Bus Accidents

Commuters and travelers use public transportation, motorcoaches, and shuttle services throughout Texas. Although these services provide important transportation options, bus accidents can result in serious injuries or death. The available data does not support a blanket claim that bus ridership, injuries, or deaths are at their highest levels ever. If you or a family member has been injured, or a loved one has been killed, call our law firm at 800-862-1260.

Seat belt availability and use are important safety considerations, but requirements vary by vehicle type. Large school buses use protective seating known as compartmentalization, with closely spaced seats and energy-absorbing seat backs. Federal standards require passenger seat belts on small school buses weighing 10,000 pounds or less by gross vehicle weight rating. State requirements may go further.

School buses are designed to provide substantial crash protection, but safe driving, vehicle maintenance, and precautions around bus stops remain essential. Source: NHTSA school bus safety information.

NHTSA reports the following school-transportation-related figures:

• In 2024, school-transportation-related traffic crashes resulted in 110 deaths nationwide, compared with 128 in 2023.
• During 2015-2024, 119 occupants of school transportation vehicles were killed: 49 drivers and 70 passengers.
• School-transportation-related fatalities can involve people in other vehicles, pedestrians, and other road users. They should not be described as deaths of school bus passengers alone.

These figures concern school transportation and should not be treated as totals for every type of commercial, transit, or shuttle bus.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a school bus, passenger bus, passenger van, tour bus, Greyhound bus, interstate bus, or shuttle bus accident, help is a click away. Public and private buses can be involved in accidents that result in passenger injuries.

Bus operators that qualify as common carriers owe their passengers a high degree of care under Texas law. However, not every organization that transports passengers is automatically a common carrier, and an accident alone does not establish liability. The Texas Supreme Court has specifically held that San Antonio's VIA Metropolitan Transit is a common carrier. Source: VIA Metropolitan Transit v. Meck.

If you or a family member has been injured, or a loved one has been killed, call our law firm at1-800-862-1260.

Bus accident injuries can turn your life upside down. You and your family deserve an opportunity to pursue compensation for losses caused by another party's negligence. Do not assume that a bus company or its insurer will protect your interests. Legal deadlines can prevent you from pursuing a claim if too much time passes after the accident.

If you or a family member has been injured, or a loved one has been killed, call our law firm at 800-862-1260.

Fifteen-passenger vans are often used to transport church groups, students, businesses, and other organizations. These vehicles handle differently from passenger cars, especially when fully loaded. Passenger and cargo placement can affect handling and rollover risk.

NHTSA recommends that operators take precautions such as:

• Using trained, experienced drivers
• Requiring every occupant to wear a seat belt
• Checking tire pressure and condition regularly
• Avoiding loads on the roof
• Following the manufacturer's loading limits
• Keeping passengers and cargo forward of the rear axle when possible

The risk depends on the vehicle, its loading, maintenance, and how it is driven. Older warnings should not be used to claim that every 15-passenger van is unsafe or that insurers generally refuse to cover them.

When a city bus is operated by a governmental entity, claims for damages can be more complicated. Governmental immunity, limits on recoverable damages, and special notice requirements may apply.

The Texas Tort Claims Act generally requires notice within six months, although applicable city requirements may impose a shorter period. Exceptions and the identity of the responsible entity also matter. You need an attorney who understands these requirements and can identify the deadlines that apply to your claim. Source: Texas Tort Claims Act.

If you or a family member has been injured, or a loved one has been killed, call our law firm at 800-862-1260.

School buses provide important safety protections, but crashes can still injure children, drivers, and other road users. If you or your child has been injured in a school bus accident, you may be able to pursue a claim against a legally responsible party.

The available claim depends on who operated the bus, what caused the accident, and whether governmental immunity applies. Texas school districts have special protections, and the Tort Claims Act generally applies to them only with respect to motor vehicles. Not every injury occurring on a school bus creates a valid claim against the district.

Recoverable losses may involve medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages allowed by law. Protecting your children is one of the most important jobs in the world, and it should always be treated as such. If you or a family member has been injured, or a loved one has been killed, call our law firm at 800-862-1260

Shuttle buses are a convenient way to get to your destination while traveling, but utilizing these vehicles does not come without risks. Vehicle size, visibility limitations, passenger loading, frequent stops, driver conduct, and maintenance can all be relevant when investigating a collision.

If you have been hurt in a shuttle bus accident, do not delay seeking advice about your right to compensation. Depending on the evidence, responsibility may rest with a driver, operator, maintenance company, manufacturer, or another party. A company is not automatically liable simply because it manufactured or operated the vehicle.

If you or a family member has been injured, or a loved one has been killed, call our law firm at 800-862-1260.