Houston Bus Accident Lawyer

Injured in a bus accident in Houston, TX? Contact the top Houston bus accident lawyer to seek justice and compensation.

Bus accidents on Houston’s busiest corridors, including I-10, the 610 Loop, and Metro routes through Downtown and Midtown, often leave victims with broken bones, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Medical bills arrive before you even leave the hospital, and time away from work puts your household budget under immediate strain. 

Meanwhile, transit authorities and their insurance carriers move quickly to investigate the crash on their own terms, often before you have a chance to understand your rights.

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, our bus accident lawyers in Houston move fast to preserve bus dashcam footage, maintenance records, and driver logs before they disappear. Our attorneys understand how to build strong claims against public transit agencies and private bus operators alike, and our track record of more than $20 million in settlements and verdicts shows we know how to fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Contact us to schedule a free consultation and discover how DeHoyos Accident Attorneys can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.

How Our Bus Accident Lawyers Help Victims in Houston, TX

When a bus crash leaves you with serious injuries, the financial pressure builds fast. Medical bills arrive before you can return to work, and insurance adjusters start calling before you fully understand what happened. At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, we handle every part of the legal process so you can focus on getting better.

• Rapid Evidence Preservation: We send legal hold notices to the bus company within hours to stop them from deleting onboard camera footage and driver records.
• Liability Investigation: We identify every party responsible for your injuries, from the bus driver and their employer to maintenance contractors and parts manufacturers.
• Public Entity Claim Filing: When your accident involves a government-operated bus, we file the required legal notices with agencies like METRO on time and correctly.
• Insurance Negotiation: We handle every conversation with insurance adjusters so you are never pressured into accepting less than your claim is worth.
• Full Damages Documentation: We work with medical experts to calculate your current bills, future treatment costs, and lost earning capacity so nothing is left out of your claim.

Injured in a bus accident in Houston, TX? Contact the top Houston bus accident lawyer to seek justice and compensation.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Bus Crash?

Texas law gives you the right to pursue compensation from the party whose negligence caused your injuries. The amount you can recover depends on the severity of your injuries and how they affect your ability to work and live your daily life.

You may be entitled to recover:

• Medical expenses: Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, and the cost of future treatment
• Lost income: Wages you have already missed and any reduction in what you can earn going forward
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and the lasting psychological effects of a traumatic crash
• Property damage: The cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any personal belongings damaged in the accident
• Punitive damages: Additional compensation a court may award when the at-fault party acted with extreme recklessness

Bus accidents often involve multiple insurance policies, which can mean more sources of compensation are available to you than in a standard car accident claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Houston Bus Accident?

Liability in a bus accident is rarely limited to just the driver. Several parties may share responsibility depending on what caused the crash.

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as your share of responsibility is less than 51 percent.

Can You Sue METRO, a School District, or a Charter Bus Company?

Yes, but the process and deadlines vary widely depending on who operates the bus. Claims against government-run transit systems, such as the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), are governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act. This law limits how much you can recover and requires you to file a formal written notice of your claim before you can sue.

Missing these deadlines can permanently end your right to compensation. We act quickly to file the required notices and preserve onboard camera footage before it is overwritten.

What To Do After a Bus Accident in Houston

The steps you take in the hours after a crash directly affect the strength of your claim.

Call 911 and Get Medical Care

Call 911 so police can document the accident in an official crash report. See a doctor the same day, even if your injuries seem minor, because early medical records connect your injuries directly to the crash.

Document the Scene

Photograph the bus number, route signage, all vehicles involved, skid marks, and your visible injuries. These images can be critical evidence if the bus company disputes what happened.

Collect Driver and Bus Information

Write down the bus operator’s name, the company or agency they work for, and their commercial driver’s license number, which is the special license required to operate a commercial vehicle. Ask for insurance information as well.

Talk to Witnesses

Get the names and phone numbers of other passengers and bystanders. Independent witness accounts carry significant weight when liability is disputed.

Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys Before You Speak to an Adjuster

Insurance companies begin building their defense immediately after a crash. We step in to handle all communication with adjusters so your words cannot be used against you.

What Evidence Proves a Bus Accident Claim?

Bus accident cases require more thorough investigation than a typical car crash because more parties are involved and the evidence is more technical. We secure and analyze the following:

• Onboard DVR footage, stop-arm cameras, and exterior bus cameras
• Driver logs, training records, and dispatch communications
• Bus maintenance and inspection history
• Houston Police Department crash reports
• Your complete medical records and expert opinions on your future care needs

This evidence lets us prove who was at fault and demonstrate the full financial impact of your injuries.

