What Every Parent Should Know About School Bus Injuries in Houston

What Every Parent Should Know About School Bus Injuries in Houston

Did you know Houston ISD school buses have been involved in more than 500 accidents over a five-year period leading up to 2021? According to a 2022 Houston Chronicle investigative piece, the district only reported 17 accidents in a single year, while datasets that track all car accidents across Texas found otherwise. Similarly, the report revealed school buses in Aldine ISD, the public school district that serves communities in Aldine, Mount Houston, Westfield, and Woodgate, were involved in more than twice as many accidents than the district reported.

Some Houston-area school districts, charter schools, and private schools outsource all aspects of student transportation to third-party companies to reduce operating costs. However, these companies sometimes cut corners to maximize their own profits, which can compromise a child’s safety.

School bus accidents are more common than most parents wish to imagine. That is why our Houston child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm are shedding light on school bus accidents and injuries that are concealed from the public’s knowledge. We want to arm parents with knowledge about these incidents, including how they can hold school districts and third-party transportation companies accountable for injuries sustained by the children they are transporting.

How Houston Children Can Be Injured on a School Bus

While most people think of a school bus as a safe mode of transportation due to its large size, these vehicles are not foolproof. Children can be seriously hurt when a school bus is involved in an accident on Houston-area roadways. For example, buses purchased after 2018 are required to have three-point seat belts to protect children, but there are some loopholes. One allows school boards to opt out if they can’t afford to retrofit the district’s existing buses or buy new ones. This loophole means that buses belonging to many third-party transportation companies go without seat belts. You can learn more about common injuries children suffer in accidents involving school buses here.

In addition, bullying incidents that occur on a school bus can seriously harm children. In one case that our Houston child injury attorneys worked on, a young boy was beat up while riding the school bus home from his local elementary school. The bus driver witnessed the beating, but failed to intervene, making weak attempts to stop the obvious bullying. Our attorneys fought to get justice for the boy and his family.

Bullying on a school bus can look like:

• Physical contact, such as hitting, kicking, punching, and pushing
• Excessive teasing and name-calling
• Threatening physical harm

Follow these five steps if your child was hurt from an incident on a school bus in the Houston area.

Houston-Area School Districts

The following 25 school districts are in the Houston area:

• Aldine ISD
• Alief ISD
• Channelview ISD
• Clear Creek ISD
• Crosby ISD
• Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
• Dayton ISD
• Deer Park ISD
• Galena Park ISD
• Goose Creek ISD
• Houston ISD
• Huffman ISD
• Humble ISD
• Katy ISD
• Klein ISD
• La Porte ISD
• New Caney ISD
• Pasadena ISD
• Pearland ISD
• Sheldon ISD
• Spring Branch ISD
• Spring ISD
• Stafford ISD
• Tomball ISD
• Waller ISD

Visit the Harris County Department of Education for more information on each district.

Can I Sue If My Child Was Harmed or Injured on a School Bus?

Once your child is calm and has been medically evaluated, file a lawsuit to hold a school district and/or third-party transportation company accountable and to seek compensation, also known as damages, for any injuries your child sustained while on a school bus. The lawsuit may help your family get justice for the harm your child suffered, as well as protect other Houston-area children from experiencing the same unsafe conditions. Texas laws state that the lawsuit must be filed within two years of the incident.

Houston parents may be eligible for compensation to cover: 

• Emotional damages such as pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Mental anguish

Sadly, 108 children nationwide were killed in school bus-related crashes in 2021, according to the National Safety Council. In the tragic event that your child is killed as a result of a school bus accident, your family may be eligible for compensation to cover:

• Funeral expenses
• Medical expenses incurred prior to a child’s passing
• Unexpected costly fees

Parents in Houston should speak with our experienced child injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm. We will listen and advise on the best path forward for you and your family. 

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Houston Child Injury Lawyers

Our team of experienced and compassionate Houston child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child was hurt in an accident or because of an incident on a school bus. With attorneys in Houston, we are ready to listen and fight for families in Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Deer Park, Friendswood, Humble, Jersey Village, Katy, Lake Jackson, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Tomball. Our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 281-857-6116 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.