What to Know About Filing a Claim Against Tempe Union High School District After a Bus Accident

School buses are meant to be one of the safest forms of transportation, but when a crash does happen, the consequences can be devastating—especially for students and families who never expected a routine ride to end in trauma. In Tempe, many of these buses are operated by or on behalf of the Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD). So what happens when one of their buses causes a crash?

Can you file a claim against the school district? What deadlines apply? Who is actually liable—the driver, the district, or a private contractor? These are the types of questions our team at Tempe Car Accident Attorney has encountered time and time again while researching how school-related vehicle accidents unfold under Arizona law.

If you or your child were hurt in a crash involving a Tempe Union bus—whether you were riding the bus or struck by it—here’s what you need to know.

Who Operates Tempe Union Buses?

The Tempe Union High School District serves much of the city, including students in South Tempe, Holdeman, and nearby areas. TUHSD operates its own fleet of school buses and may also contract with third-party transportation companies.

That distinction matters, because if a district employee caused the crash, you’ll be filing a government claim against the district. But if a contractor was involved, your claim may go through that private company’s insurance instead.

Either way, it’s crucial to gather this information early—preferably by obtaining the crash report and noting who owns the bus, who the driver works for, and what entity is listed as the insurer.

Common Causes of School Bus Crashes

School bus collisions in Tempe can occur for many reasons. Some involve driver error. Others stem from mechanical failure or poor maintenance. We’ve seen patterns where:

• A bus driver runs a stop sign or red light

• The driver speeds through neighborhoods like Meyer Park

• A child is struck while crossing the street to board or exit the bus

• Distracted driving leads to a rear-end crash

• The bus hits a pedestrian in Downtown Tempe crosswalk

• A mechanical issue causes the driver to lose control

Some crashes also involve students standing in the aisle or sitting improperly at the time of impact, which can worsen injuries and complicate the liability analysis.

Filing a Government Claim Against TUHSD

Because Tempe Union is a public school district, it is considered a government entity. That means claims against the district are subject to Arizona’s Notice of Claim statute (A.R.S. § 12-821.01).

This law requires that:

• You must file a formal notice with the district within 180 days of the accident

• The notice must contain specific facts about the claim, including your injuries

• You must also include a specific dollar amount being demanded

• The claim must be filed with the district’s designated representative—usually a risk manager or legal department

If you don’t file the notice on time, or if it’s missing required details, your right to sue may be forfeited—even if your case is otherwise valid.

For more on this process, review our article on filing claims against the City of Tempe—many of the same steps and deadlines apply.

Who Can File a Claim?

Several types of people may have valid claims after a bus-related crash:

• Injured students riding the bus at the time of the crash

• Other drivers hit by a negligent school bus operator

• Pedestrians struck by the bus

• Parents incurring medical bills for a child

• Witnesses or bystanders with emotional trauma

If the crash resulted in a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or paralysis, it’s especially important to calculate future damages and ensure the claim reflects the full impact on the victim’s life.

What Damages Are Available?

If your claim is accepted or your lawsuit succeeds, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Hospital and emergency treatment costs

• Ongoing therapy, rehab, or accommodations for a disability

• Emotional distress and mental anguish

• Lost income (for parents missing work or for older students with part-time jobs)

• Long-term care for catastrophic injuries

• Property damage to your vehicle, bike, or personal belongings

Because school buses are typically uninsured for personal passengers (i.e., students don’t have “passenger coverage”), compensation often comes directly through the district’s self-insurance program or its third-party administrator.

What If a Contractor Was Involved?

If the bus was operated by a private contractor, the process is slightly different. You would file your claim directly with the company’s insurer, and your case would follow the same rules as any other personal injury claim in Arizona.

However, if the district failed to properly oversee or monitor the contractor—and that failure contributed to the crash—you may still be able to bring a secondary claim against the district under theories of negligent hiring or supervision.

Special Considerations in School Bus Claims

There are several additional wrinkles in school bus-related cases:

• Minor passengers: If your child is injured, a parent or guardian must file on their behalf

• Shared liability: In some cases, multiple drivers—including private vehicles—may share fault

• Lack of seat belts: While not required on all buses, their absence may still factor into injuries and claim valuation

• Delays in investigation: School districts may not immediately release incident reports or driver records

How to Protect Your Rights After a School Bus Crash

If you or your child were hurt in a TUHSD bus accident, take the following steps quickly:

1. Call 911 and report the crash

2. Get the name and employer of the bus driver

3. Request the official accident report

4. Document injuries, medical bills, and related expenses

5. Take photos of the scene and vehicles involved

6. Keep a record of communications with the district or its insurance carrier

Most importantly, don’t wait. You have only 180 days to preserve your right to bring a claim against a public school district in Arizona.

Conclusion

Crashes involving school buses raise difficult questions—both legally and emotionally. The Tempe Union High School District may be responsible if a district-operated or poorly managed bus causes injuries to a student, driver, or pedestrian. But the timeline for filing a claim is tight, and the legal process is different from a standard car crash.

If you're unsure how to begin, you can start by reviewing our legal resources or explore how these public claims compare to other government crash scenarios.