What Are the Leading Causes of Bus Accidents?
Negligence is one of the leading causes of bus accidents. It comes in various forms, and often multiple types of negligence contribute to a single crash. The negligence resulting in bus wrecks usually falls into one or more of the following categories.
Driver Negligence and Bus Accidents
Bus drivers and other motorists can be careless, inexperienced, or reckless. That typically means misjudgments, misperceptions, and performance errors resulting from negligence such as:
- Speeding or aggressive driving: Heavy buses traveling at speed on I-190 or Covington’s busy roads are much more difficult to slow, maneuver, and stop. When other motorists speed or drive aggressively, it can be difficult for a bus driver to maneuver out of the way, particularly when those motorists are in a bus’s blind spots.
- Drug or alcohol impairment: Intoxication slows reaction times, causes drowsiness, and distorts perception. Commercial drivers, including bus drivers, are held to a 0.04% BAC standard under federal law. Impaired driving remains a contributing factor in too many bus accidents.
- Inattention or distraction: A distracted bus driver can overlook hazards and react too slowly. The same risks that apply to all commercial vehicle operators apply here.
- Failures to follow traffic laws or bus regulations: Drivers who break the rules of the road at any point can put others in danger. This includes failing to stop behind a school bus, running red lights, failing to yield, and similar violations.
Driver negligence may be established through evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and accident scene photos.
Bus Company Negligence and Bus Crashes
The companies that own and operate buses can be liable for crashes when they put dangerous drivers or unsafe vehicles on the roads. These companies can also be at fault when their policies or failures to comply with federal or state regulations contributed to the accident.
Both private companies and public organizations operate buses in the Covington area. Knowing which entity operated the bus matters because it affects filing deadlines and other key aspects of your claim. Government entity claims in Louisiana require compliance with the Louisiana Tort Claims Act, including a 90-day pre-suit notice requirement.
Bus Wrecks Caused by Faulty Equipment
Mechanical failures can cause any driver, including bus drivers, to lose control of a vehicle. Equipment malfunctions can result from:
- Inherent design flaws
- Substandard manufacturing
- Improper installation
- Failure to maintain
When faulty equipment contributes to a crash, equipment manufacturers, vehicle technicians, and bus companies may each face liability. Commercial vehicles, including buses, are approximately twice as likely as passenger vehicles to experience equipment failures. When they do, brakes and tires are the most common points of failure (source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).
Weather, Road, and Traffic Conditions
Adverse weather including sleet, heavy rain, and storms reduces visibility and degrades road conditions. That makes it more difficult for drivers to see and respond to their surroundings and can make it unsafe to operate a bus the way one would in fair weather. Rush hour traffic and highway work zones add complexity to road conditions in and around Covington. These factors, alone or combined, contribute to bus accidents in St. Tammany Parish.
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Covington, LA 70433
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Get directions →Bus Accident Statistics
Bus accidents occur regularly and can involve many types of vehicles and passengers. Louisiana ranks among the top 10 states for fatal bus accidents annually (source: FMCSA). When all bus accidents and their impacts are counted nationally, the numbers run into the thousands each year.
What We Handle
Covington Practice Areas
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Car Accidents Rear-end, intersection, and highway collisions across Louisiana. -
Truck Accidents 18-wheeler and commercial-vehicle wrecks governed by federal trucking rules. -
Motorcycle Accidents Serious-injury motorcycle crashes where bias against riders is common. -
Bus Accidents Transit, school, and charter-bus crashes involving public and private carriers. -
Catastrophic Injury Brain, spinal-cord, amputation, and severe-burn injuries that change a life. -
Brain Injury Traumatic brain injuries with long-term cognitive and physical effects. -
Burn Injury Severe burns from fires, explosions, chemicals, and electrical contact. -
Wrongful Death Claims brought by families after a fatal accident or act of negligence. -
Construction Accidents Falls, struck-by, and equipment injuries on the job site. -
Offshore Accidents Rig, platform, and vessel injuries beyond the shoreline. -
Workers' Compensation On-the-job injuries and the benefits owed to injured workers.
What Should I Do After a Bus Accident in Covington, LA?
