New Orleans Bus Accident Lawyer
By Charles E. Lavis Jr., New Orleans personal injury attorney · Updated September 16, 2026
A bus crash is rarely a simple two-vehicle case. The bus may be owned by a public transit agency, driven by an employee of a contractor, and maintained by a third company. Who you may be able to recover from, and what insurance and other sources of recovery are available, depends on the parties and coverage involved.
Lavis Law Firm handles bus and mass-transit injury claims across New Orleans and Louisiana, including RTA buses and streetcars, school buses, and charter and tour coaches.
Key points
- A bus crash can involve several responsible parties: the driver, the transit agency or bus company, a maintenance contractor, another motorist, a manufacturer, or a government entity.
- Claims against the RTA are generally evaluated under ordinary negligence rules, not a common-carrier standard.
- Louisiana law caps certain damages against the RTA at $500,000 per injured person; property damage, medical care and related benefits, and certain lost earnings are not subject to that cap.
- For most Louisiana injuries on or after July 1, 2024, the general deadline to file suit is two years from the date of injury.
- Bus video and electronic data can be overwritten, so preservation should be requested promptly.
RTA Bus and Streetcar Claims
Claims involving the Regional Transit Authority, including claims involving an entity contracted to manage or operate RTA service, are generally evaluated under Louisiana’s ordinary negligence rules. The facts may involve driver conduct, training, maintenance, vehicle condition, roadway conditions, or the conduct of another motorist.
Private bus and charter operations can involve different legal duties, so the operator and ownership structure should be identified early.
La. R.S. 48:1656, as amended by Act 474 of 2024 (eff. Aug. 1, 2024);
Waters v. Oliver, 223 So. 3d 37 (La. App. 4 Cir. 2017).
Who Can Be Held Liable
A bus case often has more than one potential defendant, and identifying all of them early is what protects the value of the claim:
- The driver — for inattention, speeding, unsafe turns, or operating while fatigued or impaired.
- The transit agency or bus company — both for the driver’s conduct and, separately, for negligent hiring, training, supervision or retention.
- A maintenance contractor — where brakes, tires, steering or doors failed and inspection records show the defect was known or should have been caught.
- Another motorist — where a third driver caused the collision the bus was involved in.
- A parts or vehicle manufacturer — where a component failed as designed or manufactured.
- A government entity — where road design, signal timing, signage or a known hazard contributed.
When a Bus Is Operated by a Public Entity
A claim involving a public entity can raise special rules about the proper defendant, service of the lawsuit, the available damages, and trial procedure. The RTA is a political subdivision of Louisiana. In a personal-injury claim, Louisiana law limits the RTA’s liability for certain damages to $500,000 per injured person, while excluding property damage, medical care and related benefits, and certain past and future earnings losses from that particular cap.
For most Louisiana personal-injury claims arising on or after July 1, 2024, the general deadline to file suit is two years from the date of injury. Claims arising before that date may be subject to the prior one-year period. Because the responsible entity and procedural requirements matter, a public-transit claim should be evaluated promptly.
The $500,000 limitation does not cap every category of damages, and it does not automatically extend to a private contractor. May v. Regional Transit Authority, 289 So. 3d 195 (La. App. 4 Cir. 2019); La. C.C. art. 3493.1 (Act 423 of 2024).
School Bus Accidents
School bus cases often involve more than one potentially responsible party. Whether the route is run directly by the school district or by a private contractor changes who the defendant is, and sometimes which procedural rules apply.
Injuries also occur outside the bus, in the loading and unloading area — for example, where a child is struck by another motorist passing a stopped bus. Depending on the facts, a claim may involve the driver, the school entity, a contractor, another motorist, or more than one of them.
Charter, Tour and Shuttle Bus Accidents
New Orleans moves a large number of visitors by charter coach, hotel shuttle and tour bus. Operators engaged in interstate transportation are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulation, and records such as hours-of-service logs, driver qualification files, testing records and inspection reports may be available. What exists, how long it is retained, and whether it applies varies by carrier and by operation.
