Many Austin residents rely on public transportation to get to work, school, or travel around the city. Also, many people take bus trips on the highway for business or personal reasons such as a group charter. Because of this, there are a large number of buses on our roads. Unfortunately, this leads to numerous bus accidents each year as buses collide with other motor vehicles, bicyclists, and even pedestrians, or have accidents due to product defects or poor bus driving. Due to their sheer size and weight, buses can cause catastrophic damage when such collisions occur.

If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a bus accident, we can help. At Howry Breen & Herman, we assist bus passengers, other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians who are injured as a result of negligence. Our team of dedicated Austin bus accident attorneys has extensive experience handling these types of complex claims. We are skilled and aggressive litigators who are prepared to fight for you and your rights, both in and out of the courtroom.

Injured in a bus accident? Call Howry Breen & Herman at (512) 430-4844 or contact us online to request a free, confidential case evaluation with our team.

Common Types of Buses

A bus, in transportation terms, refers to a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers along a fixed route, typically with designated stops along the way. Buses are a common mode of public transportation in cities and rural areas, offering an efficient means of moving people from one point to another.

Here are some common types of buses:

• City Bus: City buses, also known as transit buses or urban buses, are the most common type of bus seen in cities. They operate on fixed routes within urban areas, stopping at designated bus stops to pick up and drop off passengers. City buses often feature a low floor design to facilitate easy boarding and alighting.
• School Bus: School buses are specifically designed to transport students to and from school. They are typically painted yellow and equipped with safety features such as flashing lights, stop signs, and high seat backs to protect passengers in the event of a collision.
• Coach Bus: Coach buses, also known as intercity buses or motor coaches, are designed for long-distance travel between cities or regions. They offer comfortable seating, onboard amenities such as restrooms and sometimes Wi-Fi, and are commonly used for tours, sightseeing trips, and interstate travel.
• Shuttle Bus: Shuttle buses are smaller buses used to transport passengers between designated locations such as airports, hotels, parking lots, and tourist attractions. They operate on a fixed route or loop and are often employed for short-distance transportation within a confined area.
• Double-Decker Bus: Double-decker buses have two levels, with seating on both the lower and upper decks. They are commonly used in cities with high passenger demand to maximize seating capacity while minimizing the vehicle's footprint on the road.
• Articulated Bus: Articulated buses, also known as bendy buses or accordion buses, feature a jointed or hinged midsection that allows the bus to bend in the middle. This design increases passenger capacity without significantly increasing the bus's length, making them suitable for high-demand routes.
• Electric Bus: Electric buses are powered by electric motors and batteries instead of traditional internal combustion engines. They offer environmental benefits by producing zero tailpipe emissions and reducing noise pollution, making them increasingly popular in cities striving for sustainable transportation solutions.

Establishing Liability in Austin Bus Accidents

As with all types of personal injury claims, in order to pursue a bus accident injury claim, you must show that another person, company, or entity acted negligently and that this negligence directly or indirectly led to your injuries. If your loved one was killed in a bus accident, you must show that negligence led to your loved one’s death in order to file a wrongful death claim.

A bus accident may be the result of negligence if it was caused by:

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
• Careless or reckless driving
• Bus driver error
• Improper bus driver training
• Insufficient or lack of proper bus maintenance
• Failure to conduct bus driver background checks
• Lack of adequate supervision
• Defective bus design or faulty parts
• Poor or faulty road design

It is important to note that this list is not complete. There are many different factors involved that can result in an accident, and many of these factors are caused by negligence.

Additionally, bus accident cases tend to be complex due to the numerous parties involved. There are many different types of buses, including municipal or city buses, school buses, and privately-owned transportation buses, like Greyhound buses. Because of this, it can be hard to determine who is responsible when an accident occurs.

Any of the following parties (or a combination thereof) may be responsible for a bus accident:

• The bus driver
• A private company that owns the bus
• Local or city government
• The bus manufacturer
• An entity responsible for road design

Again, this list is not exhaustive. Our firm can help you work to determine who is at fault for your particular bus accident and work to hold those parties responsible for their negligence.

What Damages Can You Recover in Bus Accidents?

Bus accidents often result in catastrophic injury or death. Victims may suffer severe, life-altering injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, paralysis, or accidental amputation. Even in relatively minor collisions, bus passengers and other victims typically experience injuries like cuts and lacerations, bruises, broken bones, and scarring. The cost of these injuries—both financial and emotional—can be overwhelming.

Financial recovery for your damages can be crucial in your healing process. While every case is different, many bus accident victims are able to recover compensation for the cost of medical treatment (immediate and future), lost income and/or wages, reduced or lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. If your family member was killed, you may be able to recover compensation for funeral and/or burial costs, loss of companionship, loss of projected earnings, and more.

Understanding the Duty of Care for Austin Bus Companies

A bus is considered a common carrier or a vehicle used to provide for-price transportation to people. Designating a bus as a common carrier is important in a personal injury claim because common carriers have a higher duty of care owed to passengers and other motorists than a typical driver. Under Texas law, a common carrier should use the same “foresight” to avoid accidents as a “very cautious, prudent, and competent” person would. If it can be proven that a bus driver was not using this heightened definition or sense of caution at the time of a crash, then a majority or totality of the liability can be placed on them and the parent bus company.

Seek Legal Guidance After a Bus Accident in Austin

For nearly a quarter of a century, our firm has been serving clients throughout Austin, Georgetown, and areas all over Texas. We have helped countless individuals and families who had their lives forever altered by the negligence of another person or entity. Our Austin bus accident attorneys can help you work to recover the full and fair settlement or verdict you are owed. With extensive trial experience, we are not afraid to take on negligent parties in the courtroom. We offer compassionate, personalized legal services with a results-oriented approach.

To learn more about how our team can help you, contact us online or by phone at (512) 430-4844 and schedule a free case evaluation today.