Most people consider school buses to be one of the safest modes of transportation. We entrust school buses and their drivers to get our children to and from school safely every day. Unfortunately, every form of transportation comes with its own risk of accidents and injuries. School buses are no exception.
If you or someone close to you was involved in a school bus accident in West Palm Beach, Florida, we encourage you to call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine. Our team dedicates itself to serving the citizens of the West Palm Beach community. We offer free consultations, so you can have your questions answered by a school bus accident lawyer. Call a West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer today to schedule your free consultation.
Common Causes of School Bus Crashes in Florida
School bus accidents occur for a variety of reasons, and many are preventable. It’s important to understand why an accident occurs, to test the strength of a potential personal injury case. The following is a list of common reasons school bus accidents occur:
- Poorly trained drivers
- Poor road conditions
- Poorly maintained buses
- Poor weather conditions
- Overloaded buses
- Speeding
The preceding list of causes ranges from issues which might constitute negligence, human error, and poor conditions. Whatever the case, being involved in a school bus accident is a serious event. If you are the parent of a child riding aboard the school bus, your child might have serious injuries. If you were a passenger in a bus accident, you might have severe injuries of your own.
These injuries represent a significant financial burden and place tremendous emotional stress on your family. And, now, you are likely concerned with how you can recover some of these financial losses as you attempt to get back on your feet. The legal team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine in Florida can help.
Determining Liability in Your West Palm Beach School Bus Accident
Bus drivers must obey the rules of the road and drivers are responsible for acting accordingly. The companies which hire these drivers must also do their due diligence when selecting drivers to operate buses in the State of Florida.
These circumstances might make it a bit unclear who is responsible for a school bus accident. In most cases, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine would seek damages from whichever entity operates the school bus. But that is not always the case because accidents occur for a variety of reasons.
For example, the school bus driver could be responsible for your accident. But this may still result in seeking compensation from a variety of different sources including the following five entities.
The School Bus Driver
If the bus driver’s actions or negligence caused your accident, then he or she would be one of the first parties your lawyer would focus on for collecting damages. However, this is not where our pursuit would end. Particularly because it is unlikely that the bus driver would have the finances to compensate you to the level you deserve.
The School Bus Company’s Insurance Provider
Insurance companies hold a significant amount of financial responsibility in most car accidents. But that is amplified in school bus accidents. Especially because school buses and their drivers are in charge of transporting children safely. Whether you were involved in the crash or your child was aboard the bus at the time of an accident, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will look toward the insurance companies to compensate you.
The School District
The school district often employs or contracts bus companies and drivers. So, while the school district’s actions may not directly contribute to your accident, they may hold some degree of liability in your school bus accident. Also, if poor maintenance that the district should have been aware of caused the crash, they could be liable. An example of this would be if poor brakes caused the accident.
A Third-Party Contractor
In some cases, independent contractors or private companies operate school buses in Florida. Private schools that operate independently often outsource their bus driving. These third-party contractors are responsible for selecting drivers, maintaining buses and more. If any weaknesses or failings in these areas contributed to your school bus accident, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine would aid you in proving it and collecting damages.
The School Bus Manufacturer
If structural or manufacturing deficiencies contributed to the bus accident, you might be able to hold the bus manufacturer accountable. For example, if your child was aboard a bus that had recalled parts, this could impact your case and the compensation you collect for damages.
Recoverable Damages and Compensation for your School Bus Crash in Florida
No matter the responsible party, a West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer can file a claim for various damages related to the crash. These damages can include out-of-pocket expenses that you incur due to the bus accident, including but not limited to your:
- Hospital stay
- Ambulance ride
- Medical care
- Lost wages
- Future medical needs
- Potential future lost income
- Pain and suffering
Call a West Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorney Today for a Free Case Review
It’s common to assume the security of particular modes of transportation. School buses are one of the places we believe will be safe for its passengers. Unfortunately, there is no place we can go or way to travel that does not hold the risk of accident and injury. When those accidents and injuries do occur, it is difficult to make sense of what to do next and the proper legal approach.
We suggest giving the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine a call following your West Palm Beach school bus accident. Our team of attorneys prides itself on representing the best interests of the people in the community, not large corporations and insurers.
We offer free consultations and do not collect payment unless you receive a settlement. Call us at 1-800-747-3733 for your free consultation. We will walk you through your options, address your concerns and aid you in making decisions about your claim.