As a parent, nothing is more important than the health and safety of your child. When you send your kids to school, you place your trust in every adult who is responsible for taking care of them and believe that they have the best interests at heart. Although school buses provide a safe transportation option, students can experience an accident during their trip and suffer devastating results. School buses are designed to provide a safe form of transport in comparison to children walking to school.
Most of the time, school bus accidents are caused by other drivers on the road. However, in certain cases, a school bus accident can be caused by the negligence of the bus driver who had not been paying close attention. If you or a loved one has been involved in a school bus accident, you must reach out to a personal injury lawyer in Boca Raton to receive the financial compensation you deserve.
Major Causes of a School Bus Accident
Although school bus accidents are not as common as other types of accidents, they tend to be serious if they do occur. Whether the accident occurred while your child was getting on or off or while riding the bus, they might suffer from catastrophic injuries. Even though every accident is different, the following things increase the possibility of an accident occurring.
- Improving bus maintenance.
- Frequent stops.
- Other drivers on the road.
- Fatigued bus drivers.
- Child pedestrians interacting with the traffic.
Keep Your Child Safe
Generally, accidents are most common when kids get on or off the bus. This is why parents need to make sure that their child gets on or off safely by staying around for at least 5 minutes. Only until the bus driver gives the signal that your child can proceed to the bus should you let your child board. Let your child know just how important it is to safely board a bus and look out for vehicles nearby.
Who Should I Sue If A Loved One Is Involved In A School Bus Accident?
Now, you must be wondering who is responsible for the accident, or whether you can sue them or not. Generally, the party that was negligent and caused the accident must be held accountable and provide proper compensation. However, it can still be confusing to determine who to sue for the school bus accident. A personal injury lawyer in Boca Raton can help you determine who is to blame. Depending on who or what caused the school bus accident, you might need to sue some of the following organizations/people.
- The School District: If your school district had been negligent and contributed to or caused the accident, you will need to sue the district.
- The Bus Driver: In case the school bus driver was negligent and contributed to the accident in any way, you should be able to sue him or her. It is the bus driver’s responsibility to safely transport students to and from the school. If your child gets hurt while getting on or off, you must take action against them.
- The Other Driver: The other driver of the other vehicle might be to blame if the accident occurred due to negligence on his or her part.
- The School Bus Company: The school bus company is responsible for ensuring a high standard of care is provided.
- The Bus Manufacturer: In case the bus had been defective, you would need to sue the bus manufacturer.
- The State: If the state is responsible for operating the bus or has ownership over it, or a state employee has been negligent, you have to sue the state. However, you will need to file your claim quickly. You must file your claim against the government agency within six months. But certain jurisdictions have shorter deadlines, which is why your case would need to be filed as soon as possible.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Whether the accident was caused by a mechanical defect, a passing vehicle, or the school bus driver, you require legal representation. The person or organization you sue depends on the circumstances of the accident. A personal injury lawyer in Boca Raton will assist you with figuring out who you need to sue. As experts in the field of bus accidents, we will fight hard for your rights in the court of law to ensure that you receive the justice that you deserve. We will discuss all your legal options and help you every step of the way. You mustn’t waste any time and sue the negligent party as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might end up losing your case before you even file it. For the highest chance of getting the best outcome, you need to contact us.
