Trucks and commercial vehicles
Dallas bus accident lawyer.
If you were hurt on a bus, or hit by one, the first question is who runs it. DART buses and school buses belong to government agencies, and a claim against them can require written notice within months, not years. Charter, tour and church buses are private and follow different rules. We find out who is responsible, send the right notice on time, and preserve the bus cameras before the footage is gone.
Right now
If the bus accident just happened.
- 01
Get medical care today
Passengers are thrown into seats, poles and the floor, often without a seatbelt. Get checked even if you only feel sore, and keep every record.
- 02
Write down the bus details
The route number, the bus number on the front or side, the time, the stop, and the name of the company or school district. Take photos if you can.
- 03
Get names of other passengers
Passengers who saw what happened can leave quickly. A name and phone number from one or two of them can make a big difference.
- 04
Report it and get the report number
Tell the driver and make sure police or the transit agency writes a report. For a school bus, also report it to the school in writing.
- 05
Call us soon because of the notice deadline
A claim against DART, a city or a school district can require written notice within 6 months or less. The first consultation is free, in English or Spanish.
Key deadlines and numbers
- Notice to a government bus operator
- Written notice often within 6 months, sometimes soonerSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 101.101
- Deadline to sue
- 2 years from the accidentSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003
- Damage limits, city bus
- $250,000 per person, $500,000 per accidentSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 101.023
- Damage limits, school district and other local units
- $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accidentSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 101.023
- Federal minimum insurance, interstate charter bus
- $5 million for buses with 16 or more seatsSource: 49 C.F.R. 387.33
Texas law
How Texas law treats a bus accident.
The rules depend on who runs the bus. Government agencies can be sued for injuries caused by their drivers, but only under the Texas Tort Claims Act, with notice deadlines and damage limits. Private bus companies are held to ordinary negligence rules and, when they carry the public for pay, to a high standard of care for their passengers.
| Type of bus | Who answers for it | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| DART bus or city bus | The transit agency or city | Tort Claims Act notice and damage limits. |
| School bus | The school district, or a private contractor it hired | School districts can be sued for motor vehicle injuries, with lower damage limits. |
| Charter or tour bus | The bus company, and sometimes whoever booked or maintained it | Federal safety and insurance rules for interstate carriers. |
| Church or nonprofit bus or van | The organization and the driver | Texas law for charities can limit how much they pay when they carry required insurance. |
Government immunity is waived for vehicles
Texas lets people sue a government unit when an employee's use of a motor vehicle causes injury. For school districts, motor vehicles are almost the only kind of injury claim allowed.
Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 101.021, 101.051DART is treated as a government unit
Regional transit authorities like DART fall under the Tort Claims Act, so the notice deadline and damage limits apply to DART buses and their drivers.
Source: Tex. Transp. Code 452.056Passengers are rarely at fault
A seated or standing passenger usually did nothing to cause the crash or the sudden stop. The questions are how the driver drove, whether the bus was maintained, and what the other driver did if another vehicle was involved.
Children and the notice deadline
For a child, the deadline to sue is usually paused until age 18, but the notice deadline to a school district or city may still run. Do not wait because the injured person is a minor.
Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.001How we work
How we build a bus claim.
Mr. Estrada reads your file and sets the strategy. Our team works the details with him, and you get updates in English or Spanish.
01
Send the notice on time
We identify the agency or company, check the deadline in its charter or rules, and send a written notice of claim that meets the law.
02
Preserve the bus video
Most transit and school buses have cameras inside and out. We demand that the footage, the driver's records and the bus data be kept, and use public records requests where they help.
03
Look at the driver and the maintenance
Training, prior complaints, hours on duty, and brake and door maintenance records can show why it happened.
04
Find every other responsible party
If another driver caused the crash, their insurance is part of the claim too, and may not be subject to the government limits.
05
Document your injuries and negotiate
We keep your records and bills in order, send a demand backed by the evidence, and file suit when the offer is not fair.
Who handles it
The lawyer on the sign is the lawyer on your case.
Mr. Estrada has practiced in Texas since 2003, in state court and in the Northern, Eastern and Western federal districts of Texas. He reads the file and sets the strategy, with associates and staff who work the case alongside him. Everything is explained to you in English or Spanish.
What clients say
“He made sure he addressed all of our questions and put us at ease. He never made it seem like we were an inconvenience.”Questions people ask us about money and paperwork.
- Who pays my medical bills right now?
- Usually your health insurance, Medicaid or CHIP for a child, your own PIP if you have a car policy, or a doctor who agrees to wait for the case. Those payers may ask to be paid back from the recovery, and we handle that.
- I do not have a car or a car policy
- That does not stop a claim. If you were a passenger or pedestrian, the claim is against whoever caused the accident.
- Do I need papers to make a claim against DART or a school district?
- No. If you were hurt, you can make a claim. Talk to us privately about your situation. What you tell us stays between you and the firm.
Dallas and Odessa
Buses we see in Dallas and Odessa.
DART buses run on Jefferson Boulevard, Hampton Road, Illinois Avenue and across Oak Cliff and southern Dallas every day, and many of our neighbors depend on them to get to work. We handle claims against DART, school districts and private charter companies from our Oak Cliff office. In Odessa, we handle school bus and transit claims in Ector and Midland counties.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
Can I sue DART if I was hurt on a bus?
Yes, when a DART driver's operation of the bus caused your injury. The claim follows the Texas Tort Claims Act, which requires timely written notice and limits the amount of damages. Call early so the notice goes out on time.
My child was hurt on a school bus. What do we do?
Get your child checked by a doctor, ask the school for a written incident report, and write down what your child tells you. Ask for the bus video to be saved. The notice deadline to the school district can be short even though your child is a minor.
I fell when the bus stopped hard. Do I have a claim?
Possibly. It depends on why the bus stopped, how the driver was driving and whether the stop was avoidable. The bus video usually shows it, which is why preserving it quickly matters.
A charter bus hit my car on the highway. Who pays?
The bus company and its insurer, and sometimes other companies tied to the trip. Interstate charter companies must carry high federal minimum insurance. We find the policy and the company's safety record.
How long do I have?
For a government bus, written notice is often due within 6 months and some cities set shorter deadlines. The lawsuit deadline is generally two years. For a private bus, the two year deadline applies. Call as soon as you can.
How much does it cost to hire you?
The first consultation is free. Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means the fee comes out of the recovery, not out of your pocket. We explain the exact terms, including case costs, before you sign.
Related situations
- Car accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Delivery and work vehicle accidents
- Injuries to children
- Train and railroad accidents
- Wrongful death
- All: Personal Injury
Updated October 2026
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Two offices
Oak Cliff and Odessa.
Mon to Fri 9 to 5, Sat 9 to 12. Emergencies 24/7 by phone.
Law Office of Olegario Estrada, P.C.
We explain everything.We answer 24/7.Se habla español.
Free consultation by phone, video, or in person. Offices in Dallas and Odessa.