Public-entity claims after a VTA crash
A government claim and a lawsuit are separate steps. Government Code section 911.2 addresses presenting certain claims. Section 945.6 addresses time to sue in the circumstances it covers. Do not treat a general two-year injury rule as permission to wait when a public agency may be involved.
Sources: Government Code §911.2 — Presenting a government claim ↗ · Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 — Injury lawsuit period ↗ · Government Code §945.6 — Time to sue a public entity ↗
VTA records and other evidence to request
Keep route or vehicle information, tickets, photos, and correspondence. Note what you know about the operator and the agency without guessing. A lawyer needs to identify the proper defendant, the relevant dates, and any notice or rejection already sent before explaining the next step.
Sources: Government Code §911.2 — Presenting a government claim ↗ · Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 — Injury lawsuit period ↗ · Government Code §945.6 — Time to sue a public entity ↗
Questions about government claim deadlines
For a useful review, keep the following information together. You do not need to enter it on this website.
- The sequence of the crash and what you personally saw.
- Report, witness, photo, and lawful video information.
- Policies, coverage letters, and any release or offer you received.
Sources: Government Code §911.2 — Presenting a government claim ↗ · Government Code §945.6 — Time to sue a public entity ↗
READ THE DECISIONS
Court decisions relevant to san jose vta bus and light-rail injury claims
State of California v. Superior Court (Bodde)
(2004) 32 Cal.4th 1234, slip op., p. 1
Before suing a public agency, a person may need to send it a formal claim. The court required the lawsuit to address that step or a valid excuse.
Limits of this decision: This does not list every deadline. It does not excuse a late claim.
Read the opinion ↗Review information for this guide is recorded above. Read each decision with its stated limits.
Legal and agency sources for this page
Use the sources to read the underlying rule or current official process. A source link is not personal legal advice.
- Government Code §911.2 — Presenting a government claim ↗
- Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 — Injury lawsuit period ↗
- State of California v. Superior Court (Bodde) (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1234 ↗
- Government Code §945.6 — Time to sue a public entity ↗
Reviewed by Andrew Ronald Gillin · 2026-11-05 · Review and correction process