Would you rather get into an accident with a school bus or a commercial vehicle? Most people would probably prefer the commercial vehicle as they come in various shapes and sizes. A school bus also comes in various sizes, but they are designed to keep passengers as safe as possible from harm.
When in an accident with either vehicle, there are additional sets of rules in the filing process. Depending on the vehicle you hit, there may be changed deadlines, additional parties, and hidden laws. This is why working with an experienced legal team like Abogados Fuertes can make a significant difference when navigating the complexities of a bus or commercial vehicle accident claim in California.
What is a Commercial Vehicle?
Commercial vehicles, by law, are vehicles designed for transporting goods or passengers for a business. Depending on state laws, the vehicle classification differs.
In California, these vehicles can be classified as commercial vehicles: buses, motor trucks, pickups, tow trucks, semi-trucks, water-well drilling rigs, yard trucks, and any multipurpose vehicle designed to transport over 15 people or various goods.
How is a School Bus Different?
A school bus can be considered a commercial vehicle as it transports more than 15 children daily. However, a district-owned school bus is often dedicated to strictly transporting students within the local area. If the school bus remains within the parameters of a school district’s boundaries, then the school bus doesn’t need to register as a commercial vehicle.
The Similarities
Both commercial vehicle drivers and school bus drivers must conduct background checks to get behind the wheel. These checks include driving history, employment verification, criminal background check, social security number trace, and drug screening. This is to ensure that all job applicants will not be marked as a potential liability by corporate insurance companies.
How Common are School Bus Accidents?
While school buses are designed to be the safest vehicle on the road for passengers, that doesn’t mean that others are immune from harm. According to the NHTSA, from 2014-2023 there were 971 fatal school bus related accidents, and 1,079 deaths nationwide. On average, 108 people die per year due to school bus accidents with 70% of them being passengers of the non-school bus vehicles. California accounted for 37 of the crashes and 39 of the fatalities.
How Common are Commercial Vehicle Accidents?
Commercial vehicle accidents are much more common than school bus accidents. In 2025, there were a total of 166,685 crashes with 4,093 of those being fatal across America. California accounts for 10,965 of the crashes and has a 3% fatality rate. However, this large number may be due to the number of commercial vehicles on the road that blend in as regular cars versus the distinct design of a school bus.
I Got into an Accident. Now What?
Like in any accident, the best course of action is to collect as much evidence as possible. This includes swapping insurance and contact information with the other driver, taking photos and videos of the scene, calling the authorities, talking to witnesses, and checking in on any passengers in the vehicles.
Additional Steps
School bus drivers have additional rules to follow. Bus drivers are mandated to stop and call emergency services for assistance. They must also report the accident to the school district.
A commercial vehicle driver must also inform the company they work for or the owner of the vehicle about the accident.
Finding Liability is Complicated
Finding liability in a car accident with a commercial vehicle or a school bus can be tricky. There are multiple parties involved with the investigation because of all maintenance checks these vehicles must go through before they’re allowed on the road.
Commercial Vehicles
With a commercial vehicle, there are multiple parties that can be held responsible. The drivers, company, car manufacturer, maintenance, or government can all hold some liability after an investigation. Depending on the commercial vehicle, the driver of the vehicle itself can be the only party you interact with based on the nature of the job. For example, if you’re in an accident with a contract rideshare driver, then it will be treated as a typical accident without the involvement of the company.
School Buses
Like commercial vehicles, multiple parties can be held responsible for an accident. School districts, maintenance staff, drivers, and the government can also hold liability. Unlike commercial vehicles, there is no doubt that you will be dealing with a school district after an accident.
School Bus Rule
If you see a school bus stopping on the road and the built-in stop sign pops out, then all drivers are legally obligated to stop. This is to allow any passenger getting off the bus to safely cross the street. Any car that doesn’t stop will be fined and held liable for causing an accident.
Children in Personal Injury Cases
In most states, being a minor is a “legal disability” as children cannot file lawsuits without their parent or guardian. While parents/guardians can file suits on their child’s behalf, any settlement where an injured child is involved must be approved by a judge. Insurance adjusters and personal injury lawyers can help with this process.
A child can also file their own case after they turn 18. In California, once the child turns 18, they have 2 years to file their personal injury case.
School Bus Cases
If a minor is injured in a school bus accident, the school bears the responsibility to compensate the family for any injuries or damage to the child. If the case goes to court, their parent or legal guardian must as their ‘guardian ad litem’, a legal representative who submits the claim and makes decisions in the child’s best interest.
Time Limits
In a California commercial vehicle case, people have 2 years to file a claim. However, if the accident involves a school district, then that time may differ. It’s best to speak to a California commercial vehicle lawyer, or abogados de accidentes de vehículos comerciales en California, to learn more about these exceptions sooner rather than later.