Texas Bus Accident Attorney

Were You Hurt in a Bus Accident?

If you were injured while riding a bus or in a collision with a bus, don’t hesitate to call us. We tackle all types of bus accident cases, including:

• School Bus Accidents
• Charter Bus Accidents
• Tour Bus Accidents
• Public Transit Bus Accidents
• Airport and Hotel Shuttle Buses

Whatever type of bus was involved, it’s important to talk with a bus accident attorney. Do you know who was at fault for the wreck? Do you know who might be liable? Our team thoroughly investigates the bus accident to answer these questions.

Bus Accident Statistics

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 15,000 buses were involved in injury crashes, causing 25,000 people injuries in 2017. There were 232 buses involved in fatal crashes that year. These crashes caused 274 fatalities. Of those who passed away, 44 were bus occupant deaths. Nine were school bus occupants, six were cross-country motorcoach passengers, four were transit bus passengers, and 24 were van-based bus passengers.

There were 19 bus accidents and two school bus accidents in Texas in 2019, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. In 2018, there were 10 bus accidents and two school bus accidents. In 2017, there were 17 bus accidents and eight school bus accidents.

The Texas Education Agency also has a Bus Accident Reporting System (BARS) that offers a closer look at school bus accidents for school districts that report accident data. For the 2018-19 report, 1,103 districts submitted data regarding 1,978 accidents. Overall, 18,461 students were involved in bus accidents, and 348 students sustained injuries. There were six serious injuries and two fatalities.

Common Types of Bus Accidents

Buses can be involved in a wide range of collisions, including:

• Read-End Accidents
• Head-On Accidents
• Left Turn Accidents
• Wide Turn Accidents
• Blind Spot Accidents
• Failure to Yield Accidents
• Unsafe Speed Accidents
• Improper Lane Change Accidents
• Merging Accidents
• Rollover Accidents
• Sideswipe Accidents
• Side Impact “T-Bone” Accidents

Who Is Liable for Texas Bus Accident Injuries?

Liability for a bus accident can be tricky. If another driver in a passenger vehicle caused the crash, then that is who you target for compensation. You’ll need to find out that driver’s name and insurance information to pursue an insurance claim. But if the bus was at fault, then it’s important to talk with a bus accident lawyer about liability.

A bus driver might have been negligent and caused the crash. In some cases, you’ll pursue compensation from the driver. But bus drivers are often employees of a school district, public transit agency, or a larger business. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, the employer is responsible for the actions of its employees. You’ll file a claim against the business or the government agency.

An attorney should always represent you after a bus accident. When the liable party is a branch of a local or state government, it’s even more important to have legal guidance. Your claim process might be significantly different than if the liable party was a person or business.

The bus driver isn’t always to blame, though. Buses require ongoing maintenance. An investigation might uncover shoddy repairs or an excessive amount of wear and tear. We’ll look into who is ultimately responsible for maintaining the bus. It could be the school district, transit agency, or a third-party vendor.

Another party that might be liable is a bus manufacturer. The investigation might uncover a design or manufacturing defect, in which case, we’ll guide you through filing a product liability claim.

Bus Accident Claims Against Governments

School districts and public transit agencies are part of the government and covered under the Texas Tort Claims Act. Under the law, you have the right to sue a government agency. First, you must give the entity notice of your intent to sue. The deadline for giving notice varies from one jurisdiction to the next, which is why it’s important to partner with a local bus accident lawyer.

The compensation you can receive is capped, too. For example, if you sue a school district, this is considered a unit of local government. You can receive up to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident.

Was Your Child Hurt in a School Bus Accident?

If your child was hurt while riding the school bus, we will look into who was at fault. If we discover the bus driver was negligent and caused the crash, then we will demand the school district to compensate you. We will provide notice of your intent to sue to the school district. If we are unable to negotiate a fair settlement with the district and its insurer, then we will file a lawsuit.

Were You Hurt in Public Transit Accident?

You might use the bus for your daily commute or get around town to see friends. When you’re riding the public bus, you should trust that the driver is going to act carefully and competently to avoid a crash. If that driver’s negligence leads to an accident and your injuries, then your claim is against the public transit agency. This agency is a part of the local government, though. It’s best to work with a lawyer to navigate this type of claim.

Let Our Bus Accident Attorneys Help

When you’re hurt in a bus accident, we recommend you talk with a personal injury attorney with experience handling various bus claims successfully. You need someone who knows the law regarding large commercial vehicles and the Texas Torts Claims Act. Your case might not be as easy and straightforward as a crash involving two private cars.

To reach out to The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, you can use our online form or call (866) 523-4167. Don’t hesitate to set up your free consultation.