No one wants to think about what could happen if their child were to be involved in a school bus accident. When a parent puts their child on a bus, they want to trust that their child will get to school safely – but that is not always the case. If the worst were to happen, do you know who could be held accountable for damages? Keep reading to find out and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
School Buses Are Safe – But Not 100%
The fact of the matter is that statistics show the average child is safer on a school bus than in a car because car accidents are much more common. However, school bus accidents do happen and when they do, they have the likelihood of causing more damage and injuries than the average car accident. This is due in part to how many people are on the bus and the fact that many do not wear seatbelts when traveling on buses.
The Bus Driver and/or the School District May Be at Fault
When a school bus accident, the most common at-fault parties are the driver themselves and the school district that maintains the buses and employs the driver. If the school bus driver was negligent and caused the accident, then who is responsible for costs would depend on whether the school operated the buses or if they contracted it out to another company.
In the event the school directly operated the buses, then the school or school district could be liable for the negligent acts of their driver. If the process was outsourced to another company, then that private company may be liable for the damages.
Your Personal Injury Attorney Can Determine Who Can Be Held Liable
When you work with a personal injury attorney, we can help determine who can be held liable. It may be that one party is responsible for 50% of damages while another party is 50% responsible for damages. Your attorney can look at all the facts, including evidence, information from surveillance cameras, and more.
We will talk to expert witnesses who can reconstruct the accident, determine how fast the bus was going and get answers to other important questions. With the right information, we can find the best way forward. Call our offices today at 800-333-0000 if you are in need of a free legal consultation.
