A bus crash can leave passengers, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians with serious injuries in an instant. Because buses are large, carry many people, and are often operated by companies or government agencies, these cases can involve multiple insurers, strict deadlines, and legal rules that don’t apply to ordinary car accidents. Understanding who operated the bus and what rules apply is often the first step toward recovering compensation.
The Karam Law Office handles bus accident claims involving school buses, transit buses, and charter coaches throughout Sugar Land and Fort Bend County. We move quickly to protect your claim, especially when a government deadline is involved. Contact The Karam Law Office at (281) 302-5272 to book a free consultation.
Types of Bus Accident Cases We Handle
Our team represents people hurt in many types of bus crashes, including:
- School bus accidents: Crashes involving district-operated buses or private contractors transporting students.
- Public transit bus accidents: Collisions involving county or city transit buses, including commuter routes connecting Fort Bend County and Houston.
- Charter and tour bus accidents: Crashes involving private coaches hired for trips, events, or travel.
- Intercity bus accidents: Crashes involving long-distance passenger carriers on I-69/U.S. 59 and other major roads.
- Shuttle bus accidents: Airport, hotel, medical, and employer shuttles.
- Church and private group buses: Vehicles operated by churches, clubs, or organizations.
We also represent pedestrians and cyclists injured in collisions involving buses.
Deadlines and Damage Caps for Claims Against Government Bus Operators
Claims against government bus operators may fall under the Texas Tort Claims Act, which provides a limited waiver of governmental immunity for certain injuries arising from a government employee’s negligent operation or use of a motor vehicle within the scope of employment.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 101.101, written notice of a claim generally must be provided to the governmental unit within six months of the crash. Some cities have shorter notice deadlines under their charters or ordinances. Missing an applicable deadline can jeopardize your claim, so it is important to identify the responsible entity promptly. An actual notice exception may apply in some cases, but you should not assume the government’s knowledge of the crash satisfies the notice requirement.
The Act also caps damages under § 101.023, with limits that depend on the government entity involved:
- State government and municipalities (cities):
- $250,000 per person
- $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death
- $100,000 per occurrence for property damage
- Other local governmental units, including school districts and counties:
- $100,000 per person
- $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death
- $100,000 per occurrence for property damage
Punitive damages aren’t available against government entities. For claims subject to these limits, the government’s liability may be capped even when the injured person’s losses exceed those amounts.
For claims subject to these limits, the government’s liability may be capped below the injured person’s total losses. Identifying other responsible parties, such as a private contractor or another driver, may therefore be important. Claims against private bus companies aren’t subject to these caps.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents
Bus crashes can result from many factors, including:
- Driver fatigue: Long shifts and early routes can leave drivers tired and slow to react.
- Distracted driving: Phones, fare systems, radios, and passenger interactions can pull attention from the road.
- Speeding: Traveling too fast for traffic, road, or weather conditions can contribute to a crash.
- Inadequate training: Drivers may not receive sufficient instruction in braking, turning, or managing blind spots.
- Poor maintenance: Worn brakes, bad tires, and faulty steering can lead to a loss of control.
- Wide turns and blind spots: Buses have large blind spots and need extra space to turn.
- Other drivers: Motorists who cut off, rear-end, or fail to yield to buses.
- Road hazards: Poorly designed stops, potholes, and construction zones.
Common Injuries Sustained in Bus Accidents
A collision can throw bus passengers against seats, windows, or other surfaces inside the vehicle, causing injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries: Concussions and more severe brain injuries from striking seats, windows, or the floor.
- Spinal cord and back injuries: Herniated discs, fractures, and in some cases paralysis.
- Broken bones: Fractured arms, legs, ribs, and hips.
- Neck injuries: Whiplash and soft tissue damage.
- Internal injuries: Damage to organs from blunt force.
- Lacerations and burns: Cuts from broken glass and burns from fires.
Some of these injuries are catastrophic, requiring long-term care and affecting a person’s ability to work for years.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bus Accident in Texas?
Liability depends on the facts and who controlled the bus. Potentially responsible parties may include the bus driver, a private bus company that employed or contracted the driver, a school district or government transit agency, a maintenance contractor that serviced the vehicle, a bus or parts manufacturer if a defect contributed to the crash, and other motorists whose negligence caused the collision.
Texas follows a proportionate responsibility rule. An injured person can recover compensation if they’re found 50% or less at fault, with their recovery reduced by their share of fault.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Bus Accident?
Depending on the facts, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Property damage
When a bus crash takes a life, families may pursue a wrongful death claim for losses such as financial support and companionship.
How Much Can You Sue for After Getting Hit by a Bus?
There’s no set amount. The value of a claim depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, lost income, the impact on your daily life, the strength of the evidence, and the available insurance.
A bus accident lawyer can evaluate the factors that affect your potential recovery.
How Long Does a Bus Accident Settlement Take?
There is no standard timeline. Disputes over fault, the extent of your injuries, multiple defendants, and litigation can all affect how long a case takes. Settlement decisions should account for anticipated future treatment, lost income, and other ongoing effects of the injuries.
Keep in mind that most Texas personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash, and government notice deadlines can be much shorter.
How Much Does a Bus Accident Lawyer Cost?
The Karam Law Office handles injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning attorney fees depend on obtaining a recovery. Before you sign, we explain the fee percentage and how case expenses are handled.
What to Do After a Bus Accident
The steps you take after a bus crash can protect both your health and your claim:
- Get medical care: Seek treatment right away, even if your injuries seem minor.
- Report the crash: Call 911 if emergency assistance is needed. Ask how to obtain the crash report once it is available.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the bus, its number, the scene, and your injuries.
- Collect information: Get names and contact details from the driver, other passengers, and witnesses.
- Keep your records: Save medical records, bills, receipts, and proof of missed work.
- Be cautious with recorded statements: Get legal advice before giving a recorded statement to the bus company or its insurer.
- Contact The Karam Law Office: Call (281) 302-5272 so we can start preserving evidence and meet any government notice deadline.
Talk to a Sugar Land Bus Accident Lawyer
Jacob Karam built The Karam Law Office on the belief that winning cases requires being ready to try them. He has secured six- and seven-figure verdicts and settlements in state and federal courts, including a $3.3 million settlement for a man injured in a motor vehicle crash. His recognitions include selection by the National Institute of Trial Lawyers and inclusion in the American Academy of Attorneys’ Top 40 Under 40.
Clients have praised our team’s communication, responsiveness, and personal attention.
Contact The Karam Law Office today at (281) 302-5272 to book a free consultation.
