Accidents involving school buses are rare as buses are comparatively safer owing to their big sizes along with higher seat backs, close seat spacing, mandatory safety harness systems. Even if the bus driver drives safely, accidents may occur in unfortunate circumstances and cause serious injuries. If your young one was involved in an accident while riding the school bus, you are eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for the injuries.
As a parent or a legal guardian of a child injured while riding a school bus, you can hold the at-fault party responsible for your physical and emotional damages. Every state has a statute of limitations that govern the time frame within which you can file your claim to receive compensation. If the accident involves buses operated by a private school, you typically have 2 years from the date the accident took place to file your claim. However, the statute of limitations requires you to file a claim within 6 months from the date of the accident if it involves buses operated by a public school as they are overseen by the government body.
Bus accident lawsuit involving a school bus can provide compensation for the following:
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- All the medical expenses including those that may be incurred in the future.
- Expenses to cover mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, PTSD, etc.
- Expenses for disability-related devices and home modifications associated with it.
- Income loss when you take days off from work to care for your injured child.
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Suing the At-Fault Party for Your Child’s Injuries on Accident
Depending on the circumstances that led to the accident, you can sue the following parties for their negligence:
- If the negligence on the part of the school bus driver has resulted in the accident, you are eligible to sue the bus driver for your child’s injuries.
- If the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident is at-fault and their recklessness has contributed to the bus accident, you are eligible to sue the other driver for your losses. Studies show that the other vehicle driver is generally at-fault in most accidents involving school buses.
- If the company that handles the school buses failed to maintain high safety standards and did not conduct regular inspections and maintenance of the bus that caused the crash, they can be held liable for the collision.
- If the school district acted carelessly that contributed to the accident, they may be held liable for the accident under certain circumstances.
If you decided to sue any party for their negligence, you will have to prove that such a party had a responsibility of care and safety towards your child, and a failure to fulfil this responsibility gave rise to a serious danger that resulted in the accident and injuries.
How Will A Personal Injury Attorney Help Your Case?
It is recommended to contact a professional personal injury lawyer if your child met with an accident while riding the school bus, since an experienced attorney can evaluate your case, collect necessary evidence and investigate the cause of the accident. A knowledgeable attorney will safeguard both your and your child’s legal rights and while helping you determine the negligent party and filing your lawsuit.