The Evidence That Can Disappear
Much of the useful evidence in a bus case is held by the company you will be making a claim against, and some of it overwrites itself automatically:
- Onboard and exterior video — many systems record on a loop measured in days rather than months.
- Engine control module and telematics data — speed, braking, throttle and impact data.
- Driver logs and dispatch records.
- Maintenance and pre-trip inspection records.
- The driver qualification file — licensing, medical certification, prior violations and complaints.
- Passenger and witness identities — sometimes recorded only on a manifest or fare log.
These records may be important to determining how the crash occurred and should be preserved promptly. Prompt preservation requests can be important, particularly where video or electronic data may be overwritten.
What To Do After a Bus Crash
- Get medical attention, and say clearly what hurts — including anything that seems minor.
- Report the incident to the operator and make sure a written incident report exists.
- Photograph the interior and exterior of the bus, the scene, and your injuries.
- Collect names and numbers for other passengers before everyone disperses.
- Keep every bill, discharge instruction and out-of-pocket receipt.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the operator’s insurer before you have advice.
- Get advice promptly — public-entity claims can involve special procedural and damages rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
I was a passenger. Do I have to prove the bus driver was at fault?
Not necessarily. Liability may rest with the bus operator, with another motorist, with a maintenance contractor, or be shared among them. A passenger may have little or no fault, but fault depends on the facts. What matters is identifying every responsible party early, because that determines the insurance and other sources of recovery available.
The bus was operated by the RTA. Is that different from a claim against a private company?
Yes. Claims involving the RTA, or an entity contracted to manage or operate RTA service, are generally evaluated under Louisiana’s ordinary negligence rules rather than a common-carrier standard. The RTA is also a political subdivision, which can affect the proper defendant, service of the lawsuit, the damages available, and trial procedure. For most Louisiana personal-injury claims arising on or after July 1, 2024, the general deadline to file suit is two years from the date of injury; claims arising before that date may be subject to the prior one-year period.
My child was hurt getting on or off a school bus. Is that a bus accident claim?
Often, yes. Injuries occur in the loading and unloading area as well as in collisions. Depending on who operates the route and how the injury happened, a claim may involve the school district, a private contractor, another motorist, or more than one of them.
How much does it cost to have my bus case reviewed?
The consultation is free and confidential, and the firm handles injury claims on a contingency fee basis. Clients may be responsible for costs and expenses in addition to attorney’s fees. The representation agreement explains how costs and expenses are handled.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a bus accident in Louisiana?
For most Louisiana personal-injury claims arising on or after July 1, 2024, the general deadline to file suit is two years from the date of injury. Claims arising before that date may be subject to the prior one-year period. When a public entity such as the RTA or a school board is involved, special rules can affect the proper defendant and service of the lawsuit, so the deadline should be confirmed promptly.
I was hurt on a charter, tour or hotel shuttle bus. Who is responsible?
It depends on who owned, operated and maintained the vehicle. A claim may involve the charter or tour company, the driver, a maintenance contractor, another motorist, or a vehicle or parts manufacturer. Operators engaged in interstate transportation are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulation, and records such as driver logs, qualification files and inspection reports can help show what happened.
Related Reading
- Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyer
- New Orleans Truck Accident Lawyer
- New Orleans Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- How Fault Is Divided in Louisiana
- Wrongful Death and Survival Actions
- Case Results & Settlements
Talk through your bus claim
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The firm handles injury claims on a contingency fee basis. Clients may be responsible for costs and expenses in addition to attorney’s fees. The representation agreement explains how costs and expenses are handled.
Results in matters like this
Selected recoveries handled by Lavis Law Firm. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome and every case is unique. Amounts shown are gross recoveries or combined benefit figures before attorney fees, costs, liens and medical expenses, unless otherwise noted.
$457,000
Mediated Settlement · Mass-Transit Collision
Commercial mass-transit collision claim resulting in severe passenger injuries, resolved through pre-trial mediation.
Results May Vary
$285,000
Gross Settlement · School Bus Rear-End Collision
Commercial transport liability claim involving a school bus rear-end collision.
Results May Vary