School Bus Accidents and Victim Vulnerability

School bus accidents are always scary. Any accident involving small children reminds us how vulnerable kids are, how easily they can be injured or even killed. But even among children, there are some who are even more vulnerable than others, especially children with special needs.

A story out of Lampasas, Texas reminds us just how terrifying an accident involving children with special needs can be. On June 20th, 2015, a school bus was carrying eight special needs students and three adults to a day camp when a minor accident occurred. Despite the fact the accident was minor, all eight students were injured.

It is rare for all passengers in a bus to be injured in case of an accident, and it is practically unheard of for all passengers in a bus to be injured in a minor accident. Buses are very heavy, which means the force of a crash is more dissipated than in a smaller vehicle. But in this case, the fact that the students were special needs made it more likely that everyone would be injured.

The reasons special needs students are more vulnerable during accidents are many, and include:

• Difficulty with fine and gross motor skills affecting balance and stability
• Medical fragility
• Poor muscle tone and strength
• Cerebral palsy and other disabilities that limit movement and ability to protect oneself in case of a crash

If you or someone you love has been injured in a school bus accident, affording medical bills can be incredibly difficult, whether your child has special needs or not. Don’t hesitate to contact an attorney to make sure the person responsible for the accident helps pay for the care you or your family needs.