subject: School Bus Accident Attorney [print this page] Parents across the nation must put a great deal of trust in the hands of school bus drivers and the entities who manage school transportation for their children. When that trust is violated and a school bus accident occurs, the results can be tragic.
More than 12,000 school-aged children suffer injuries in school bus-related accidents every year in the U.S. Actual school bus collisions or crashes account for over 40 percent of those injuries, and 25 percent of the injuries happen when children are stepping off or boarding a school bus.
Injuries can also happen to children when they experience:
Roughhousing or violence from other children
Slip and fall accidents
A sudden turn or stop of the school bus that sends them falling or throws them against the side of the bus' interior
Lack of seatbelts
Causes of School Bus Accidents
Some of the most common causes of accidents involving school buses include:
Poor bus maintenance
Mechanical failure
Worn tires
Fatigued driver
Distracted driver
Driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Blind spots
Inclement weather
Lack of driver training
Speeding
Poor road conditions, such as huge potholes
Lack of or inadequate signage at bus stops
Types of School Bus Accident Injuries
Injuries sustained in school bus accidents run the gamut from mere cuts, scrapes and bruises to far more substantial injuries, such as:
Compensation: The Need for a School Bus Accident Attorney
Laws pertaining to school bus accidents make these cases complex. Liability can be related to public and private schools, mechanics, bus manufacturers, contracted maintenance, government entities that take care of roads, etc. Hiring a personal injury lawyer who has experience in the representation of those injured in school bus accidents can be an important step toward receiving compensation.
