A Houston bus crash claim depends on who runs the bus. METRO and school districts are government entities covered by the Texas Tort Claims Act, with damages caps and notice deadlines. Private charter and tour companies are common carriers held to a high degree of care. Owsley Law Firm handles Houston bus cases and charges no fee unless it wins.
Who handles a METRO bus injury claim in Houston?
METRO, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, runs Houston’s public buses, and its own police department investigates many crashes involving its buses. Because METRO is a governmental entity, an injury claim is generally governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act, Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 101, which waives immunity for injuries caused by the negligent use of a motor vehicle, subject to damages caps.
The Act requires formal notice of the claim, generally within six months of the incident under section 101.101, and some entities set shorter deadlines. Notice should go out as early as possible.
Which Houston bus crashes are most common?
Bus crashes in Houston take several forms.
Passenger injuries on a bus can happen without any collision at all. A sudden stop, a sharp turn, or a bus that pulls away before a rider is seated can throw passengers into seats, poles, and the floor. Those are still claims, because the operator owes passengers care in how the bus is driven.
- METRO buses rear-ended or struck at stops on busy arterials
- Passengers thrown when a bus brakes hard or turns
- Pedestrians struck near bus stops
- Charter and tour buses on I-45 and I-10
- School buses on neighborhood routes
What if I was a passenger on a charter or tour bus?
Private bus companies that carry passengers for hire are common carriers, and Texas courts hold them to a high degree of care for their passengers. Interstate passenger carriers must also carry federal minimum insurance, which for buses seating 16 or more is $5 million (49 CFR 387.33). Those limits change the value of a serious injury claim.
What evidence matters after a Houston bus crash?
Buses often carry onboard cameras, and transit agencies keep maintenance and operator records. The firm requests that evidence early, along with the crash report from METRO Police, the Houston Police Department, or the sheriff. Passenger names matter too, because many riders scatter before officers arrive.
Operator records can also matter: training, prior incidents, and work schedules. For a private carrier, federal driver qualification and hours rules may apply. For a public agency, the firm requests records through the claim process and, if a lawsuit is filed, through discovery.
Where is a Houston bus case filed?
Most Harris County cases are filed in the civil district courts at 201 Caroline Street. Claims against METRO follow the Tort Claims Act’s rules on notice and damages, and claims against a private carrier follow ordinary Texas negligence law, including proportionate responsibility under Chapter 33.
What are the damages caps in a Houston bus case?
Claims under the Texas Tort Claims Act are capped by statute, and the cap depends on the type of government entity involved. Claims against a private charter or tour company are not subject to those caps, and federal insurance minimums for large passenger carriers are much higher. That difference makes identifying the operator the first step in any Houston bus case.
Contract carriers can complicate this. Some routes and services are run by private companies under contract with a public agency, and the contract may decide who is responsible for the driver.
What if I was hit by a bus while driving or walking?
Drivers and pedestrians hit by buses have the same rights as passengers. The bus operator owes ordinary care on the road, and a METRO bus that turns into a crosswalk or changes lanes into a car can be the basis of a claim. Pedestrians struck near bus stops are often seriously hurt, and the stop’s location, lighting, and the bus’s camera footage can matter.
- Bus number and route
- Time and nearest stop
- Names of other passengers or witnesses
- Photos of the bus and the scene
What should you do after a Houston bus crash?
Get medical care and keep your fare card or ticket, which proves you were aboard. Write down the bus number and route. Get other passengers’ names if you can. Call the firm before notice deadlines run. Phones are answered 24/7.
If you were standing when the bus braked or turned, describe exactly where you were and what you were holding. Those details matter in passenger cases, because the question is whether the driver operated the bus with the care owed to riders.
Go deeper
More on bus accidents in Houston and Texas.
Common questions
Houston bus accidents questions
Can I sue METRO?
Generally yes, under the Texas Tort Claims Act, with damages caps and a notice requirement.
How soon must I notify METRO?
The Tort Claims Act generally requires notice within six months, and shorter deadlines can apply, so act early.
What if a charter bus crashed on I-45?
The charter company is a common carrier owing passengers a high degree of care, and federal insurance minimums for large buses are $5 million.
What if my child was hurt on a school bus?
School districts are covered by the Tort Claims Act, with its own caps and notice rules. Call early.
Who investigates METRO bus crashes?
METRO’s police department investigates many of them, and Houston police or the sheriff may also respond.