Church Bus Accidents Under Texas Law

Many churches may utilize buses to transport their attendees to various activities, such as, church camp, mission trips, etc. Unfortunately, a situation may arise where the church bus was involved in an accident injuring you or possibly killing a loved one.

When discussing bus accidents, it is important to know that under Texas law, accidents involving church buses are not treated any differently than normal commercial bus accidents. This article will help explain how accidents involving church buses work under the law and how our experienced bus accident attorneys can help if you or a loved one who was injured in a church bus accident.

• Are accidents involving church buses different from other bus accidents?
• How does the law view church bus accident?
• How can a lawyer help me if I was injured in a church bus accident?

How the Law Views Church Buses

As far as the law is concerned, there's no category of vehicle known as "church bus." In the eyes of the law, church buses are just another form of a commercial bus because churches are considered businesses. Even though churches aren't considered to be for-profit enterprises, like any other charity, their employees are regarded in the same light as employees of for-profit companies. If the driver of a church bus causes an accident, liability in the same way as accidents for normal commercial buses.

When filing a lawsuit for a church bus accident, your claim could fall under two different categories of Texas law:

• Negligence- Since Texas law does not have special distinctions for church buses, any law or regulation that applies to a commercial bus company would apply to the church. This means the church will need to have proper insurance, hire qualified drivers, properly maintain their vehicles, properly supervise the drivers, etc. The church bus driver would also be held to a higher standard of responsibility when operating the vehicle. So, if an accident occurs due to a bus driver's negligence, a person(s) might have a case to file a lawsuit against the church for compensation for injuries or the loss of a loved one.
• Vicarious Liability- Vicariously liability applies when a driver is furthering an employer's business interests. In these situations, the employer becomes responsible for the driver's actions, even if the employer didn't cause the accident himself. This means a church can be held liable for a church bus accident because the bus driver is acting in the interest of furthering the church's business interests.

We're here to help you.

If you've made the decision to pursue an insurance claim following an accident involving a church bus, you'll need to consult with an attorney who has experience litigating your type of case. Trying to navigate the law surrounding bus accident can quickly become very complex, but the attorneys at the Grossman Law Offices of Dallas, TX have been handling these types of cases for over 25 years. We have the experience needed to help you get the compensation you deserve. If you've been injured or have any questions, call us at 1-855-326-0000.

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