Every morning and afternoon, large school buses transport students to and from school. Many buses occupy the roads. They are carrying precious cargo and an accident with one could be terrible. Unfortunately, if your child has been involved in a school bus accident, long-term consequences could occur. After a school bus accident, responsible parties should be held liable to cover your losses. Our lawyers can support you through this process. Call a Prince George’s County Bus Accident Lawyer today. To learn more about this process, read below.
What may be the cause of a school bus accident?
As vehicles that transport children, school buses, and their drivers, are held to high safety standards. This can lead to a lot of disbelief and outrage when something goes wrong. Questioning who may be responsible is a common response. It is also an important factor when considering a potential lawsuit. Bus accidents are commonly caused by the circumstances listed below:
- Driver negligence: drivers must attain the necessary skills to drive the bus safely. He or she must take safety precautions and follow traffic laws.
- Bus company negligence: the bus company must conduct proper bus maintenance and follow strict hiring regulations to ensure the safety of the children.
- Poor visibility: Certain conditions in a large bus require extra vigilance, such as narrow roadways and left-hand turns.
- Weather conditions: it is common knowledge that bad weather conditions can lead to unsafe driving conditions. Rain, ice, snow, and flooding are all potentially hazardous for driving a bus.
Who may be responsible for the accident?
Bus accidents can be traumatic and should be treated seriously. It is possible that your child may have been injured if he or she was in such an accident. Aside from physical injury, some children experience emotional disturbances, such as PTSD or nightmares. Law enforcement officials will likely be at the scene gathering evidence. Later on, this evidence can be used to determine who may be responsible. It can be difficult to ascertain who is a fault and how to file a claim. A lawyer can help discover your options. Responsibility for a school bus accident may be given to the following:
- School bus driver
- School bus company
- School district
- A third party/another driver
- The manufacturer of the bus or parts
School buses are designed with many built-in safety features such as flashing lights, extra mirrors, seat belts and stop signs. Here are some suggestions you can teach your kids about school bus safety.
- Always stay at least 3 giant steps from the road when waiting for the bus
- Wait for the school bus to come to a complete stop before standing up to get off
- When crossing in front of the bus, take 5 giant steps in front of the bus, and wait for the driver to signal that it is okay to cross the road.
- No running or rowdy behavior on the bus
Our legal team is prepared to assist you. If your child has been involved in a school bus accident, we can help you determine who is responsible and receive the compensation you need. Contact us today.
