Riding the bus is a cost-efficient and environmentally safe way of traveling. In Houston, traveling by bus is a great way to get around to see the different sights and sounds of the great city. However, riding the bus can turn into a nightmare when there is a crash. Because a victim has little protection when a bus accident occurs, they may suffer severe injuries.
If you walk away from a bus accident with severe injuries, damaged property, or other losses, you can rest easy. Texas affords you the right to take the party liable for your accident to civil court. You can work alongside a Houston, TX, bus accident lawyer to demand compensation for your losses.
Zinda Law Group’s personal injury lawyers in Texas can help you file your claim before your statute of limitations expires.
Types of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can occur anytime, anywhere. There are several types of buses frequently involved in accidents:
School Buses
School buses are usually safe modes of transportation for bringing children to school. However, when accidents occur, children are often injured as a result. That’s why it’s important for bus drivers and passengers to follow relevant safety rules when possible.
Drivers who fail to provide their passengers with reasonable protections can either assume liability for the accident they caused or default that liability to a school corporation or private employer. You can work with the bus accident attorneys in Houston to determine how a bus driver’s contract might impact that assumption of liability.
City Buses
City and public buses are helpful for work commuters and travelers wanting to see Houston for a low price. Unfortunately, the amount of people served on the buses each day takes a toll which can lead to mechanical problems and a bad accident. Passengers and drivers must observe safety protocols at all times to prevent or mitigate a bus crash.
If you get into an accident with a city bus, the city bus driver doesn’t assume liability for your losses. You can instead take up a civil complaint against the city of Houston. However, doing so can prove challenging thanks to conditions like a government employee’s qualified immunity.
Fortunately, you can request that Zinda Law Group investigate your circumstances and work within the filing timeline required by the state in the face of the local government’s negligence.
Private Buses
Private charter buses and corporate shuttles often carry large amounts of people as part of a tour or private party. When a bus accident happens, there is a high potential for large groups to suffer injuries as a result. If you were injured on a private or charter bus, you may have a claim against the bus company’s insurance policy.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationBus Accidents Tend to Stem from Negligence
Most bus accidents today tend to stem from a related party’s negligence. It’s that negligence that gives you, a bus accident survivor, the right to pursue damages for your losses in civil court. When you file a personal injury claim, you must present Houston’s civil courts with proof that the party you name liable for your losses violated the duty of care owed to you.
That duty dictates that private charter companies, schools, and the local government must take reasonable steps to protect you from predictable forms of harm. If you don’t have evidence proving that a named liable party engaged in this kind of negligence, you may struggle to argue for your right to bus accident compensation.
When to File a Texas Bus Accident Claim
You have until the statute of limitations outlined in Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 16.003 expires to pursue a personal injury claim against most private bussing corporations and school boards. This statute of limitations tends to expire two years after your accident takes place.
There are, however, exceptions to this statute of limitations. As mentioned, the statute of limitations for cases involving government officials tends to be much shorter than that for standard personal injury cases. The other exceptions include the following:
- Injured parties under “legal disability” delay the start of their two-year deadline until they return to mental competence or turn 18 years old
- Liable parties who flee the state of Texas delay the start of the filing party’s two-year deadline until said liable party returns to the state
During an initial case evaluation with Zinda Law Group, you can discuss what roles any exceptions to Texas’s personal injury statute of limitations might apply to your case.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationFiling a Bus Accident Claim Can Secure You Post-Accident Damages
Filing a personal injury claim after a bus accident gives you the right to demand compensation for your accident-related losses. The bus accident attorneys in Houston can specifically find the sum of your economic and non-economic damages to determine the overall value of your case.
Economic damages represent compensation for monetary losses such as medical expenses (past and future), loss of earnings, loss of use of property, and loss of future employment. To ensure you receive accurate compensation for your economic damages, keep documents that demonstrate your medical expenses, property damages, and missed work.
Non-economic damages represent compensation for non-monetary losses such as pain & suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience, and loss of companionship. Non-economic damages are harder to quantify than economic damages. That said, your attorney will help determine the value of your non-monetary losses.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationMeet With a Bus Accident Lawyer Today
If you were involved in a bus accident, you should focus on your health, rehabilitation, and getting back to where you were prior to the accident. Your Houston bus accident attorney will walk you through the legal process and help you with your case.
Zinda Law Group has the experience and knowledge to pursue maximum compensation for the injury. You do not owe us any money unless we win your case. That is our No Win, No Fee Guarantee. You can contact Zinda Law Group today.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
