Trinidad, TX — There was a major school bus accident where the bus driver lost control just outside of Trinidad this morning (Thursday, April 30, 2015) that resulted in several students being injured. Police reported on this at about 7:30 a.m. and said that it happened along FM 274.
According to them, a Malakoff ISD bus was headed south along FM 274 this morning, carrying high school and middle school students, when the driver lost control and veered off the paved road onto the shoulder.
The bus then lost control and rolled over, landing in a nearby pasture. Of the students on board, 6 were injured while the bus driver required medical attention as well. Right now, it doesn’t look like anyone is in life-threatening condition, though 5 of the 6 students hurt may have suffered back & neck injuries as well.
The preliminary investigation suggests that the bus driver was driving too close to the edge of the road, police say.
Map of Trinidad
Commentary:
School buses are usually owned by the county or city, making them “government property,” essentially. What that means, legally speaking, is that any kind of accident claim against the bus driver for causing injury to someone will have to play by the city’s rules. Most people are familiar with the phrase “sovereign immunity,” and another form of sovereign immunity is cities get to use when they go to court. Most governmental entities are allowed to have different rules for those trying file suit against them, including capping the amount victims are compensated, shortening deadlines, and having different filing processes.
The reason I’m bringing this up is because most people would assume that any accident caused by a school bus will be automatically taken care of by the school administration, when the burden of proof rests entirely on the victim(s), who then must contend with the “sovereign immunity” issues we discussed earlier.
— Grossman Law Offices
