School buses are efficient. They replace dozens of separate parent vehicles with one Municipal vehicle. They provide an opportunity for children to socialize with their peers or finish their homework before reaching school for the day. They can also help take the pressure off of a parent’s schedule.
Despite all of the benefits of school bus transportation, there are risks as well. Students can end up injured because of school buses, and parents may not know how to respond to that situation. What do parents preparing for the return to school need to know about school bus injuries?
There are many ways for students to get hurt
When people think about school bus injuries, they often picture collisions. School bus crashes are dangerous. So are single-vehicle incidents where the driver loses control of the bus. A rollover or similar incident could lead to broken bones or worse injuries for the students on board. However, students can get hurt before the bus is ever in motion. Trying to board a bus can be dangerous. When the weather is damp, a student might slip when trying to climb the stairs. They could hit their head or break a bone.
If the bus route forces them to cross the street, they could get struck by another vehicle when getting onto the bus or returning home at the end of the day. They are also at risk of injury while waiting at the bus stop. Other drivers might lose control of their vehicles and injure students waiting for school transportation.
Schools may be liable for busing incidents
Most parents do not want to take legal action against the institutions educating their children. However, the school district or the private company handling busing for the school may be the only source of compensation available. Sometimes, another driver is to blame, as might be the case when a student gets hit while crossing the road. In those cases, or scenarios involving collisions, the party actually at fault for the crash may have to provide compensation for the wreck.
If the incident only involves the school bus or the bus driver is at fault for the incident, then it may be possible to seek compensation from the busing authority. Often, there are large insurance policies in place that can help cover a student’s medical care costs and even a parent’s lost wages while they provide medical support to an injured child.
Parents can help prepare their children for bus safety by teaching them basic rules, such as remaining in their seats and always checking the street carefully before crossing. Sadly, even if students follow best practices, they can still end up injured. Reviewing the circumstances that led to a school bus injury with a skilled legal team can help parents understand their options. Occasionally, it may be necessary to initiate a lawsuit to obtain appropriate compensation after a busing incident leaves a child injured.
