In case the locality or the school board is the owner, or operator through medium of a driver, of, or otherwise is the insured under the policy upon, a vehicle involved in an accident, the locality or school board shall be subject to action up to, but not beyond, the limits of valid and collectible insurance in force to cover the injury complained of or, in cases set forth in subsection D of § 22.1-190, up to but not beyond the amounts of insurance required under subsection A of § 22.1-190 and the defense of governmental immunity shall not be a bar to action or recovery. In case of several claims for damages arising out of a single accident involving a vehicle, the claims of pupils and school personnel, excluding driver when not a pupil, shall be first satisfied. In no event, except where approved self-insurance has been provided pursuant to subsection D of § 22.1-190, shall school funds be used to pay any claim or judgment or any person for any injury arising out of the operation of any such vehicle. The locality or school board may be sued alone or jointly with the driver, provided that in no case shall any member of a school board be liable personally in the capacity of school board member solely.
Code 1950, § 22-290; 1976, c. 224; 1980, c. 559.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 12 - Pupil Transportation
§ 22.1-176.1. Agreements to provide transportation for nonpublic school pupils
§ 22.1-176.2. Certain students; waiver to access student transportation in certain cases
§ 22.1-178. Requirements for persons employed to drive school buses
§ 22.1-181. Training program for school bus operators
§ 22.1-182. Use of school buses for public and commercial purposes
§ 22.1-183. When warning lights and identification to be covered
§ 22.1-184. School bus emergency drills
§ 22.1-185. Shelters on bus routes
§ 22.1-186. Payments for transportation of pupils
§ 22.1-187. Exemption from payment of tolls by certain students, etc.
§ 22.1-189. Compliance with article prerequisite to receiving state school funds
§ 22.1-190. When insurance required and amount thereof
§ 22.1-191. When Superintendent of Public Instruction to obtain insurance
§ 22.1-192. Injury and damage covered by policy
§ 22.1-193. Sufficiency of proof in action on policy; guest doctrine not applicable
§ 22.1-194. Liability of locality or school board owning or operating vehicle
§ 22.1-195. Recovery where vehicle operated under contract
§ 22.1-197. Distribution of funds when Superintendent effects insurance