Houston Jury Awards $1,893,000 in School Bus Negligence
A 5-year-old boy was a passenger on a school bus when the emergency exit opened and he fell out. He sustained a skull fracture and abrasions. The plaintiffs alleged the driver and bus company were negligent in failing to ensure the door functioned properly and for allowing a young child to sit near an emergency exit. The defense argued the child or another child may have opened the latch and that the child sustained no permanent injury.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Head/Brain Injury Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Car accidents are a leading cause of TBI, with effects ranging from temporary symptoms to permanent cognitive impairment.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $1,893,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Traumatic Brain Injury, Brain Damage, Fracture
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $1,893,000 is near the median of $1,893,000 for head/brain injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $93,169 to $9,140,000, based on 45 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On September 18, 2014, a five-year-old plaintiff was a passenger on a school bus in Houston when he fell from an emergency exit that opened while the bus was in motion. The child, who had been sleeping near the exit, sustained a skull fracture and abrasions to an ankle and knee. Students alerted the driver, an employee of the defendant bus company. Another employee transported the child to his great-grandmother's workplace rather than calling emergency services or the family. The plaintiff's mother later took the child to an emergency room, where he was diagnosed with a skull fracture and a subdural hematoma.
The plaintiff's mother, individually and on the child's behalf, subsequently sued the bus company, Argueta Bus Services, for negligence. The plaintiffs alleged the driver and employer failed to ensure the emergency exit functioned properly, allowed a five-year-old to sit near it in violation of company policy, and mishandled the post-incident response. Plaintiffs contended the exit opened due to a damaged latch and that the child suffered a traumatic brain injury with permanent cognitive problems and increased risks for future neurological conditions. They sought approximately $11 million in damages.
The defense denied the door or latch malfunctioned, suggesting the child or another passenger may have unlatched it. The bus company argued the exit had no prior malfunctions and disputed the severity of the plaintiff's injuries, presenting expert testimony that the initial CT scan showed only a skull fracture and no subdural hematoma. The defense also noted the child's school performance remained good, indicating no permanent injury.
Following a four-day trial and three hours of deliberation, the jury found Argueta Bus Services negligent. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $1,893,000 for past and future physical impairment, pain and anguish, and future medical expenses. The judgment was entered against Hector Argueta, doing business as A. Jr. Bus Services.
Understanding This Case
- Most mild TBIs resolve within weeks to months. Moderate to severe TBI often results in permanent impairment affecting cognition, behavior, and physical function.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2019, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome differs from typical similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Want to check your case value?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Harris County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver was slowing down in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind by another car. The driver who was hit claimed injuries to their back, head, and neck. The other driver's insurance paid some of its policy limit. The injured driver then sued their own insurance company for underinsured motorist benefits, claiming their damages exceeded the amount recovered. The defense conceded fault for the accident, and the trial focused on the extent of the injuries.
One driver stopped their vehicle on a highway when the other driver struck them from behind at a high speed. The impact caused the driver to hit their head and briefly lose consciousness. The injured driver claimed the accident caused a brain injury, preventing them from completing college studies, and also affected their ability to care for their young son. The other driver admitted to the collision but disputed the extent and cause of the injuries.
One driver was stopped in traffic on a highway when their vehicle was struck from behind by a bus. The driver claimed the collision caused permanent injuries, forcing them to change to a less physically demanding job. The bus company denied negligence. The jury found the bus company at fault.
One driver was stopped at an intersection preparing to turn left when their vehicle was struck from behind by another vehicle. The driver claimed neck injuries. The other driver's insurer offered its policy limit. The injured driver sued their own insurer for underinsured motorist benefits, alleging the other driver was negligent. The defense questioned the extent of injuries and suggested they were pre-existing.
One driver was stopped in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed serious injuries to their neck and back, including paralysis in one arm, requiring surgery. The other driver argued that a third vehicle caused the accident or that the injured driver's own actions contributed. The jury found the second driver fully at fault.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.