Bus Accident Lawyer: Get Help After A Bus Crash (2025)

What Does a Bus Accident Lawyer Do?

Bus accidents can take several forms, including injuries resulting from any of the following:

• Accidents on buses due to equipment failures, such as broken railings
• Traffic collisions between buses and vehicles, bicycles or pedestrians
• Single-vehicle accidents involving rollovers or collisions with fixed objects

The victims of these accidents can include bus passengers, motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. For example, a bus may injure you in a rear-end collision with your car. Bystanders in buildings or other structures hit by buses can also suffer injuries.

Many personal injury lawyers handle bus accident claims. These claims rely on the same legal principles as other injury cases, with an additional wrinkle—state laws usually treat commercial bus operators differently than governmental bus operators.

Thus, a claim involving a chartered bus crash often follows different procedures than one with a school or public transit bus crash.

Commercial Bus Crash Cases

The liability for commercial or private bus operators is the same as any other person or business. As a result, a commercial bus accident lawyer usually starts the case with an insurance claim.

The insurer investigates the accident and either accepts or denies the claim. Some grounds for denying claims include the following:

• The company and its driver did not cause the accident.
• Neither the company nor its driver acted negligently.
• The victim’s injuries did not result from the bus accident.

If the insurer accepts liability, it will pay compensation for the economic and non-economic losses of victims. Economic losses include medical costs, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic losses include pain and suffering.

Government Bus Crash Cases

The liability for injuries caused by buses operated by government agencies is generally subject to the state’s sovereign immunity. This means a school bus and public transportation accident lawyer must analyze the case before filing any claims. Typically, the lawyer will first determine whether the operator is subject to liability for the client’s injuries.

Governmental agencies, including transit authorities and school districts, often have sovereign immunity, which means they cannot be sued for their actions. For example, the Alabama Constitution of 1901 prohibits any lawsuit against the state. Consequently, someone injured in a bus crash probably cannot sue a public transit operator in Alabama.

However, many states have waived their sovereign immunity in certain situations. California, for instance, waived its immunity for motor vehicle crashes. This means injured passengers and road users can probably sue California public transit operators and school districts for bus crashes.

After determining the operator’s liability, a bus accident attorney must then identify the proper procedures for pursuing a claim. When governments waive their sovereign immunity, they can set the conditions for the waiver. Thus, these claims may differ from injury claims against non-governmental parties in the following ways:

• Different time limits and deadlines
• Distinct claim procedures
• Unique tribunals, such as a claims court or agency, to decide cases
• Caps on the compensation paid

The claim will often look like a regular traffic injury claim by describing the accident and why the state or local agency operating the bus was negligent in causing it. The claim may also list the victim’s losses, including medical costs and income losses.

However, some states cap the compensation you can recover. For example, Texas caps liability in personal injury claims at $250,000 per claimant for state and municipal governments and $100,000 per claimant for local government units.

How Do I Find a Bus Accident Lawyer Near Me?

Many personal injury lawyers handle bus accident claims. Start your search by gathering names of injury lawyers from people you know, like friends and family members.

Once you have a pool of names, determine whether they handle bus accident cases. You can review their law firm websites or call them to inquire about their practice areas. Some injury lawyers focus on specific areas within injury law, such as workers’ compensation or medical malpractice lawyers, and do not take traffic crash cases.

After you narrow down your list to those who may accept your case, schedule initial consultations. Most injury lawyers offer free consultations to assess your case and outline your legal options.

Try to schedule consultations with a few lawyers. Lawyers have different skills and experience, and you should have options when you choose the best bus accident lawyer for your case. For example, if you suffered head trauma, you want a lawyer who is familiar with the typical size of brain injury settlements.

Moreover, legal fees may vary. How much does a lawyer cost? Most injury lawyers charge a contingency fee, which is a percentage of your settlement. You can learn a lawyer’s fee structure at a consultation as well.

Contact ConsumerShield for a Bus Accident Attorney Referral

Bus injuries can cause serious or fatal injuries to passengers and the road users they hit. ConsumerShield helps accident victims understand their legal options and find the right lawyers to represent them. Contact us for a free case evaluation and a bus accident attorney referral today.