Every parent’s nightmare is to receive a call informing them that their child has been injured in a school bus accident. Unfortunately, accidents involving school buses are fairly common, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reporting that nearly 130 school transportation-related fatalities occur each year. But who exactly is liable for these collisions, and what rights to parents have to pursue compensation on their child’s behalf?
Bus Companies are Responsible for Their Passengers’ Care
School bus drivers and busing companies in Pennsylvania are responsible for the safety of their passengers and are required to exercise a duty of care to ensure that the wellbeing of school children is never compromised. From exercising safe hiring practices and following all traffic laws to ensuring drivers complete all necessary training courses, bus drivers and school districts must exercise extreme caution since one minor mistake could cause a devastating, or even fatal, crash.
Unfortunately, only five total states in the USA have laws which require seat belts on school buses. Pennsylvania still does not have any sort of legislation which requires children on school buses to fasten seat belts, putting children at risk of injury in the event of a collision.
Common factors which can contribute to a school bus crash include:
- Negligence of the bus driver
- Defective school bus parts
- Poor bus maintenance
- Poor weather conditions
- Negligence of other drivers
In the event that a school bus driver should fail to uphold this duty of care, or if another motorist’s negligence should cause a collision, the responsible party may be held civilly liable for any injuries to children on board which may result. Depending on the circumstances, parents may have grounds to file a claim in pursuit of compensation for a wide range of damages, including medical bills, rehabilitation costs, reduced quality of life of their child, or wrongful death.
Seek Full and Fair Compensation Today
At Ilkhanoff & Silverstein, our York personal injury lawyers have been fighting for the rights of school bus accident victims and other injured parties throughout Pennsylvania for more than 30 years combined. If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, we can provide the compassionate support and results-driven legal advocacy you need to pursue maximum financial recovery.
Let us protect your child’s rights – call (717) 744-0531 or contact us today to file a claim.
