Texas Bus Crash Attorney J. Gonzalez
by Benjamin Treviño | February 6th, 2026 | Blog, Lawsuit, Personal Injury
Tort Claims and lawsuits involving public transportation
Personal injury crash claims and lawsuits involving public transportation vehicles such as city buses are legally complex.
They often involve government entities, multiple liable parties, and strict procedural requirements.
Unlike a standard private car accident, suing a city-run transit authority such as VIA in San Antonio typically triggers the Texas Tort Claims Act.
Key Legal Challenges
Sovereign Immunity
Many cities are protected by sovereign immunity, which prevents citizens from suing the government unless specific conditions are met. For example, negligence in operating a motor vehicle.
Notice Requirements
Injured parties, and immediate family members in cases of wrongful death, have a very short window to file a formal Notice of Claim against the government entity that owns the bus. The narrow time frame varies from 45 to 90 days.
Missing this deadline can permanently bar plaintiffs from suing, even if they are well within the standard personal injury statute of limitations (two years).
Liability Caps
Many states place a maximum “cap” on how much a government entity can pay out. For example, Texas limits recovery to $250,000 per person for municipal transit claims.
Common Liable Parties
Lawsuits are allowed to name several defendants to ensure full coverage of damages.
For example, a city or transit authority can be sued for negligent hiring, poor vehicle maintenance, or driver error.
Third-party drivers can be sued if their vehicle caused the bus to crash.
Bus manufacturers can face liability if the crash was caused by a mechanical failure like defective brakes.
Private contractors might be targeted if the city outsources bus operations to a private company.
Types of Recoverable Damages
Victims can typically seek compensation for economic damages that include:
Medical Bills
Past and future hospital stays
Surgeries
Rehabilitation costs
Wages lost during recovery
Loss of future earning capacity
Recoverable non-economic damages include:
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish Reduced quality of life
Contact J. Gonzalez
Are you currently dealing with a specific incident involving a public transportation vehicle? One phone call to the J.Gonzalez Law Firm can get you more precise information on local filing deadlines, liability caps and more.
It won’t cost you anything for the initial consultation. Don’t put your trust in law firms that have no experience with city bus crashes. The professional injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm are the people you want on your side. Contact us right now via this website or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH.
Your case will be in good hands.
Driver arrested following San Antonio bus crash
By: Benjamin Trevino
SAN ANTONIO – Police here arrested a driver after he reportedly crashed his vehicle into the back of a VIA bus on the city’s North Side.
The crash happened around 1:00 a.m. February 4 on Blanco Road near Basse Road, police said..
Police say the driver of a yellow Hyundai ran away after the crash. Officers quickly tracked down the 30-year-old suspect, who they believe was intoxicated. His name was not immediately available.
The man was taken to the hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. No passengers were on the bus at the time.