A child stepping off a school bus can disappear from the driver’s view within a few feet because of blind spots. If the driver checks mirrors, does not see the child, and pulls forward, the result can be a pedestrian accident with catastrophic injuries.
Blind spot does not mean the incident was unavoidable. These crashes often involve preventable visibility failures tied to bus design, mirror type, mirror placement, mirror adjustment, and whether required checks were done before moving the vehicle.
At , led by Clay Dugas with more than 40 years of experience handling complex truck accidents and heavy vehicle cases, we investigate bus blind spot crashes by examining mirrors, sight lines, and fleet safety decisions. A detailed reconstruction can show what the driver could have seen and what steps should have been taken to prevent the collision.
How Bus Blind Spots Really Form Around Pedestrians
Every bus has blind spots that can lead to bus accidents when the driver cannot see pedestrians through the windshield or side windows. The highest-risk zones are directly in front of the bus, the right front corner, along the curb side, and near the rear wheels, and these zones are larger for children because of their height.
The hood and front panel can extend several feet ahead of the driver’s seat, creating a gap between the driver’s line of sight and the area near the bumper. A child standing or walking close to the front can be too low and too close to appear in the driver’s direct view, and without a properly positioned cross-view mirror, that child may not show up in any mirror coverage.
Along the right side and near the rear wheels, the bus’s length, height, and structural posts can block sight lines and create gaps in mirror coverage if the system is poorly designed or adjusted. These gaps matter most at bus stops, where children and pedestrians move in predictable paths near the bus, and collisions often happen because the bus is not equipped or set up to let the driver see those natural movements.
How Faulty Mirror Placement Hides People From Bus Drivers
Mirrors are what give a bus driver visibility around the vehicle, and the main types are flat mirrors for a straight view down the side, convex mirrors for a wider side view, and cross-view mirrors to show the ground and the area directly in front of and beside the bus. If the mirrors are the wrong size, mounted in the wrong location, or aimed incorrectly, pedestrians can be hidden in gaps that never appear in any mirror.
Faulty placement creates predictable blind zones. A cross-view mirror mounted too high, too far out, or angled incorrectly can leave a gap at the front bumper where a child can stand unseen, and a right-side convex mirror that is too small or aimed too far back can miss a child walking along the curb near the front door.
Small angle errors can shift the visible area by several feet and give the driver a false sense that the space near the bus is clear. Damaged brackets, worn mounts, vibration, or mismatched replacement parts can prevent proper adjustment or cause mirrors to drift out of position, and in some cases, this can point to an auto defect in the mirror system or its components. Repeated issues often indicate fleet-wide installation, maintenance, and inspection failures rather than a one-time mistake.
Why “The Pedestrian Was in a Blind Spot” Is Not the End of the Story
After a bus pedestrian crash, the pedestrian being in a blind spot is often used to imply that the driver could not have avoided the collision. Blind spots are predictable zones that can be measured and reduced through mirror coverage, equipment upgrades, and enforceable procedures, and leaving a known hazard in place can create legal responsibility.
On a Beaumont school route, a child may cross in front of the bus and bend down near the lane to pick something up. With a properly positioned cross-view mirror that covers the area from the bumper several feet forward, the driver should be able to see that movement before pulling forward; when the mirror is missing, mounted too high, or aimed incorrectly, the child can disappear from both direct sight and mirror view.
Calling it a blind spot describes what happened, not why it happened. The cause may include outdated mirror systems, failure to retrofit, poor maintenance, or lack of driver training on mirror adjustment and stop procedures, and responsibility can extend beyond the driver to the operator, district, or contractor that selected the equipment, set policies, and approved training and routes.
How We Prove Mirror and Blind Spot Failures After a Bus Accident
To prove a mirror or blind spot failure, we must show exactly what the driver could and could not see at the time of the crash. We work to secure access to the bus and preserve it in its post-crash condition so mirrors, brackets, and any cameras or sensors can be inspected before they are repaired, adjusted, or removed.
We conduct field-of-view testing by placing markers or people of different heights at measured distances around the bus and documenting what is visible from the driver’s seat through the windshield and in each mirror. This creates a mapped record of where a pedestrian appears and where they disappear, which identifies the blind zones that exist.
We inspect mirror hardware for type, size, mounting location, and adjustability, including bent brackets, worn joints, vibration issues, or aftermarket parts that limit proper alignment. We also obtain training records, mirror adjustment procedures, supervision practices, and maintenance logs to determine whether visibility checks were required, verified, and followed, and whether the fleet knew about a blind spot and failed to correct it.
Who May Be Liable in a Bus Blind Spot Accident
Liability in a bus blind spot accident can include the driver if they moved the bus while a child or pedestrian was still in the danger zone, failed to follow safe stop procedures, or did not use the mirrors that were available. A driver may still be operating with a mirror setup that cannot show critical areas around the front and right side of the bus, even with careful mirror checks.
The employer, bus contractor, or operating agency can be liable for selecting the bus, installing and maintaining the mirror system, setting training and inspection rules, approving routes, and deciding whether to retrofit older buses. A school district or transit agency can also share responsibility when it controls equipment standards and budgets, and a manufacturer may be involved if the bus or mirror design cannot provide reasonable coverage even when properly installed and adjusted. Texas comparative fault can still allow recovery even if the pedestrian’s actions are disputed, as long as the evidence shows visibility failures and safety decisions were major causes of the crash.
What Injured Pedestrians and Families Should Do After a Bus Blind Spot Crash
Get medical care immediately, especially for children, because serious injuries may not be obvious at first. If it is safe and you are able, take photos or video of the bus position, mirror assemblies, roadway conditions, and any skid marks, debris, or lighting that may show how the incident happened.
Collect witness names and contact details, including parents, neighbors, passengers, and anyone who saw where the pedestrian was in relation to the bus or how the driver used the mirrors. Act quickly because buses are often repaired or returned to service, and mirrors, brackets, and camera systems can be replaced or adjusted, which can destroy evidence, a lawyer can send preservation letters and request inspections and records before changes are made.
Talk With a Beaumont Attorney About a Bus Blind Spot Accident
Bus blind spot accidents are not just tragic twists of fate. When mirrors are too small, placed in the wrong spot, or never updated to match modern visibility standards, pedestrians and children pay the price for choices they did not make. A careful investigation can help reveal where the driver’s view ended, how the blind spot was created, and which company or agency failed to protect the people walking closest to the bus.
If you or your child was injured in a bus blind spot crash in Beaumont or anywhere in Southeast Texas, you do not have to accept “they were in a blind spot” as the final answer. We can evaluate what happened, work to preserve important evidence, and pursue accountability from those who allowed dangerous visibility gaps to remain.
Call (409) 226-0990 to have an experienced heavy vehicle attorney review the crash and secure the evidence before it disappears. We can explain your legal options and pursue accountability for the visibility failures that led to your family’s injuries.