Written notice
Generally within six months. Some city charters require it sooner; ask about the applicable deadline immediately.
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Dallas bus accident Lawyer
Clear answers. Personal attention.
Discuss your bus accident case directly with Nolan. Review the evidence, coverage and next steps.
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Talk through your bus injury. Share a few details below.
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Contacting the firm does not create an attorney–client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Talk through your bus injury
Hurt in a bus accident?
Start with your situation, not the paperwork.
Whether you were on the bus, in another vehicle or on foot, an injury can bring medical bills and uncertainty about who should respond. Nolan can discuss the operator and the incident without requiring you to decide the public-versus-private claim questions first.
- Review who operated the bus so the relevant notice and insurance questions receive separate attention.
- Connect your position and the movement of the bus to the incident evidence, instead of assuming every injured person was a passenger.
Nolan Ryan McConvilleManaging attorney · Licensed in Texas since 2016
Firmwide: 99% win rate.
Firmwide: 99% win rate.
Dallas bus accident cases
Dallas bus accident claims: DART, school and charter buses
Nolan Ryan McConvilleManaging attorney · Licensed in Texas since 2016A bus crash can injure passengers, people in other cars, cyclists and people on the sidewalk all at once. Who you bring a claim against depends on who owns the bus, and that changes the rules, the deadlines and the money available.
Nolan Ryan handles bus accident cases involving DART, school districts, charter companies and intercity carriers like Greyhound. You work directly with Nolan, and he moves quickly, because some of these deadlines are measured in months, not years.
- Free consultation
- No fee unless we recover
- Work directly with Nolan
Review who operated the bus and which records or notices matter.
About Nolan Ryan McConville, Texas attorney since 2016 · Updated October 2026
Nolan Ryan McConville
Managing attorney
- Licensed in Texas since 2016
- J.D. cum laude, Texas Tech School of Law
- Member, Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Show where you were on the bus
A simple sketch can organize your account without needing a bus diagram or technical description.
Your starting position
Mark your seat or standing area, which way you faced and any handhold you were using before the movement.
The movement
Use an arrow to show how you moved. Label what you struck, or what struck you, if you remember.
The surrounding space
Add nearby passengers, steps or doors relevant to your account. Label uncertain positions instead of trying to reconstruct missing details.
Who owns the bus
Four kinds of bus cases, four sets of rules
DART buses
DART is a governmental transit authority, so claims require review of immunity, short notice deadlines and damage caps under the Texas Tort Claims Act.
School buses
Public school district buses are governmental too. Some districts contract with private bus companies, which changes the analysis.
Charter and tour buses
Private charter companies carry church groups, teams, wedding parties and tour groups. A company that qualifies as a common carrier owes passengers a high degree of care.
Greyhound and intercity buses
Interstate passenger carriers must follow federal safety rules on driver hours, maintenance and drug testing.
Government bus? Written notice is generally due within six months
Government involvement requires an early review of immunity and the Texas Tort Claims Act. The entity and claim determine which rules apply.
DART and school districts
When immunity is waived, bodily-injury and death limits are generally $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence.
Municipalities
When immunity is waived, bodily-injury and death limits are generally $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence.
Reporting an incident to the driver, operator or police does not necessarily satisfy formal claim notice. Missing the deadline can end a claim, so call early.
Questions about a deadline? Call Nolan at (214) 706-4031
From day one
What Nolan checks first
Nolan first finds out who owns and operates the bus, because that decides which deadline applies.
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01Review step
Owner and operator
He identifies who owns and operates the bus. If a government entity is involved, he prepares and sends the written notice.
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02Review step
Preservation letters
For private carriers, he sends letters demanding the electronic logging data, onboard video, driver records and maintenance files.
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03Review step
Reports and witnesses
He gets the crash report (CR-3) and any DART Police or school district incident report. Note the bus, location and any passengers whose contact details you have.
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04Review step
Insurance policies
He collects every policy that may apply, from a carrier's commercial coverage to your own PIP and UM/UIM.
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05Review step
Medical records
He keeps your treatment documented from the first visit, so the claim reflects the full injury.
The sequence and timing depend on your case, engagement and the records available.
Private carriers
Private bus companies: when a higher duty applies
A private bus operator that qualifies as a common carrier owes passengers a high degree of care, more than an ordinary driver owes. Whether that status applies depends on the operation.
A common carrier owes passengers a high degree of care.
Breaches of that duty
A sudden stop that throws standing passengers, a driver pushing through fatigue, or a bus with worn brakes can all breach that duty.
Federal safety rules
Interstate bus companies must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules on driver hours, electronic logging, vehicle maintenance and drug and alcohol testing. Violations can be strong evidence.
Data can be overwritten
The electronic data that proves violations can be overwritten, so preservation letters go out early.
Caps and deadlines
- Private carriers aren't covered by the Tort Claims Act, so its damage caps don't apply.
- The general two-year Texas deadline to file suit (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003) usually controls, with some exceptions.
Common causes
What causes bus crashes
Driver fatigue
Long charter runs and tight schedules can push drivers past safe limits.
Poor maintenance
Brakes, tires and doors that weren't inspected or repaired on schedule.
