Based on School Transportation News, 23.5 million children use school buses each day, and approximately 17,000 children receive treatment in the emergency room each year for injuries stemming from a school bus accident, according to data from Stanford Children’s Health. In 2018, the National Safety Council (NSC) calculated that 117 people died in America as the result of an accident involving a school bus. These figures suggest that school bus accidents are more common than people assume.
For comparison’s sake, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 320,874 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes in America between 2007 and 2016. Of those crashes, 1,147 of them involved some form of school transportation. While that is less than one percent of all accidents, school bus accidents can pose a risk for several reasons.
The Dangers of School Bus Accidents
There are several reasons why accidents involving school buses can be a risk to all involved. For one, buses are very large vehicles, typically weighing between 23,000 and 30,000 pounds. A bus that collides with another vehicle can do serious damage.
Other factors that increase the danger of a bus accident include:
- School buses often lack seatbelts, and they can be especially dangerous if they rollover.
- School buses contain an outsized number of passengers, increasing the potential number of victims in a collision.
- School buses are more difficult to control, especially at high rates of speed.
- School buses may not be as well maintained as personal vehicles.
If you or your child is involved in a motor vehicle collision that involves a school bus, you may be eligible to collect financial damages. A lawyer can help.
Call a Lawyer After a School Bus Accident
If you or your child are involved in an accident with a school bus, either as a passenger on the bus or the occupant of another vehicle, consider who the liable party in the accident is. Liable parties may include:
- The bus driver
- The school that employs the bus driver
- Another motorist who struck the bus you or your child was riding in
There may be additional defendants depending on the circumstances of your accident. A lawyer can help you understand who the most liable party is and can further assist you by:
- Quickly initiating your case to fall in line with any relevant statutes of limitation
- Collecting all evidence of the crash, who was at fault, and any medical records required to calculate damages that you are entitled to receive
- Handling all necessary legal steps to take your case to a settlement or judgment
- Protecting you and your child’s rights throughout the legal process
Possible Financial Awards in a School Bus Collision Case
If your case falls in your favor, you could be eligible for compensation covering your losses. Some of these financial awards may cover:
- Your direct medical expenses for your injuries
- Long-term physical and psychological rehabilitation
- Lost wages or diminished earning capacity from your injuries
- Pain and suffering from the accident
You could be entitled to additional financial awards based on the details of your case. Talk to a school bus accident lawyer from our firm for a care review. Our attorneys will analyze the evidence, advise you on your legal options, and help you with filing a claim or a lawsuit against the liable party or parties to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Call Our Team Today
The sooner you call, the quicker we can begin your case. Call our team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733 for a free consultation. You focus on getting better, and we will handle everything else.
