What Should I Do If My Child Was In A School Bus Accident?

While school buses are typically very safe for students, unfortunately, accidents can and do happen. As a parent, you need to be prepared in the event that your child is involved in a school bus accident in New York. This blog will provide information on what to do if your child is injured.

After your child has received medical attention for their injuries, the next most important thing you can do is retain the services of a New York school bus accident attorney. If you incur medical expenses as a result of the school bus accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Allow the New York school bus accident lawyers at Finz & Finz, P.C. to fight for the compensation you and your family deserve. Our skilled and compassionate personal injury attorneys will have your family’s best interests at heart at all times. Contact our New York Bus Accident Lawyers at Finz & Finz, P.C., today. Call now at (855) TOP-FIRM to set up a free consultation.

A school bus accident can be extremely difficult for both the students on the bus and their parents. If your child has been injured in a school bus accident in New York, your No. 1 priority should be their health and safety. Try to get the best medical care for your child. Even if your child does not appear to be injured, it is wise to see a doctor for a checkup. Some injuries, such as brain injuries, may not exhibit symptoms right away. It could be days or even weeks before your child notices effects from the injury.

Monitor your child closely. Make a note of any symptoms of any common injuries from vehicular accidents, such as concussions, whiplash, back injuries, and cuts and bruises. Hold on to all medical records and documentation provided to you by the school district, police department, and other authorities. Finally, it’s imperative that you contact an experienced New York school bus accident attorney as soon as possible. An attorney will take immediate steps to protect your child’s rights by investigating the accident and identifying all the liable parties.

If your child has been seriously injured on a school bus, you may be able to file a claim against the school district, the bus company, or other negligent parties. An attorney can help you identify all the parties who may be held liable. It’s important to note that the limit to file claims against state, local, and federal governments is much shorter than for companies and individuals in the private sector. The knowledgeable New York injury lawyers at Finz & Finz, P.C. understand the complexities of school bus accident cases and will ensure that your claim is filed on time and that all the at-fault parties are identified in the lawsuit.

Common Causes of School Bus Accidents

As with any other motor vehicle accident, a school bus accident is preventable. Unfortunately, these accidents are still common in New York and throughout the country. More often than not, school bus accidents occur because of the negligent party, usually the bus driver or another driver on the road.

Common causes of school bus accidents in New York include:

Driver distraction. If students are on the bus are misbehaving, be it yelling or horse playing or fighting, it may take the bus driver’s attention from the road. If students are acting up, the distracted bus could cause an accident. For example, the bus driver could turn around to reprimand a student and then rear-end the vehicle, or a person, in front of the bus. Distractions can also result from the bus driver’s own negligence, including talking on the phone, texting, eating, drinking, and fiddling with the controls on the bus.

Driver negligence. Tailgating, speeding, aggressive driving, failing to yield the right of way, running stoplights and stop signs, and any other traffic violations can lead to school bus accidents. If a bus driver commits a traffic violation that leads to an accident and causes children to suffer injuries, they will be at fault and liable.

Driver fatigue. Fatigued bus drivers are much more prone to making errors while driving. School bus accidents can occur when a drowsy driver fails to check a blind spot, takes a turn too widely, or fails to observe other traffic laws. Studies indicate that fatigued drivers can be just as dangerous on the road as intoxicated drivers, due to their slowed reaction time and diminished perception.

Mechanical errors. Some school bus accidents are not the bus driver’s fault but rather the cause of faulty or defective equipment on the bus. School buses are required to undergo regular maintenance checks to make sure they are safe. Whenever a school bus inspection is skipped over, or the maintenance worker or mechanic performing the inspection misses something, the bus could experience a mechanical error while on the road that causes an accident.

Common School Bus Accident Injuries

Injuries caused by school buses can occur both on and off the bus. Injuries can range in severity from minor to very serious. Injuries are caused by the negligence or recklessness or carelessness of the school’s staff, or district may qualify for a lawsuit.

Common injuries suffered by schoolchildren in school bus accidents include:

• Neck and back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Broken bones
• Facial injuries
• Disfigurement
• Soft tissue injuries
• Broken bones
• Bruises, cuts, and abrasions
• Burn injuries
• Amputation

How An Attorney Can Help

The experienced New York school bus accident attorneys at Finz & Finz, P.C. can help you understand your options as you pursue compensation for your child’s injuries.

Our skilled and compassionate attorney can help:

• Determine all the liable parties
• Gather all the relevant evidence
• Initiate legal action
• Handle your school bus accident case from start to finish
• Protect you and your child’s rights
• Collect compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses resulting from the accident

Contact a New York School Bus Accident Lawyer

If your child sustained serious injuries from a school bus accident in New York, contact our bus accident lawyers. Call today at (855) TOP-FIRM to schedule a free and confidential consultation.