Bryan-College Station Bus Accidents Attorney

Damages and Compensation Available in Texas Bus Accident Claims

The damages and compensation you may receive in a claim will depend on various factors, such as the type and extent of your injuries, fault considerations, and more. 

Damages can include medical expenses, such as: 

• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Ongoing medical care

Additional damages can include lost income due to your inability to work, compensation for your physical and emotional pain, reimbursement for the cost of repairing or replacing damaged property, and more, depending on your case. 

Bus accidents can be complex due to the involvement of multiple parties, such as bus drivers, bus companies, and other drivers. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning that your compensation may be reduced if you're found to be partially at fault for the accident. 

To ensure you receive the maximum compensation, it's essential to consult with an experienced attorney who understands the specific laws and regulations governing bus accidents in Texas.

Things to Know

School Bus Accidents

Nearly two-thirds of school bus-related fatalities of school-age children occur outside of the school bus, and one-third of those children are between 5 and 7 years old.  National data shows that school bus-related accidents account for roughly 17,000 emergency room visits for school children each year. Bus drivers, motorists, parents, and children all have a role in playing it safe.

The school’s bus driver must ensure that location of the stop and the child’s immediate path of travel after leaving the bus are safe. Many school districts require that bus stops be made on the same side of the street as the child’s residence and if not, the bus driver must act as a crossing guard. The bus driver must make sure that every child is seated and belted (if the bus is equipped with seat belts) and not standing while the school bus or passenger van is in motion.

Motorists risk children’s lives when they fail to stop for the school bus as it loads and unloads its passengers. Passing vehicles cause an estimated two-thirds of school bus loading and unloading fatalities. Motorists should not be within a 10-foot radius around all sides of the school bus and must stop at a safe distance away from the school bus when the stop arm is out and the flashing red lights are on. It is illegal to pass a school bus within the roadway as it drops off or picks up passengers regardless of the direction of approach.

Parents must make sure young children are properly supervised at the bus stop and should talk to their children about safe loading and unloading procedures. Tell your kids to make eye contact with the bus driver and other motorists, look out for obstructed views, know crossing procedures, and check traffic around the bus before entering the roadway. Finally, children should stay 3 giant steps away from the road until the school bus stops and the door opens. And never, ever walk behind the school bus.

Bus-Related Products Cases

Many of the deaths and injuries involved in bus crash cases are attributed to faulty or non-existent safety features. Numerous recommendations to improve bus safety have been issued by the National Transportation Safety Board. While some of them involve better driver qualification and oversight, many involve improvement to the safety features of the buses, including:

• Implementing crash avoidance technologies, such as forward collision warning systems and automatic braking fire resistant interiors
• Child check alarms at the back of the bus that can only be turned off by the bus driver after he walks to the back of the bus at the end of the route
• Strengthening roofs
• Improving seat anchorages
• Revising window glazing requirements
• And developing performance standards for luggage racks to prevent injury

How Paradowski Law Can Help

Our firm can take on the legal details of handling your claim, giving you the time and attention you need to focus on your recovery. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident to identify liable parties, gather evidence to back up your claim, such as medical reports, accident reports, photographs, and witness statements, prepare and file necessary legal documents, and negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf to seek a fair and just result. 

Should negotiations fail to result in a fair settlement, we can represent you in court. 

Do not be taken advantage of by insurance company tactics designed to limit or deny your compensation in a bus accident claim. Put a reputable trial lawyer on your side, such as Mr. Paradowski. Our firm is known for its professionalism, expertise, and tenacity in standing up for the injured. 

Jeff Paradowski is a Board Certified personal injury trial lawyer per the Texas Board of Legal Specialization with 30 years of experience. He has represented drivers and passengers who have been seriously injured or killed in traffic accidents, including bus crashes. 

Jeff has built an impressive reputation throughout Bryan-College Station, Grimes, Milam, Temple, Washington, Waco, and McClennan for his professionalism and strong track record in helping Texans secure maximized compensation for negligence-based injuries. 

Call Paradowski Law at (855) 524-2976 for a free consultation with our Bryan-College Station bus accident lawyer or send us an email on our contact page.