Driver, monitors hospitalized in Edinburg bus crash
by Benjamin Treviño | December 6th, 2024 | Bus Accidents, Legal Representation, Recent News
EDINBURG – City and school district police opened an investigation following a December 3 crash involving an Edinburg CISD school bus and a pick-up truck.
The Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District said in a news release that the accident occurred at around 3 p.m. on Rogers Road and McColl Road.
While there were no students on the bus at the time of the accident, school district officials said the bus driver and two bus monitors were transported to local hospitals for evaluation.
The Edinburg Police Department joined in the investigation. No other details were immediately available.
Can school employees sue their district when they are injured in a school bus accident?
Yes, school employees can sue for injuries sustained in a school bus crash, as they can be considered victims of negligence if the accident was caused by the bus driver or other factors related to the school district’s responsibility. This can include such things as poor vehicle maintenance. In most cases, the lawsuit would be filed against the school district due to a principle known as “vicarious liability.”
Vicarious liability
Vicarious liability is a legal doctrine that holds an entity can be held responsible for the negligent actions of one of its employees, even if the entity was not directly involved. In other words, if a bus driver is employed by a school district and causes an accident through negligence, the school district can be held liable for the driver’s actions.
Investigating the cause
To determine who is liable, a thorough investigation is needed to identify the factors contributing to the crash, like driver error, mechanical issues, or road conditions. However, there are some legal considerations.
Sovereign immunity
Some states, including Texas, have laws that limit lawsuits against government entities like school districts, so consulting an attorney is crucial to understand the specific legal requirements in your jurisdiction.
Notice requirements
In some cases, you may need to provide formal notice to the school district before filing a lawsuit.
Contact J. Gonzalez
School bus accidents can be complex. Potential issues can include:
- Negligence of the school bus driver
- Negligence of another driver
- Violation of seat belt requirement statutes
- Violation of driving regulations in the presence of a school bus
- Determination of which parties might be held liable
- Multiple injured parties
- Which insurance claims to make, and how they might affect each other
- The experienced personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm can help you navigate the process of claiming and recovering damages you are legally entitled to. They will handle the complexities of your case while you focus on your recovery.
Contact us today via this website or by calling 1-800-CAR-CRASH so we can discuss how we can help you get your life back on track.
