Whether your child rides the school bus daily, or for field trips and special events, ensuring their safety is paramount. When accidents occur, parents naturally want to hold the responsible parties accountable for any injury that results.
Determining who’s responsible for a school bus accident—and whether parents can recover compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages—can be complicated. Here’s an overview of potentially liable parties.
The school bus driver
Bus drivers have a duty to obey all traffic laws and exercise caution while driving. If the driver was negligent—whether by speeding, failing to follow traffic laws or driving while distracted or under the influence—they could be held responsible for the accident. School bus drivers are expected to exercise a high level of care when transporting children. Any breach of that duty can lead to liability.
The school district or bus company
Depending on who owns the school bus, a school district or private bus company may also be responsible. Districts and private companies are responsible for hiring qualified drivers, maintaining the buses in safe working condition and ensuring that all safety protocols are followed. If an accident occurs due to improper maintenance, poor training or the hiring of an unqualified driver, they may be liable for damages.
Other drivers
Sometimes school bus accidents are caused by another driver’s reckless or negligent behavior. For example, if a car driver runs a red light, fails to yield or is otherwise driving irresponsibly, they may be liable for the accident. If another driver is at fault, the injured parties may file a claim against the driver’s insurance company.
Vehicle manufacturers and maintenance workers
Not all accidents occur due to irresponsible drivers. If the accident was caused by a mechanical failure or defect in the bus, the manufacturer of the vehicle or its parts might be responsible. This could include issues like brake failures, tire blowouts or other malfunctions that lead to the crash.
In other cases, accidents may happen due to a lack of proper maintenance. A maintenance crew who fails to identify mechanical issues and address them appropriately could be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result.
Determining responsibility in a school bus accident is complex and often involves multiple parties. If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, call the Law Offices of Tim Misny today.
Discuss your accident claim with a Columbus personal injury lawyer right away
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your accident claim. When you’re the victim of negligence or recklessness, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so that I can evaluate your case right away.
