As summer ends, kids are heading back to school, which puts more parents and school buses on the road getting kids to class. On Monday, August 10, 2025, parents were mortified to learn that a school bus in the Cleveland, Texas ISD somehow wound up on its side after going into a ditch along FM 1010 between CR 337 and CR 340. Cleveland, Texas, is Northeast of Houston on Highway 59, but it is considered part of the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area. The accident happened around 6:30 am, and the parents are still awaiting an explanation from either the police or the school district. Thirty-six students were taken from the scene to the hospital with reports of various minor injuries.
When something like this happens, it is common to think, “What a freak accident. What are the odds?”
Apparently, the odds are not as much of a long shot as one might think because on August 13, 2025, it happened again. Same Cleveland ISD and same road. This mysterious school bus rollover accident is also still under investigation, with no answers forthcoming to the parents. This time, 58 students were taken to the hospital following the wreck.
What Causes School Bus Rollover Accidents?
Anytime a school bus rollover accident occurs, many potential causes must be evaluated in determining how and why the wreck happened. Some of the most common causes of school bus rollover accidents include:
- Drowsy driving,
- Impaired driving,
- Following too close at the time traffic comes to a stop,
- Losing control of the vehicle upon attempted reentry after leaving the roadway,
- Swerving suddenly,
- Failure to maintain the bus,
- Driver inattentiveness or distraction within the bus, and;
- Driver inexperience.
How Are School Bus Rollover Accidents Investigated?
Typically, when a large commercial motor vehicle, such as a bus, is in an accident, investigations will download the driving data from the electronic data recorder and analyze it to determine things such as vehicle movement and speed prior to and at the time of the wreck. Additionally, the investigation should cover looking for markings on the street to determine when and where the tires left the paved area and/or braked. Furthermore, investigations of this nature often require witness statements to gain a clearer picture of what transpired.
Limited Liability of School Districts
School districts are subdivisions of the state. As such, they are semi-protected by sovereign immunity laws in Texas. This means that the school district’s liability is capped at a total of $250,000 for all the injuries they are proven liable for as a result of this wreck. Thus, in a situation where there are multiple serious injuries and/or fatalities, there is often not enough coverage to pay for all of the harm done to injured students by the driver’s or school district’s negligence. Fortunately, this does not appear to have been a fatal bus rollover accident.
Simmons and Fletcher Offer Free Bus Accident Consultations
If you are injured in a school bus accident, talk to a Houston bus accident lawyer to determine your options. In some situations, you may be able to pursue the uninsured/underinsured motorist portions of your family auto policy to cover damages that are left unpaid due to damage caps. Additionally, if there are other vehicles or companies involved in causing the wreck, they may have insurance coverage that applies. Call Simmons and Fletcher at 800-298-0111 to discuss your options today or visit Simmons and Fletcher on Google Maps.
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