Texas Bus Accident Lawyer

Texas Bus Accident Attorney

Have You Been In a Bus or Transport Van Accident In Texas?

If so, call us now at 1-800-738-93946. Texas public transit services are divided into three types of entities: rural transit districts, urban transit districts and metropolitan transit authorities with a total operating budget of $2.6 billion dollars annually. In 2019, more than 274 million trips were taken in the state via city buses, “dial-a-ride” systems and light rails. Millions of Texans rely on public transport to get them where they need to be, which means accidents happen, and they happen often. When you have suffered injuries due to a bus accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a bus accident, contact a skilled Texas bus accident lawyer at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm.

Standard of Care For Common Carriers

Any entity that offers transportation services to the public for a fee is considered to be a common carrier. Typically, a common carrier offers its services to anyone. Whether or not the person responsible for the accident was a common carrier makes a huge difference when determining liability for an accident, as they are held to a higher standard of care. Common carriers are required to use extraordinary diligence rather than the typical ordinary care of other carriers. Whether or not a bus accident involved a common carrier is an issue that can be determined by a Texas bus accident lawyer.

Types of Buses Involved In Accidents In Texas

Our Texas bus accident lawyer explains some of the most common types of buses involved in accidents on Texas roadways.

School Buses

School buses provide the valuable service of transporting our children to and from school. With such precious cargo, when school buses are involved in an accident it is important to find out who was negligent. While school buses are designed with safety in mind, they do not have seat belts, meaning that whenever the bus takes a sharp turn or stops suddenly, passengers can be injured.

School bus accidents also involve other vehicles, pedestrians, and bike riders. Many of these accidents occur in school zones, where there are people walking to and from school. Speeding and distracted driving are often factors in accidents that take place in school zones.

Public Transportation Buses

Filing a lawsuit against a public transportation provider, like Houston Metro, can be difficult. There are a myriad of requirements and regulations which must be complied with when suing a public transportation provider. If you have been in an accident with, or suffered injuries from, a public transportation provider, you need to speak with a Texas bus accident lawyer.

Private Transportation Buses

Private bus lines provide transportation to many people in Texas. When the driver of a private bus is negligent and causes an accident, it may be possible to hold the company that owns the bus liable for the driver’s negligent conduct. The ability to sue and determine who is liable is an undertaking for a Texas bus accident lawyer.

Damages Recoverable In a Bus or Transport Van Accident In Texas

Being in an accident involving a bus can cause serious, life-altering injuries, and it is important that the victim be able to receive the medical care and financial resources they need to help them heal and become well again. Common damages that may be recovered in a bus or transport van accident are listed below.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are damages, or money, awarded to a victim to compensate them for their injury or loss. They are not meant to punish the entity that caused the accident; rather, they are designed to pay the injured party the amount needed to recover what they lost.

Compensatory damages can be economic or non-economic. Economic damages are easily measured or quantified with a receipt or estimate, while non-economic damages may require the help of a Texas bus accident lawyer to be determined. Examples of compensatory damages include:

• Lost Wages: If the injuries sustained in the bus accident prevent the victim from being able to work as usual, the injured party may be able to receive any wages they lose. This includes present wages, as well as any wages expected to be lost in the future.
• Medical Expenses: An injured party should be able to recover for any expenses they incur for necessary medical treatment caused by the bus accident. This includes present medical expenses, as well as any future medical expenses. It also includes the cost of medication.
• Property Damage: If your motor vehicle, bicycle, or any other property that belongs to you was damaged in the bus accident, you may be able to recover for the cost of your loss.
• Pain & Suffering: Being injured can cause extreme pain and suffering, and a bus accident victim may be able to recover for these as well.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Severe injuries can cause a victim to miss out on important life events. Instead of attending family get-togethers, they are required to go to therapy. Instead of spending weekends at the lake, they are unable to leave their recliner. Fortunately, bus accident victims can generally recover for their loss of enjoyment of life.

Punitive Damages

Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are designed to be a punishment for the person or entity that caused the harm suffered by another. Typically, the wrongdoer must have acted with a wilful intent to cause harm. Because of the high standard necessary to obtain them, punitive damages are not often awarded.

A Texas Bus Accident Lawyer On Your Side

Recovering compensation for injuries incurred in an accident with a bus or transport van often requires the guidance and skill of a Texas bus accident lawyer. Contact the professionals at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm to find out how we can help you obtain the financial compensation you are owed. We may be reached by calling 1-800-738-93946 or via our contact page.