Bus Accident Lawyers in Tennessee

The type of bus decides the rules of your claim

Who operated the bus changes everything about the case. A public transit bus or a school bus is run by a governmental entity, which triggers special rules described below. A private charter or tour bus company is a common carrier that owes its passengers a high duty of care and usually carries large insurance policies. We identify the operator immediately, because it determines the deadline, the procedure, and where the recovery comes from.

The Governmental Tort Liability Act and a government bus

When a government-operated bus is involved, the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-101 and following, controls. It lets you sue a public entity for the negligent operation of its vehicles, but it sets a strict one-year deadline and caps the damages recoverable, currently $300,000 for one person and $700,000 for a single occurrence. Those limits make it essential to identify a government operator early and to pursue every other responsible party as well.

Tennessee's fifty percent rule

Under the rule from McIntyre v. Balentine, you recover nothing if you are found fifty percent or more at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share below that line. In a bus crash the fault may lie with the bus driver, the company that employed and trained the driver, another motorist, or a maintenance failure. We build the case on the physical evidence and the operator's records so fault is assigned accurately.

Serving injured bus passengers across Tennessee

Howe.Law represents injured clients throughout Tennessee, with offices in Nashville, Knoxville, and Murfreesboro. Wherever in the state your bus crash happened, we serve you.

Reports, evidence, and filing your case

A bus crash inside a city is investigated by that city's police department, one in an unincorporated area by the county sheriff, and one on an interstate by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. We preserve the onboard camera footage and the company's records, obtain your medical records, and file your lawsuit in the county where the crash occurred, in that county's Circuit Court.

Speak with a Tennessee bus accident attorney

Bus crashes involve big operators, big insurers, and sometimes a public agency with special rules and a one-year deadline, so there is no time to waste. Call (844) 876-4357 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Common questions

The crash involved a public transit or school bus. Are the rules different?

Yes. A school or public bus is operated by a governmental entity, so the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act applies, with a one-year deadline and statutory limits on damages. We handle those requirements and also pursue any private party, such as another driver, whose fault contributed.

There were many injured passengers. Does that reduce what I can recover?

It can matter when a governmental entity is involved, because the per-occurrence cap is shared among victims. That is exactly why we identify every responsible party, including private parties not subject to those caps, so your recovery is not limited unnecessarily.

I was a passenger on a tour bus that crashed. Who is responsible?

A charter or tour bus company is a common carrier that owes passengers a high duty of care, and it can be liable for its driver's negligence, poor maintenance, or inadequate training. These companies usually carry large insurance policies, and we pursue the full coverage available to you.