What Happens if a School Bus Hits My Parked Car?

What happens if a school bus hits my parked car? You start a property-damage claim and document the scene for proof. A New Orleans bus accident lawyer can outline who to notify and how school district or contractor insurance typically handles parked-car collisions. 

We will cover what to photograph at the curb. You will also learn how to get the report and what to do if the driver leaves without contacting you.

You May Need to File a Police Report

Call the police even if no one is hurt. An officer can come to the curb, document the scene, and give you a report number. That official record helps when a school district or a private bus contractor asks for proof.

The report captures key facts in one place. It lists the date and the street. It records the bus number and the license plate. The officer notes the driver’s name and the employer. A short diagram and a damage description can show where contact began. If the driver left, the report will include a hit-and-run entry.

If you are wondering what happens if a school bus hits your parked car, the report is the backbone of a property-damage claim. Insurers rely on it to confirm the vehicle and the location. It also pins down the time. Get the report number before you leave, and keep copies of any updates.

Insurance Companies Will Review the Claim

When a school bus hits a parked car, insurance coverage depends on who insures the bus and what your own policy includes. A New Orleans catastrophic injury lawyer can outline typical paths for parked-car claims and how insurers handle payment. Here are common routes an adjuster may consider:

• Filing with the school district’s insurer when the bus is publicly owned
• Filing with a private bus contractor’s insurer if the route is outsourced
• Using your collision coverage to pay for repairs before reimbursement
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage (UMPD) if no coverage applies
• Rental reimbursement coverage that pays for a temporary car
• Towing and storage coverage while your car waits for repairs
• Repair shop choice and estimate disputes between you and the insurer
• Coverage limits or exclusions that reduce how much is paid
• Diminished value claims for resale loss after repair
• Subrogation after your insurer pays the bill, then seeks repayment
• Disputed liability investigations when fault is unclear or contested
• Self-insured government claim process used by some school districts
  

Which party pays depends on fault and the limits in each policy. The police report also matters. Louisiana requires drivers to report crashes under La. R.S. § 32:398, and that report often guides which insurer pays and when. If you are figuring out what happens if a school bus hits your parked car, save the report number and your repair estimate. Keep rental receipts in the same folder for the adjuster.

The School District Could Become Involved

When a bus owned by the district strikes a parked car, the district’s insurer often handles the property claim. If a private contractor runs the bus, that company’s insurer may take the lead, and the district may still be copied on letters.

Liability can reach beyond the driver. Decisions about training and dispatch come from the employer, and maintenance choices come from the garage or contractor. Louisiana law, including La. R.S. § 17:158, sets rules for school transportation, which can influence how responsibility is evaluated when a district controls routes and safety policies.

If you are trying to figure out what happens if a school bus hits your parked car, ask for the district’s risk management contact and the contractor’s insurance details. Keep the police report number handy and save photos of the damage. Send your estimate and receipts to the adjuster named on the claim letter.

Repairs and Out-of-Pocket Costs Can Add Up

Repairs and extra expenses can pile up while the claim is under review. The body shop may write an initial estimate and update it after teardown. If your car is not safe to drive, you might have to pay for a rental or rely on rides to work. Towing and storage fees start the day the car leaves the curb and continue until a decision is made.

A New Orleans car accident lawyer can help you list each charge in the claim file. Keep receipts for parts deposits and rental invoices, and save texts or emails from the shop about backordered parts. 

Under La. Civ. Code Art. 2315, the party at fault may owe you for losses caused by the crash, which can include repair bills and reasonable transportation costs. If you are asking what happens if a school bus hits your parked car, these records make it easier for the adjuster to see each expense and when it started.

Request Bus Camera Footage and GPS Data

Many buses carry front-facing cameras. Some also record inside the cabin. Fleets keep GPS logs for route and speed. Ask for the bus number and the exact time from the police report, because footage can be overwritten within days, and nearby doorbell or storefront cameras may have useful clips.

Use Louisiana’s Public Records Law to request files. Email the district’s records office and ask them to preserve camera video and GPS logs. Include the date, the location, the bus number, and the time. Attach your report number so staff can find the right trip.

If a contractor runs the route, send the same request to the company and copy the district. Ask for the route sheet and the dispatch note. Save replies and follow-ups in one folder. These steps help you show what the bus did before contact and who had custody of the files.

Meet With Your New Orleans Bus Accident Lawyer Today

A parked-car bus crash brings repair headaches and insurance questions you did not ask for. We can explain who to notify and what to save when a school bus hits your parked car, so deadlines are met without extra stress.

When you contact us, we will get the police report and preserve the bus video while we work with the adjuster. If the district and a contractor disagree, your bus accident attorney in New Orleans at Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers has experience with these claims and will handle the process from start to finish.