School bus accidents are fortunately relatively rare. In fact, statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation suggests that our kids are probably safer going to school in a bus than being taken by their parents in the family car. However, from time to time a school bus accident hits the headlines and any school bus accident can have tragic consequences, partly because there can, potentially, be so many young people involved.
Because of the complexity of the law surrounding the regulation and licensing of school buses, if you have had one of your children injured in a bus accident then you should make sure you use the services of an experienced attorney who has dealt with school bus incidents before. You will have the legal right to file a claim for damages against either the bus driver or the company or authority who owns and operates the bus as long as liability can be proved.
There may be other parties involved such as a separate maintenance contractor, road transport authorities and so on, so a claim for damages is not always straightforward.
There can be many reasons for a school bus accident
As has been already mentioned, school bus accidents are fortunately quite uncommon. In fact the statistics indicate that fatalities on school buses or any sort of transport use to carry school age children only account for less than 0.1% of all accident fatalities on our highways. This can be compared with the 40% of fatalities caused by automobile accidents!
School bus accidents could be caused by one or more of the following reasons.
- Driver error: poorly trained drivers, inexperienced drivers, over tired drivers, drivers driving when affected by alcohol, drugs, chronic illness, poor sight, emotional disturbances and distractions, such as using their cell phone when driving. These are the commonest causes of school bus accidents.
- Poor bus maintenance: some bus companies may be hard pressed to maintain a profit margin and are trying to cut corners by cutting back on their maintenance program. All it takes is a set of faulty tires or brakes for an accident to take place. There are state and federal regulations which control what should be maintained on a bus used for transporting school children, but these rules are not always followed.
- Road conditions may be responsible for an accident. This might be the design of the highway or particular sections of it; restricted visibility or the road surface may be compromised by material on it making driving hazardous, such as an oil or chemical spillage or snow or ice.
School bus accidents can be a financial burden on the victim’s family
School bus accidents can be harrowing for the family involved. While school children do not have to go to work, parents may have to take time off work to look after them or ferry them to and from hospital. Medical expenses may be higher than expected and serious injuries may mean substantial changes in how the home has to be modified and changes in the lifestyle of the family.
All of these effects will be a financial burden on the family whose child has been involved in the accident and it is vital that all these expenses should be factored into the equation when preparing a claim against the bus company or its employees. A good accident attorney will be able to assess what needs to be presented to ensure a successful compensation claim.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, learn how to protect your rights with a free consultation. Contact our experienced Injury Lawyers in Philadelphia.
