Bus Accident Settlement Amounts (Public Transit & School Bus)

Bus accidents can cause devastating injuries to passengers, pedestrians, and occupants of other vehicles. The large size and weight of buses mean that collisions often result in serious injuries. Bus accident claims can be complex due to government immunity issues, common carrier liability, and multiple potentially responsible parties.

Average Settlement Amounts

Minor injuries from bus accidents settle for $20,000 to $75,000. Moderate injuries including fractures settle for $50,000 to $250,000. Serious injuries requiring surgery settle for $150,000 to $750,000. Catastrophic injuries settle for $500,000 to $5,000,000 or more.

Types of Bus Accidents

Public transit bus accidents involving city buses and metro systems. School bus accidents involving children. Charter and tour bus accidents. Greyhound and intercity bus accidents. Private shuttle bus accidents.

Government Liability

Claims against government-operated buses such as city transit systems have special rules. You must file a notice of claim within a short deadline, typically 30 to 180 days. Damage caps may limit your recovery. Sovereign immunity may protect the government in some situations. The claims process is different from private party claims.

Common Carrier Liability

Buses are considered common carriers, which means they owe a heightened duty of care to their passengers. This higher standard of care makes it easier to establish negligence in bus accident cases.

Conclusion

Bus accident settlements range from $20,000 to $5,000,000 or more. Be aware of short filing deadlines for government bus claims.

Use our free settlement calculator to estimate what your bus accident case might be worth.