What to Do if Your Child is Hurt in a School Bus Accident
What to Do if Your Child is Hurt in a School Bus Accident
Though school buses seem safe – after all they are large and typically drive slow – school buses are just as prone to accidents as cars.
Children ride on a school bus twice a day, five days a week and are often involved in accidents that cause injury or death.
Accidents result from any number of causes, including poorly trained and inexperienced bus drivers, distracted driving, ill-maintained buses, overcrowding, road defects and other at-fault drivers on the road.
The experienced Baton Rouge car accident lawyers at Simien & Simien can help you if you have been injured or lost a loved one in a school bus accident.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2004 to 2013, there were 1,344 people killed in a school-transportation-related crashes-an average of 134 fatalities per year.
Occupants of school transportation vehicles accounted for 8 percent of the fatalities, and non-occupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) accounted for 21 percent of the fatalities.
School bus accidents can involve children who were injured by buses, children who were dropped off at the wrong stop, drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol, buses that were not properly checked or maintained, or injuries in an accident caused by a bus.
If your child is injured in a school bus accident, seek medical attention immediately. You’ll also want to write down as many facts about the accident as possible, such as the date, time and place of the crash, the bus driver’s name and/or the name of other driver involved in the accident.
Often, the growth process complicates injuries in children, and long-term medical consequences can take years to materialize. These cases can also be difficult to navigate, which is why it is important to speak with an experienced attorney who can help you determine your legal options.
Dealing with a transportation company, local government, school district, or an insurance company is more complex than dealing with an individual in a private passenger car.
At Simien & Simien, we believe that careless bus drivers, transportation companies, and school districts need to be held accountable for their actions. With a track record of success, our Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys are ready to thoroughly investigate your claim and determine your legal options.