Unsafe turns and stops
Wide right turns, sudden braking and pulling away before passengers are seated.
Distraction
Phones, fare disputes and dispatch radios can pull a driver's attention from the road.
If you were hurt
Steps to take after a bus crash
- Note the bus number, the route and the time of the crash
- If it is safe, photograph the inside of the bus if you were a passenger
- Get contact information from other passengers
- Report the injury to the driver or the bus company
- See a doctor the same day if you can
- Write down the crash date and ask immediately which government notice deadline applies
Past results
Related results
Past result
$1,500,000
Motor vehicle accident settlement
Past result
$1,150,000
Motor vehicle accident settlement
Pre-suit offer: $0
Case results are gross settlement amounts from past Nolan Ryan Law cases and depend on the facts of each case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Related cases
Related practice areas
Train accidents
Car accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Uber and Lyft accidents
Free consultation
Talk to Nolan about your case
There is no cost to talk with Nolan, and no attorney's fee unless money is recovered.
Share the bus operator, incident date and location. Were you aboard or outside the bus? Include any ticket or report reference you have.
Ask Nolan how the known operator and your position affect the next records to review. A route name, school name or charter booking can be described without deciding who legally operated the bus.
- Fee agreed in writing
- Phone, video or in person
- You talk directly with Nolan
Your written fee agreement also explains how case expenses are handled.
Your case, handled personally
5 reasons to choose Nolan Ryan
Find out who operated the bus
DART, school, charter and intercity buses can raise different questions. Nolan identifies the owner and operator before treating the claim as an ordinary collision.
Review the notice path early
Government involvement can change the notice and immunity questions. Nolan reviews those issues alongside the crash circumstances rather than relying on an incident report alone.
Seek the onboard record
Video, driver information, maintenance files and applicable electronic logs may help explain the crash. Nolan requests relevant records from the companies or agencies involved.
Include the passenger accounts
Other passengers may have seen what happened. Nolan considers witness information alongside the crash report and any transit or school district incident records.
Review the policies in context
Commercial coverage and your own PIP or UM/UIM may raise different issues. Nolan reviews potentially applicable policies alongside the operator information and injury evidence.
Recent Victories
Proven Case Results
Case results are gross settlement amounts from past Nolan Ryan Law cases and depend on the facts of each case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
$10 Million
Major 18 Wheeler Accident Settlement
$12 Million
Construction Accident and Wrongful Death Settlement
$1.5 Million
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
$1,150,000
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
Pre-suit Offer: $0
$775,000
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
$2,100,000
Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Pre-suit Offer: $0
Personal Injury Cases we handle
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you need a team that acts fast and fights hard. Nolan Ryan Law has a strong record of securing significant settlements and verdicts for injured Texans.
We pursue the full compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing while we handle the fight.
Call Us Now
Talk with Nolan Ryan Law about the incident, the records available and your questions. The consultation is free. Fees and case expenses are explained in a written agreement.
- Start with what you know — incident details and report number, if available
- Discuss your questions — evidence, responsibility and possible coverage
- Understand the next steps — consultation and written agreement
- Meet by phone or video — Dallas office meetings by appointment
- Clear expectations — an inquiry does not create an attorney–client relationship
100% Free Case Evaluation
Share the city, what happened and your contact details for follow-up. Start with the information you have.
Testimonials
What Real clients say
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter whether I was on the bus, in another car or on foot?
Yes. A passenger can usually look to the bus operator first, and to any other driver who caused the crash. A driver or pedestrian hit by a bus has a claim against the operator like any other at-fault driver. The notice rules depend on who owns the bus, not on where you were.
How do I get records after a DART bus crash?
DART has its own police department. Its reports, and records such as onboard video, can be requested under the Texas Public Information Act. See the DART public-information request instructions.
Include the date, time, exact location and five-digit bus or train number; a route number alone may not identify the vehicle. If the crash happened on a city street, Dallas Police or another agency may also have written a Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report.
Are school bus claims handled differently?
Often, yes. School districts are protected by governmental immunity, and the Texas Tort Claims Act waives it mainly for injuries caused by operating a motor vehicle. Written notice is generally due within six months, and the damage caps for school districts are lower than for cities.
What if a charter or tour bus from another state hit me?
Interstate passenger carriers must follow federal safety rules and carry federal minimum insurance, which is $5,000,000 for covered for-hire interstate vehicles designed to carry 16 or more people, including the driver. That higher coverage can matter when injuries are serious.
I was hurt when the bus stopped suddenly. Do I have a claim?
You may. Sudden braking, pulling away before passengers sit down, and hard turns cause many passenger injuries even without a collision. Report the injury before you leave the bus or station, and get the route number, time and stop.
Is there video of what happened?
Most transit and charter buses have onboard cameras, and many intersections have traffic or business cameras. Footage may only be kept for a short time, which is why an early preservation request matters.
How long do I have after a bus accident?
Lawsuits generally must be filed within two years. If a government bus was involved, written notice is generally due within six months, and some city charters require it sooner. Waiting until treatment ends can mean missing the notice deadline.
Do I pay anything up front to hire Nolan?
No. There is no upfront fee, and the attorney's fee is paid only if money is recovered. Your written fee agreement explains how case expenses are handled.