Common Causes of Houston Bus Crashes

Most bus accidents on Houston roads are preventable. Crashes on busy corridors like the I-45 Gulf Freeway, I-10 Katy Freeway, I-69 Southwest Freeway, Westheimer Road, and Beechnut Street often trace back to driver error or company negligence.

Common causes include:

• Driver fatigue from long shifts without adequate rest breaks
• Distracted driving, including phone use behind the wheel
• Speeding to stay on schedule
• Unsafe lane changes or failure to check blind spots
• Defective brakes, worn tires, or other maintenance failures
• Improper cargo or passenger loading that affects vehicle stability

Injuries We See in Houston Bus Accident Cases

The size and weight of a bus means collisions often produce injuries far more serious than those in a standard car accident. Many buses also lack passenger seatbelts, which increases the risk of being thrown on impact.

We represent clients who have suffered:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Ranging from concussions to severe cognitive damage that affects memory and daily function
• Spinal cord injuries: Which can result in chronic pain, limited mobility, or permanent paralysis
• Broken bones: Often requiring surgery, hardware placement, and months of rehabilitation
• Soft tissue injuries: Including whiplash and muscle tears that insurers frequently try to minimize
• Internal injuries: Organ damage and internal bleeding that may not be immediately visible
• Psychological trauma: PTSD, anxiety, and a lasting fear of public transportation

How Long Do You Have To File a Houston Bus Accident Claim?

In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For claims against government entities like METRO or a public school district, the deadline to file a formal written notice can be as short as six months.

Bus camera systems typically overwrite footage on a 7 to 30-day cycle. Waiting too long means critical evidence may be gone before your case even begins.

Why Choose DeHoyos Accident Attorneys?

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, you work directly with attorney Ryan DeHoyos from the first call to the final resolution. Ryan spent a decade in the corporate world before becoming a lawyer, which gives him a precise understanding of how bus companies and insurance organizations operate and how to outmaneuver them on your behalf.

We do not take on hundreds of cases at once and push for quick, low settlements. We take the time to build each case the right way. This is why clients across the Houston area trust our firm to handle their injury claims.

Ryan is recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and our firm holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and five-star ratings on Google, Avvo, and Super Lawyers. You pay nothing unless we win. We advance all case costs, so there is no financial risk to you.

Houston Roads, Hospitals, and Courts We Work With

Our firm handles bus accident cases throughout Houston and Harris County. We are familiar with METRO Park and Ride routes, METRORapid corridors, and school bus routes serving HISD and surrounding districts.

We regularly work with the Houston Police Department Records Division, the Harris County Civil Courthouse, and trauma centers, including Memorial Hermann TMC, Ben Taub General Hospital, and Houston Methodist Hospital.

Houston Bus Accident FAQs

Can I File a Claim if I Was Injured as a Passenger on a METRO Bus?

Yes, passengers injured on METRO buses have the right to file a claim, but the Texas Tort Claims Act applies, which means strict notice deadlines and damage caps. Contact an attorney immediately to protect your rights.

How Quickly Is Onboard Bus Camera Footage Deleted?

Onboard bus camera footage is often retained only for a limited time and can be overwritten if not preserved. We send legal hold notices within hours of being hired to prevent the bus company from destroying this evidence.

Does the Texas Tort Claims Act Limit How Much I Can Recover from METRO?

Yes, the Texas Tort Claims Act places caps on damages recoverable from public entities. We work to identify every available insurance policy and liable party to maximize your total recovery.

Who Pays My Medical Bills While My Case Is Pending?

Your health insurance or your auto policy’s Medical Payments coverage, known as MedPay, typically covers your bills in case. Those insurers are reimbursed from your final settlement, and we manage the lien resolution process for you.

What if the Bus Driver Were Employed by a Private Company, Not a Government Agency?

Private bus operators, including charter companies, hotel shuttles, and airport transport services, are subject to standard commercial insurance rules. These policies often carry higher coverage limits, and we pursue every responsible party to maximize your recovery.

Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was Partly at Fault for the Crash?

Yes. Under Texas modified comparative negligence law, you can recover compensation as long as your share of fault is less than 51 percent.

Contact DeHoyos Accident, Attorneys

If you were injured in a bus accident in Houston, DeHoyos Accident Attorneys is ready to fight for the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, replace your lost income, and move forward. During your free consultation, we will review the facts of your case, explain your legal options in plain English, and outline exactly what happens next.

Call (832) 745-4878 or request your free case review online to speak with a Houston bus accident lawyer today.