Get to safety and call 911 immediately. After that, the following steps can help preserve potential evidence and protect your ability to seek financial recovery:
- Collect contact, driver, and insurance information from all other motorists involved.
- Photograph and video the damaged vehicles, road features, debris, and people at the scene.
- When discussing the accident with other parties, witnesses, police, or your insurance company, state only facts you know. Do not admit fault or apologize.
- See a doctor after the accident whether or not you received emergency care at the scene. Continue care for as long as needed to treat your injuries.
- If you were driving another vehicle when the accident occurred, report it to your insurance company promptly.
- Contact a Covington bus accident lawyer to get answers and legal guidance about your rights and options.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case is decided on its own facts. See our full case results.
Who Can I Sue After a Covington Bus Accident?
You may be able to pursue claims against any party who was at fault for the accident, provided you have not missed the applicable filing deadline. Potential defendants include the bus driver, the bus company or transit authority, vehicle or parts manufacturers, and other negligent motorists.
The deadlines for filing differ depending on who you are suing. Under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1 (effective July 1, 2024), personal injury claims must generally be filed within two years of the injury. Claims against government entities may have shorter deadlines that run independently. Missing a deadline ends your ability to recover, regardless of the merits of your case.
Your Covington Injury Attorneys
Founding partners Trey Morris and Justin Dewett lead every Covington injury case Morris & Dewett takes.
How Can a Covington Bus Accident Lawyer Help Me?
An attorney handles the complex work required to initiate, advance, and resolve your claim. That means working with someone who knows how to build, present, and win these cases. Specifically, a lawyer can:
- Investigate the accident and gather evidence, including police reports, witness statements, maintenance logs, and event data recorders
- Identify all at-fault parties, including parties not immediately visible in the initial report
- Navigate government entity requirements if a public bus was involved
- Handle communications with insurers and opposing counsel
- Calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical costs and lost earning capacity
- Meet all filing deadlines and procedural requirements
Navigating this process without legal representation while dealing with injuries creates real risk. Missed deadlines, overlooked parties, and incomplete evidence can reduce or eliminate your recovery.
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Reviews reflect individual client experiences. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
What Kind of Compensation Is in a Bus Accident Settlement?
Bus accident compensation depends on the injuries sustained, the damage caused, and what can be proven about negligence and liability. Settlement amounts and jury verdicts generally cover damages including:
- Medical expenses, past and future
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages if the accident was fatal
The strength of your evidence and the number of at-fault parties affect the total available recovery. View our case results to see the outcomes we have achieved for clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What are the leading causes of bus accidents in Covington?
- Negligence is the leading cause. That includes driver negligence such as speeding, impairment, and distraction; bus company failures such as inadequate training or maintenance; equipment defects from manufacturers or technicians; and environmental factors such as adverse weather and road conditions. Often, more than one of these contributes to a single crash.
- Q: What should I do after a bus accident in Covington, LA?
- Get to safety and call 911. Collect contact and insurance information from all parties. Photograph the scene. Speak only to facts with police and insurers. Do not admit fault. See a doctor promptly, even if you feel fine at the scene. Report the accident to your insurance company. Then contact a bus accident lawyer to understand your rights and deadlines.
- Q: Who can I sue after a Covington bus accident?
- You may be able to pursue claims against the bus driver, the bus company or transit authority, vehicle or parts manufacturers, and other at-fault motorists. Who can be sued depends on the specific facts and which deadlines apply. Claims against government-operated buses follow different rules, including a 90-day pre-suit notice requirement under the Louisiana Tort Claims Act.
- Q: How can a Covington bus accident lawyer help me?
- A lawyer investigates the accident, identifies all at-fault parties, gathers and preserves evidence, handles insurer communications, meets filing deadlines, and builds the case for maximum recovery. Without legal representation, missed deadlines or overlooked parties can cost you the full value of your claim.
- Q: What compensation is available in a bus accident settlement?
- Compensation can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future care costs, and permanent disability damages. If the accident was fatal, wrongful death damages apply. The total depends on what can be proven about your injuries and the defendants' negligence.
Last updated June 5, 2026