Personal Injury Lawyers
of Long Island

(631) 801-0057

  • Home
  • Credentials Matter
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Car Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Workers Compensation
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Wrongful Death
    • Cruise Accident
  • Blog
  • Free Case Evaluation

September 26, 2017 by admin

School Bus Crashes

Whether it’s to and from school, field trips, athletic events or sightseeing, when children are riding a schoolbus, their parents place their full trust in the hands of the bus driver. Many parents have reasonable fears regarding their child’s safety. In a matter of seconds, an accident while riding in a school bus can impact a child’s life in the worst possible way.

 

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) 450,000 school buses transport 23.5 million students to and from school every year. As recently as late November of 2016, six elementary school students were killed and another 23 were hospitalized as a result of a school bus crash in Chattanooga. The driver is believed to have been traveling 50 mph in a 30 mph zone on a winding road off of the designated school bus route.

 

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Any number of individuals or parties can be held liable for injuries or deaths that result from a school bus crash. Those could include:

 

  • The school bus driver
  • The school bus company
  • The bus manufacturer or manufacturers of component parts of the bus
  • The school district
  • Any motorist who caused or contributed to the crash

 

Whoever was at fault for a school bus accident has to be held responsible for compensating the injured victims. Depending on the circumstances, the school district can be held liable too.

 

The Law of Negligence

Nearly all bus accident lawsuits fall under the law of negligence. In order to show negligence, the injured claimant must prove that:

 

  • He or she was owed a duty of care by the defendant
  • The defendant breached that duty
  • The breach of duty caused the accident
  • The accident was the proximate cause of his or her injuries
  • He or she suffered legally recognized damages as a result of the injury

The Law of Negligence

The NHTSA estimates that more than half of all school bus accidents involve two or more vehicles. In accidents that only involved a school bus, the NHTSA cites four basic reasons for crashes. Those are:

 

  • Colliding with fixed objects
  • Falls from the bus
  • Rollovers
  • Collisions with non-fixed objects

Common School Bus Accident Injuries

Three of the above four reasons are particularly worrisome because nearly all school buses don’t have seat belts. That makes children far more vulnerable to serious injuries in a crash with another vehicle or an object. Common injuries include:

 

  • Head and brain and head injuries
  • Neck and spinal cord injuries
  • Multiple limb and spinal fractures
  • Broken noses and facial fractures
  • Severe dental injuries
  • Permanent scarring and disfigurement

Damages

If a person or entity has been determined to be liable for a victim’s injuries, the damages issue must be considered. The nature and amount of damages are decided on a case by case basis. In a school bus accident involving injured children, they might include:

 

  • Past and future medical bills
  • Any permanent disfigurement
  • Any permanent disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of a normal life
  • Funeral and burial costs in the event of a wrongful death

Notice of Intent

In some school bus accident cases, a percentage of liability might be attributable to a school district or other governmental entity. In those cases, a notice of intent to sue or a claim must be filed within a short time after the accident. Failure to file them on a timely basis can be cause for dismissal of a lawsuit.

 

We’re committed to building strong cases in school bus accidents and recovering maximum compensation for injured children. You can contact us for a free consultation and case evaluation on any school bus accident. Remember that there could only be a short window of time to preserve your rights so it’s important that you not delay in contacting an attorney.


 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • Home
  • Credentials Matter
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Car Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Workers Compensation
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Wrongful Death
    • Cruise Accident
  • Blog
  • Free Case Evaluation

LONG ISLAND PERSONAL INJURY RESOURCES

Long Island Personal Injury Law Firm
Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
Long Island Car Accident Lawyer
Long Island Workers Compensation Attorneys
Long Island Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Long Island Wrongful Death Lawyer
Long Island Cruise Accident Attorneys
Free Legal Advice
Legal and Financial Advisor Rockville MD
Car Accident Lawyer Long Island NY
Long Island Truck Accident Attorney
Auto Accident Lawyer Long Island
Long Island Car Accident Lawyers
Long Island Auto Accident Lawyer
Long Island Car Accident Attorney
Car Accident Injury Lawyers Indianapolis IN
Who is the Top Bankruptcy Lawyer in Cypress, TX Civil Rights Litigation Lawyer Washington, D.C.
Personal Injury Blog
Denver Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Bus Accident Lawyer Los Angeles CA

Location

500 Merrick Road
Suite 200
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
(631) 801-0057

Free Consultation

Request a free consultation with one of Washington DC's premier personal injury law firms.

Request Free Consultation

No Legal Advice Intended. This website includes general information about legal issues and law practices. Such materials are for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice or counsel. Information may not reflect current legal standards. For legal advice specific to your needs, contact an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. Do not rely on any statement on this website for any reason whatsoever. Furthermore, the information contained in this website is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice or representation. Your review or use of this web site, its information and links does not create an attorney-client relationship or an attorney-client privilege between this law firm and you. Statements made to this firm before the formation of an attorney-client relationship may not be privileged and confidential.



© COPYRIGHT 2023 LONG ISLAND PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS | POWERED BY Matador Solutions - Internet Marketing Company

Other Resources
American Bar Association | The American Lawyer | National Lawyers Association | Lawyers Without Borders | American College of Trial Lawyers | American Bar Association | National Association of Women Lawyers | Lawyers Associated Worldwide | Cohen & Cohen P.C. | Auto Accident Lawyer DC | Auto Accident Lawyers Washington DC