The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that 227 buses were involved in fatal crashes in the U.S. in 2016. Although bus accidents occur less frequently than car accidents, they have the potential to cause serious injuries to individuals involved in a crash.
Whether you were hit by a bus or injured as a passenger on a bus, our experienced Houston bus accident lawyer can help. At the Law Offices of Willie D. Powells III and Associates, PLLC, you are not just another number. We will treat you as an individual and give your case the care and attention it deserves.
Most motor vehicle accidents are caused by human error. Common causes of bus accidents include:
The two main categories of buses you see on the road are:
Privately-owned buses are owned by companies that transport paying customers for profit. Examples include tour buses, charter buses, and shuttles. Although there may be a fare, government-owned buses, such as school buses and city buses, are running on a non-profit basis as part of a larger service to the public.
This difference is noteworthy when it comes to recovering compensation for injuries sustained in a bus accident caused by the negligence of the bus driver or bus company. As they are effectively owned by the general public, government-owned buses have a high degree of protection from lawsuits, even if the driver or bus company is at fault for your injuries.
All buses are required by federal law to carry a certain amount of insurance coverage, depending on the number of passengers carried by the bus. The more passengers it carries, the higher the insurance requirements will be.
Assigning liability after a bus accident case will depend on the type of bus and the individual ultimately found to be at fault for the accident. The defendants or responsible party may include:
For a successful claim or lawsuit, it must be established that the defendant owed the plaintiff “a duty of care” and that this duty was breached, which resulted in the plaintiff suffering injuries. Filing a bus accident claim can be very complicated, as more than one party may be at fault. Seeking legal assistance from an experienced Houston bus accident attorney can help you navigate the system and recover the compensation you deserve.
Under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Title 5, Chapter 101), you can sue the government for bus accident injuries. However, there are limitations on when you can sue, what you can sue for, and how much you can recover in damages.
If you have been injured in a bus accident, it is important to have an experienced attorney by your side. At the Law Offices of Willie D. Powells III and Associates, PLLC in Houston, we pay attention, take extra care, and treat every client as an individual.
You can have confidence that we are dedicated to protecting your rights and actively pursuing the maximum compensation available under the law for your injuries. If you wish to learn more, contact us today and schedule a consultation with arguably the best bus accident attorney Houston has to offer.
Some of the steps taken after a bus accident can directly impact the outcome of your personal injury claim or lawsuit. Important steps include:
You must file a personal injury lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. In the state of Texas, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. This applies to all types of bus accident cases whether you are a passenger, pedestrian, vehicle driver, cyclist, or motorcyclist.
For city, county, or state buses, you will typically have only 90 days in which to file a “notice of claim,” after which you lose your right to pursue compensation for damages.
When you board a bus, whether operated by the county, a school, a church, a bus line, or a bus charter company, the driver and company have a duty to take reasonable precautions to keep you safe from harm. If they fail to do so and you are injured, you have a right to sue the responsible parties for compensation.
The following types of damages can be pursued in a bus accident claim:
The following safety tips should be observed when traveling by bus: