Austin Bus Accident Attorneys

Austin’s Legal Advocates for Bus Accident Victims

Whether you were injured as a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver, an accident involving a CapMetro, school, or private charter bus can be devastating. These cases involve complex laws and powerful opponents, from government entities to large corporations. 

At Lee, Gober & Reyna, our attorneys have the experience to investigate the crash and hold all negligent parties accountable. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

How Are Bus Accident Cases Different Than Traditional Car Accident Claims?

Bus accident cases are fundamentally different from traditional car crash claims, primarily because they often involve government entities and multiple victims, dramatically altering the legal path to compensation.

• Sovereign Immunity & Damage Caps: Claims against public transit like CapMetro and STAR Transit are governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act, which imposes strict monetary caps on damages and very short notice deadlines.
• Higher Duty of Care: Bus drivers operate as “common carriers” and owe their passengers the highest duty of care under the law, making it easier to prove a breach of negligence when a passenger is injured.
• Multiple Liable Parties: Liability often extends beyond the driver to the bus company, maintenance contractor, or even the driver’s direct employer (if outsourced), requiring complex multi-party litigation.
• Unique Evidence: Cases rely on specialized evidence, including onboard camera footage, driver logs, and digital vehicle data, all controlled by the bus company, necessitating immediate legal action to secure.

Lee, Gober & Reyna: Fighting for Austin’s Bus Accident Victims

Accidents involving buses are far more complex than a typical car wreck. They often involve devastating injuries and powerful opponents, from government entities protected by sovereign immunity to large corporations with aggressive legal teams. 

At Lee, Gober & Reyna, we have a specific and proven strategy to overcome these challenges and secure justice for survivors.

Investigation into Common Carrier Negligence

What makes our process unique is our immediate, in-depth investigation tailored to “common carrier” liability. Our proactive approach is essential to prove negligence before the evidence disappears.

We don’t just look at the crash scene; we immediately file legal demands to preserve critical evidence that bus companies control. This includes the driver’s qualification file and logs, vehicle maintenance records, dispatch communications, on-board camera footage, and the bus’s event data recorder (“black box”). 

Navigating Governmental and Corporate Defenses

Our attorneys have specific experience navigating the unique legal hurdles these cases present. We are highly proficient with the Texas Tort Claims Act, which governs lawsuits against government entities like CapMetro and requires strict, early notice deadlines that can bar a claim if missed. 

Our knowledge, combined with our track record of successfully litigating against the formidable legal teams of private bus corporations, gives our clients a decisive advantage in their fight for fair compensation.

Compensation in Austin Bus Accident Claims

Whether the claim is against a private charter company or a government entity like CapMetro, a successful claim can provide the resources needed to rebuild your life. 

At Lee, Gober & Reyna, our team meticulously calculates all damages to ensure our clients pursue the maximum possible recovery.

Economic Losses

Economic losses represent the tangible, out-of-pocket financial costs that result directly from the accident. These are the most straightforward damages to prove using bills, receipts, and expert financial analysis. 

Our goal is to recover compensation for all economic damages, including past and future medical bills for hospital stays, surgery, and rehabilitation. We also fight for lost wages from missed work and the loss of future earning capacity if you are permanently disabled, as well as property damage to your vehicle or personal items.

Non-Economic Losses

Non-economic losses compensate you for the intangible ways the accident has impacted your life and well-being. While these don’t have a specific invoice, they often represent the greatest harm to a survivor. 

We fight to secure substantial compensation for physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional anguish like anxiety and PTSD, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and the overall loss of enjoyment of life. This also includes loss of consortium, which addresses the damage to a spousal relationship.

Punitive Damages

In some cases involving private bus companies, it may be possible to pursue punitive damages. These are not designed to compensate the survivor but to punish the defendant for extreme or malicious negligence and deter similar conduct. 

For example, if a bus company knowingly hired an unlicensed driver or intentionally neglected critical vehicle maintenance to save money, punitive damages may be awarded to hold them accountable for their reckless disregard for public safety.

Common Causes of Bus Accident in Austin, TX

Bus accidents in Austin and Terrell are often traced back to specific, preventable acts of negligence by the driver or the company responsible for the bus’s operation and upkeep. Identifying the root cause is the critical first step in holding the at-fault parties accountable.

Common causes of bus accidents in Austin include:

• Driver Error and Distraction: This includes drivers who are fatigued from long shifts, distracted by passengers or on-board equipment, or who make critical errors in judgment in heavy traffic.
• Inadequate Driver Training: Accidents can be caused by a company’s failure to properly train drivers on specific routes, safety protocols, or defensive driving techniques for a large vehicle.
• Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Negligence by the operating company, such as failing to maintain brakes, tires, steering systems, and lights, can lead to catastrophic mechanical failures on the road.
• Large Blind Spots: Buses have significant blind spots on all sides. Accidents frequently occur when drivers change lanes or make turns without being able to see smaller vehicles, motorcycles, or pedestrians.
• Violation of Traffic Laws: To maintain tight schedules, some drivers may speed, run red lights, or make improper turns, directly leading to dangerous collisions.

Common Injuries Suffered by Austin Bus Accident Victims

Because of their immense size and weight, collisions involving buses generate catastrophic forces, often resulting in life-altering injuries for passengers, pedestrians, and occupants of other vehicles. 

Passengers are particularly vulnerable as many buses lack safety features like seatbelts, leaving them unprotected from the violent impact. These severe injuries require extensive, long-term medical care and form the basis of a personal injury claim demanding significant compensation.

Common severe and catastrophic injuries from bus accidents include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Passengers can be thrown from their seats, causing their heads to strike windows, poles, or other hard surfaces, leading to severe concussions and permanent brain damage.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: The violent jolting and blunt force of the crash can fracture vertebrae or sever the spinal cord, often resulting in partial or complete paralysis.
• Internal Organ Damage: The immense force can cause life-threatening internal bleeding, ruptured organs, and other critical internal injuries that require immediate emergency surgery.
• Complex Bone Fractures: Victims, especially pedestrians and those in smaller vehicles, frequently suffer multiple or comminuted (shattered) fractures to the legs, pelvis, and ribs, often requiring multiple surgeries.

Crush Injuries and Amputations: Pedestrians or cyclists struck by a bus are at high risk for catastrophic crush injuries or the traumatic amputation of limbs.