few of the more common ones:

• Collision with your car. Buses make many stops and starts along their routes, pulling in and out of traffic. While most IndyGo bus drivers are conscientious, no one is perfect. Merging buses often collide with cars, and they can be at fault for these types of accidents.
• Injuries to passengers. If you’ve ridden a bus, you know that you’re frequently standing. You’re moving through a crowd to get to the door. You’re rarely buckled up. If the bus has a collision or comes to a quick stop, you might suffer an injury.
• Accidents during boarding/exiting. Getting on or off an IndyGo bus is sneakily one of the riskier times. If the stairs are wet, or if the bus isn’t quite in the right spot, you might slip or stumble. (There are extreme cases of driver negligence, but many of these are more accidental.)

Obviously, these accidents can be related. If a bus collides with a car, the impact can be felt by people in the car (or cars) as well as on the bus. That adds to the complexity of these cases.

Why do these accidents happen? Sometimes the driver of the bus is not at fault. Other drivers could be traveling too fast, distracted, or just generally aggressive. Drivers in a hurry may try to get around a bus or not let it merge.

But while there are times when another driver might be at fault, oftentimes the IndyGo driver or another government entity is to blame. If this is the case, you may be able to sue after your IndyGo bus accident.

When Is a Government Entity Responsible for An IndyGo Bus Accident?

After you’ve been in an accident involving an IndyGo bus, you will want to determine who is responsible. There are many instances where the government is responsible, and they are not all immediately obvious.

The most obvious reasons are that the bus driver is speeding or otherwise reckless. This is the most straightforward case, where it is more clear that the driver is at fault. But in many cases it might be “driver error” but not the direct fault of the driver.

For instance, if drivers aren’t trained enough, or they don’t have enough hours behind the wheel, accidents might be their fault, but the responsibility will ultimately lie with IndyGo. Other instances that go above and beyond clear recklessness include driver fatigue, lack of familiarity with the route, or being asked to perform a maneuver they aren’t trained for.

IndyGo bus accidents could also be the fault of the city in other ways. If the road is not well maintained, or if it is slick and dangerous after rain or snow, the driver might do everything right and still be in an accident.

Regardless of the cause, what you do after the accident makes a big difference.

Important Steps Following Your Indianapolis Bus Accident

What happens in the moments after your IndyGo bus accident is crucial to getting your case off on the right foot. There are things you as an individual can do that can help make the process better.

1. Contact the authorities – As soon as it is safe to do so, contact the Indianapolis police and let them know if there are any injuries.
2. Gather information – Take pictures, talk to witnesses, and shoot video. Show where you are and what the conditions are like. This goes a long way toward assessing guilt.
3. Seek treatment – The sooner you seek treatment and visit a doctor, the harder it is for insurance companies to deny the relationship between the accident and any potential injuries. This will impact the damages that can be proven – and your final settlement.
4. Seek advice from experienced bus accident lawyers – You will want to find Indianapolis accident attorneys who have a knowledge of bus accidents and how to take action against government entities.

One important thing to remember is to not talk to insurance and bus company representatives. They will try to get statements that could be used against you, and you are under no obligation to speak to them.

Find A Lawyer Who Can Handle IndyGo Bus Accidents in Indianapolis

If you’ve ever been in a car accident with another driver, you know that dealing with a single person’s insurance can be a frustrating challenge. Dealing with a government entity like IndyGo – or multiple government entities, including the Indianapolis Department of Public Works – multiplies the challenges and the frustrations.

That’s why it is important to find a lawyer who knows how to sue a government entity for an Indianapolis IndyGo bus accident. Your lawyer should know how to:

• Assign responsibility between different government entities.
• Assess your short and long-term needs to find a fair settlement.
• Work the Indianapolis legal system as expeditiously and fairly as possible.
• Defend you against insurance companies whose job it is to deny you the settlement you deserve.
• Help make you whole after your accident.

Remember, immediate injuries might not be the only factor in your settlement. Your medical bills, any inability to work, and pain and suffering related to the accident in the medium- and long-term add up. An Indianapolis bus accident lawyer who knows how to sue a government entity can help it add up to a fair sum.

Reach Out to Our Bus Accident Lawyers in Indianapolis, IN

When you’ve been involved in a bus accident, look for Hensley Legal Group, PC, a dedicated Indiana personal injury law firm whose experienced attorneys have been fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured since 1998. Our Indianapolis bus accident lawyers understand the complexities of your case and know how to make the system work for you.

Simply call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Indianapolis bus accident attorney.