According to preliminary summaries from the data reporting tool used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were over 1,000 crashes involving buses in Texas in 2024.
As many as 17 people died from these collisions, and 909 suffered various injuries, a decrease from previous years.
Let’s examine some of the risks that people can face, whether they are riding the bus, walking near it, or driving on the same roads.
The Hidden Dangers of Riding as a Bus Passenger
While sitting inside the bus gives you a measure of protection due to its height and size, you are still in danger as a passenger.
For example, while Texas S.B. 693 requires all school buses to have three-point seat belts, the law only applies to vehicles made in 2018 and after. Most buses in service are many years older than that, although they use other design features to minimize harm in accidents.
For motor coaches and other large buses, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a rule that all these vehicles must carry seat belts for all passengers.
However, it’s rare for passengers to use these, meaning they could be violently thrown around the cabin in the event of a crash.
Another risk is overcrowding.
While most transit buses can comfortably seat 20 to 30 passengers, the demand for public transportation means some buses will have up to 50 riders at any given time. If no one is using a seat belt and many passengers are standing during a collision, imagine the mayhem and injuries that occur during a collision.
The Unique Dangers Pedestrians Face Around Buses
Within cities, pedestrians enjoy protection from vehicle accidents from marked crosswalks, signal lights, and crossings that pass over or under major streets.
The City of Houston’s Vision Zero plan highlights numerous projects to improve pedestrian safety in areas that are home to frequent harmful accidents involving those who are on foot or in wheelchairs. Yet, pedestrians are at special risk of injury because buses are large, hard to control, and have numerous blind spots.
Bus drivers must also contend with the many demands on their attention, such as maneuvering the bus through traffic, potential passenger interactions, and constant obstacles such as other vehicles.
If they fail to observe a pedestrian entering a crosswalk or traveling anywhere near the bus, they could easily cause harm or a wrongful death.
Why Motorists Are at Greater Risk in Bus Collisions
As American passenger vehicles get larger every year, drivers often feel safer and less concerned about getting hurt in a crash. However, even the heaviest-duty pickup truck in Texas is no match for a bus that weighs between 20,000 and 40,000 lbs and is 40 feet long. Getting hit by something that big can leave you severely injured and trapped inside your vehicle.
Motorists involved in a bus accident can be subject to increased impact forces from the heavier bus. A moving bus generates more than four times as much momentum as a passenger automobile. At higher speeds, that kind of force can crush a smaller vehicle or push it into other cars, leading to multi-car pileups.
As with pedestrians, motorists must also be aware of their increased blind spot risks around buses. For example, let’s compare the blind spot sizes for cars versus buses:
- Cars: Average 15 feet in length and 6 feet high
- Side blind spots – 16 feet
- Rear blind spots – 38 feet
- Front blind spots – 13 feet
- Buses: Average 40 feet long and 10 feet high
- Side blind spots – 50 feet
- Rear blind spots – 125 feet
- Front blind spots – 20 feet
As a result, it is a lot easier for a bus driver not to see nearby vehicles and cause an inadvertent collision. A good rule of thumb is to allow buses more room and remember that if you are following a bus and can’t see the bus driver’s mirrors, the driver can’t see you. Stay alert for sudden stops and starts, lane changes, and other unexpected actions as the driver moves the bus through its route or to its destination.
The Life-Altering Consequences of Bus Accident Injuries
It should go without saying that a pedestrian hit by a bus of any size will likely be killed instantly or pass away soon after. If they survive, they may be left with serious or even catastrophic injuries. While there is no formal legal definition for “catastrophic injury” in Texas, it’s usually applied to the following conditions:
- Damage to the spine or spinal cord that causes paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Losing both arms or hands, both legs or feet or one of each
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that cause loss of cognitive ability or motor control
- Third-degree burns, especially over most of your body or on your face
Even serious injuries can require lengthy recovery and extensive treatment for the patient to recover. Doing so means time away from work, rehabilitation, therapy, and doctor visits, all of which add to the victim’s burden when the bus accident was someone else’s fault. The injured can partner with an experienced vehicle accident lawyer to seek compensation for these damages and more.
Seeking Justice After You’ve Been Hurt in a Bus Accident
Multiple parties could be at fault for your bus accident injuries, and you deserve legal representation from a bus accident attorney who will fight for you. When you are in pain and struggling to heal, you don’t need the frustration and headache of handling insurance claim paperwork or filing a personal injury lawsuit. Instead, you can turn to a compassionate lawyer who will manage the details for you.
Your attorney can identify all liable parties and avenues for financial relief, collect evidence to demonstrate their negligence against you and compile a list of your losses. You are eligible to seek payment for damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Medications, therapy costs, and rehabilitative services
- Lost income
- Lost earning potential if you are permanently disabled
- Emotional anguish and mental distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Insurance companies may deny your claim or try to reduce what you receive, expecting you to jump at the first offer. Your attorney can review each settlement offer and advise you on whether you may be eligible for more.
Wrongful Death Claims After a Bus Accident
In the event you lose a loved one to a bus accident, a wrongful death lawyer will help you file a claim for all the medical costs, as well as funeral and other expenses associated with your family member’s loss. The individuals who can file a wrongful death or survival action in Texas are, in this order:
- Legal spouse of the deceased
- Children of the deceased
- Parents of the deceased
- Personal representative of the deceased’s estate
You Must Act Quickly to File a Bus Accident Lawsuit in Texas
Recovering from a bus accident can take a long time, and you may not have the energy or skill to take action on an insurance claim or lawsuit right away. However, any delay can jeopardize your ability to hold those at fault accountable for their actions since the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 16 only allows you two years to file a legal claim. If you wait too long, your lawyer won’t have time to build a strong case, and the court may refuse to hear your case.
Pull the Cord to Stop Bus Accident Stress
If you or a loved one has been involved in a bus collision, whether as a passenger, pedestrian, or occupant of another vehicle, you may be entitled to injury compensation. A dedicated Houston bus accident lawyer can guide you through each step of the claim process, including helping you collect documents, reconstruct the scene of the accident, and secure witness statements. We can also help you avoid fateful mistakes like trusting your insurance company to give you a fair settlement.
Insurance companies are not on your side and will use every trick in the book to leave you with as little as possible. We believe you deserve more after being injured by another person’s negligence. With more than 50+ years of experience, the attorneys at Steve Lee are ready to fight for you.
Contact us to arrange a free consultation today and allow us to put a stop to your accident’s injustices. You need more, and we’re here to make sure you get it.