HOUSTON BUS ACCIDENT LAWYER
PRACTICE AREAS
Bus Accident Lawyer in Houston, TX
Bus drivers and bus companies, like large truck companies, are required to abide by strict federal and state laws. Bus drivers are subject to hours of service laws, drivers are required to have proper commercial driver’s licenses, and bus companies are required to have insurance policies to protect drivers and passengers in the event of an accident. City bus drivers are also held to a high standard of safety and responsibility.
If you or a loved one has been injured while riding the Houston, METRO. Or, if your child was injured while riding a school bus, suing the state or city can be more complex because of sovereign immunity laws.
However, you may still be entitled to seek damages if a public bus driver or school bus driver caused your crash, or if there was a defect with a METRO bus or school bus that led to your crash.
It will be helpful to contact a Houston bus accident lawyer, like Reich & Binstock to help you navigate the process of seeking damages from the state.
If you’ve been hurt in a bus accident in Houston, Texas, consider speaking to Reich & Binstock, Houstonbus accident lawyers today.
Our firm can review the circumstances surrounding your accident, identify negligent parties, and fight to help you get the recovery you may deserve under the law. You may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim, especially if your case involved a school bus or if your accident involved a METRO bus. Contact Reich & Binstock, a bus accident lawyers in Houston, Texas today to protect your rights.
How METRO and School Bus Accidents Differ from Other Accident Claims in Houston, Texas
If you’ve been injured on the METRO, if your child was hurt in a school bus accident, or if you were in a crash involving a public transportation vehicle, your bus accident claim might be more complicated than if you were in a passenger vehicle accident.
School bus drivers, METRO bus drivers, and these public systems are generally protected by a legal principle known as sovereign immunity. Under sovereign immunity, victims cannot sue a public agency or the state without the state first consenting to the lawsuit.
Fortunately, under Texas sovereign immunity law, individuals can sue Texas state workers if these individuals were injured while the Texas worker was operating a motor vehicle. So, if a METRO bus driver was responsible for your injuries or if a school bus driver was responsible for your accident, you may be able to sue the state for your injuries.
However, when it comes to suing the state, individuals must make a “notice of claim” to the state before they can sue. And the time limit you might have to notify the state of your intent to seek damages for your bus accident injuries might be very limited. You may only have 180 days to provide the state with notice of your claim.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a METRO bus accident or in a school bus accident, it is important to take steps to protect your rights as soon as possible. Reich & Binstock is a bus accident law firm in Houston, Texas who can assist you with your claim. Visit our firm today to learn more about your rights and to begin the claims process.
Houston Bus Accident Claims are Complex
If you were hurt in a tour bus accident, private bus accident, or were involved in an accident involving a commercial bus, you may also have a more complex personal injury case on your hands. Bus drivers are required to follow strict federal and local laws. They are required to pass medical tests and have must special licensure.
Bus companies are required to have high-limit insurance policies, which can pay for passenger injuries and for injuries victims might sustain if a bus collides with a passenger vehicle. Finally, bus companies have a responsibility to keep their buses in working order and to properly maintain them. When bus companies cut corners, car accident victims can often be the ones who suffer.
Determining fault and stakeholders after a bus accident can be a complex process. Reich & Binstock are bus accident lawyers in Houston, Texas who can identify the bus company responsible for your injuries, the drivers who may have been at fault, and their insurers, and fight to hold them accountable. If you’ve been hurt due to the actions of a bus driver, you may be entitled to seek damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The value of your claim may depend on the negligence of the driver and the circumstances of your accident. Bus insurance policies can sometimes be as high as one million dollars. If you’ve been hurt in a bus accident, contact Reich & Binstock, bus accident lawyers in Houston, Texas today. Our firm can review your case and help you understand the next steps.
How to File a Claim After a Bus Accident?
If you suffered serious injures, you may be able to file a fault-based insurance claim with the responsible party. When you file a bus accident claim, this may require you to submit evidence of the Houston bus accident and of your damages. An experienced Houston personal injury lawyer ay be able to help you file your claims or follow up with a lawsuit if the insurance company or responsible party does not offer to compensate you fairly.
What to do in a School Bus Accident in Houston?
If you're involved in a Houston bus accident, the consequences can be significant. More victims exist, as well as more responsible parties. Injuries can be more serious because of the lack of airbags and seatbelts.
Immediately following a bus accident, you'll want to get medical attention. Most of the time, the bus staff will be responsible for calling for assistance, but if the responsible parties are injured or killed, or if they refuse to contact emergency services, you should take matters into your own hands and call 911. Make sure to get tests for your back, spine and possible head injuries.
If able, document the scene. Get the names, phone numbers, and addresses of other passengers, the driver and any other parties involved in the accident. In the event that you hire a bus accident attorney, he or she may need to contact them.
How Do I Know if I've Been Injured in a School Bus Accident?
Injuries that are severe may take longer to diagnose and treat. This can impact the length of your case. Immediately following the accident, you'll want to seek medical attention, even if you feel fine. You'll want to document as much as possible about life following the bus accident, including: quality of life, medications, pains, etc.
When the Bus Driver is at Fault in the Bus Accident, Who Pays?
Personal injury lawsuits become a little more complicated when the bus driver is at fault. This is because many of the buses used are owned and operated by the government. When bus accidents are caused by the driver, victims may face difficulty recovering compensation.
If a bus accident victim wishes to file a claim against the bus driver or government entity responsible, he or she will have a small window to do so.
Who is Liable in a Bus Accident in Texas?
in some bus accidents, a third party may be liable. Potential liable parties could include other drivers, pedestrians, bicyclist or motorcyclists. Many times, bus accident victims in Houston can name other parties as defendants in a personal injury lawsuit if the parties exhibited negligence that caused the bus accident.
Do Bus Drivers Have a Duty of Care?
A bus driver should take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of the passengers who are on the bus, entering the bus, or leaving the bus, at all times.
Experienced Houston Bus Accident Lawyer
When it comes to your bus accident claim, it is important to have a personal injury lawyer who understands bus regulations, sovereign immunity law, and bus insurance requirements. Bus accident claims can be complex and can involve many different parties. Reich & Binstock is a bus accident law firm in Houston, Texas who can assist you with your claim and help you seek the justice you may deserve.
You may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim or to provide notice to Texas. Contact Reich & Binstock today to learn more. Our compassionate and caring bus accident lawyers are here for you. Either use our contact form or call 713-622-7271 or 800-622-7271 toll free.
There is never a fee unless we recover on your behalf.
Additionally, clients are not obligated to pay expenses if a recovery is not made.
