What Lake County Parents Should Know About School Bus Injuries

 Posted on July 27, 2022 in School Bus Accidents

Not all school bus-related injuries are the result of a crash. While motor vehicle accidents involving a school bus are not as rare as one might hope, children are actually in more danger when they are getting on or off the bus. Additionally, a school bus does not need to be in an accident for a child to get hurt while riding on it. As you probably know, most school buses lack seatbelts, creating additional risks for children. If your child was injured while taking the bus to or from school, we may be able to help you recover the compensation your child needs and deserves. The first step will be to identify the liable party - it may or may not be the school district or bus driver.

School Bus Dangers Other Than Crashes

Children are not only at risk when the school bus gets into an accident. They can be injured in other ways associated with being a bus rider. Common ways that children are injured while taking the school bus include:

• Being thrown - Without seatbelts, there is nothing holding a child in their seat when the bus makes a sudden movement. If the driver has to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision or has to swerve to dodge an obstruction in the road, a child can be tossed out of their seat. This can cause children to suffer injuries like broken bones or concussions.
• Getting on and off - Children are not as graceful as adults. School bus steps may be steep, and handrails are not always easy for young children to use, especially when they have their hands full with school supplies. Falls while boarding or disembarking are common.
• Crossing the road - Many children have to cross the street to get between their homes and the bus. This is by far the most dangerous part of a bus rider’s journey to and from school. If your child is hit by a car near the bus stop, it is very likely that the driver was disregarding a safety law or being careless and will be liable.

Recovering After a School Bus Crash

Children are not as well protected in the event of a collision as they probably should be. Your lawyer will first need to determine whose fault the crash was. If the bus driver was negligent in causing the crash, then your claim will be against the school district.

However, if another driver caused the accident, then you may need to file a claim with their insurance or potentially against the driver themself. We can offer you further guidance if your family has been faced with this type of disaster.

Contact a Lake County School Bus Injuries Lawyer

If your child was injured while taking the school bus, Salvi & Maher, LLP can help. Our compassionate Waukegan school bus injury attorneys will fight for your child in court so you can focus on caring for them. Call 847-662-3303 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.isbe.net/Documents/bus_safety_parents.pdf