How Many Bus Accidents Happen Each Year?

You were riding the 82 Westheimer bus home through Montrose when the driver braked hard and metal crunched somewhere behind you. Now you are sorting through medical bills and wondering how often this actually happens to people. You want real numbers, not guesses.

Bus Accident Statistics Nationwide

The clearest national picture comes from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Its large truck and bus crash data tracks how often buses crash each year across the country.

The newest full-year edition counted 213 buses in fatal crashes nationally. Of those, 74 were transit buses, 14 were intercity buses, 87 were school buses, and the remaining 38 fell into another or unknown bus category. Those figures come from the Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts report.

Crash count and fatality rate measure two different things. One tells you how often buses crash. The other tells you how deadly bus travel is per mile.

Knowing what these numbers mean for one person’s claim and how they typically resolve gives you an idea of what to expect.

FMCSA reports bus crashes under the same rules that govern large commercial trucks.

Texas Bus Accident Statistics

Texas bus crash totals depend on which source you read. Federal MCMIS data recorded just over 1,000 reportable bus crashes in a recent year, according to FMCSA’s crash statistics tool. TxDOT crash records put the police-reported total noticeably higher for the same period, since officers log every reported crash rather than only those meeting the federal severity threshold.

The two counts do not conflict. They use different reporting thresholds. Federal data captures only crashes above a set weight and severity line, while TxDOT logs every crash an officer reports.

Wherever you live in Texas, these figures cover your area.

Who operates the bus can change how a claim works. When a city or regional transit authority runs the bus, different rules apply. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 101.021 sets when you can hold a government body liable.

These government claims work differently from a claim against a private carrier. Responsibility often depends on the bus type and operator.

Bus Accident Rates by Type

Not all buses crash at the same rate. Of the 213 buses in fatal crashes nationally, the federal count splits them four ways:

• Transit buses: 74 of the 213, the city and regional buses most riders use daily.
• Intercity or charter buses: 14 of the 213, the coaches built for long-distance and group travel.
• School buses: 87 of the 213, shown here only for comparison, with fuller school bus safety data from the National Safety Council.
• Other or unknown bus type: 38 of the 213, FMCSA’s category for buses that do not fit the other three.

How Safe Are Buses Compared to Cars?

Buses are safer than cars on a per-mile basis. National Safety Council figures on deaths by transportation mode show bus travel carries a lower fatality rate than passenger vehicles.

Those rate figures rest on the same federal death records used earlier. NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System logs every U.S. traffic death, which lets analysts compare risk across travel modes.

A lower per-mile rate does not erase the danger. When a bus does crash, its size and full passenger load can cause serious injuries.

If you were just in or near a bus crash, knowing the first steps for injured passengers can matter as much as the numbers.

Work with an Experienced Attorney Today

Knowing how often bus accidents happen is one thing. Getting fair treatment after one is another.

Angel Reyes & Associates has represented injured Texans for over 30 years, and our results include more than $1 billion recovered for clients.

Your first consultation is free, and we take cases with no fee unless we win. We are available 24/7, including service in Spanish.

You can read client reviews and testimonials to see how we have handled cases like yours.

When you are ready, our guide to filing a Texas bus accident claim shows the process. You can also schedule a free consultation to review your options.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.