If your child was caught in a school bus accident, it can be a very trying time for you and your family. Putting our children in the care of the school and their drivers, we always expect them to be safe. However human error still occurs and while it can be difficult to face the possibility of an accident, it is important to have a good understanding of why school bus accidents can happen and who to bring the claim to. Having a good attorney will guide you through the process and make sure you and your child’s rights are secured.
The first thing to do is to bring your child to the doctor to get them checked out. Even if there are no obvious injuries it is still important as things like whiplash or back pains may not happen immediately. Make notes and record your child’s recovery process. It is also important to note down everything that occurred during the accident including the names and contact numbers of those involved. Keep important documents such as doctor’s records and police records with you. Some states only provide a 180-day period to file your claims. You can get in touch with a personal injury attorney, or a bus accident attorney and they will help gather evidence, talk to witnesses and proceed with the claim against the liable party.
School Bus Accidents and their Causes
It is hard to wrap your head around the idea that such a thing could happen to young school children. Bus accidents can happen if the drivers are distracted, speeding, drowsy or impaired in any way. Bad weather and hazardous conditions can also cause accidents. Poor bus maintenance and repairs and defective parts are also causes for bus accidents.
Who is at Fault?
The number one question not only on parents’ minds but attorneys as well is, who is at fault? Who can we bring this claim to? If the accident was caused by a third-party vehicle, then you can claim against their insurance. However, if it is the school bus driver’s fault then the liability falls to the driver and/or the school district is liable for the accident. If it’s proven that the school district has failed to prevent accidents from taking place, they are liable. If the school has committed other negligence including failing to do background checks, failing to train drivers, failing to repair busses, or allowing a driver to continue driving after the school was notified of a drug or alcohol usage, the school district is liable for all these counts. In accidents such as these, it is possible that there may be one or more parties at fault for the crash. An attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to determine which parties are liable.
It is important to get a bus accident attorney as soon as possible to help you navigate through legal proceedings to protect you and your child’s legal rights. Contact us today to get in touch with our lawyers to help bring justice to you and your family.