My Child Was Injured on a School Bus in Alabama – What Can I Do?

School bus accidents might be rare, but that doesn’t make them any less tragic when they do occur. In 2015, a five-year-old boy in Macon County was run over and killed by his own school bus. The boy exited the bus, bent over to pick up a dropped backpack, and was run over when the driver failed to see him. The most dangerous time for children around school buses is the phase of loading and unloading the bus. It’s during this period that a child may be out of sight and hit by one of these massive vehicles.

Accidents on the road occur as well. Few people have forgotten the devastating November 2006 school bus crash in Huntsville. A bus carrying high school students plummeted 30 feet off the interstate overpass, killing four and injuring at least 30 others, some critically.

Startling School Bus Accident Statistics

The American School Bus Council reports that more than 25 million children ride the bus to and from school each year. There are close to half a million school buses that transport children on America’s roads every single school day and accidents do occur.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) reports that there are an average of 131 school bus-related fatalities each year in this country. When a school bus gets into a crash, many of the injured parties are either pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles. There are a percentage (8%), however, who are children riding on the school buses that are injured in these crashes.

Common Causes of School Bus Accidents

While it’s true that school buses are statistically safe, this is little consolation when a child is exposed to dangerous conditions or involved in a serious accident. It’s a fact that school buses still aren’t required by law to provide seat belts for occupants, which is one thing that could save lives and prevent injuries.

When a school district faces a tight budget, there’s a chance that a district-owned bus service might cut corners with bus maintenance or could face staffing issues. Even privately-owned buses may be owned by companies who are more interested in protecting their bottom line than the health and safety of your child. Other factors that could contribute to dangerous bus accidents include:

• Brake malfunctions
• Overloaded buses
• Unsafe or faulty safety systems
• Failure to observe road and weather hazards
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding

What You Can Do If Your Child Is Injured on a School Bus

If your child has been injured or killed in a school bus accident, you have the right to pursue compensation for your damages. Both federal and state law states that school bus companies are considered “common carriers” because they have a contract to deliver transportation services to the public.

What many people don’t realize is that common carriers are held to a higher standard of care than private citizens. This is because these companies are trusted with the public safety, meaning they have a specific duty to protect your children and the public from harm while on the road. Specifically, school bus operators must ensure that children are safe while getting on and off the bus. Buses must also be properly maintained and have well-trained drivers that both know the rules of the road and are proven to be drug and alcohol-free.

Seeking Justice in Alabama School Bus Cases

It’s an unfortunate fact that not all bus operators take their responsibility as seriously as they should. When a bus accident does happen, children can be injured or, worse, killed. When these tragedies occur, the negligent party is almost always the bus service. This means that a suit must either be brought against the school district or a private bus company. In some cases, third parties such as maintenance companies or parts manufacturers may share fault. Determining who is responsible for an accident and who should be responsible for damages requires an experienced Alabama accident attorney. A skilled Alabama bus accident attorney will have established relationships with experts who specialize in bus accidents.

Contact an Experienced Alabama Personal Injury Attorney

Chip Nix has handled numerous school bus cases. Among those are 8 cases for children who were injured in the same school bus roll-over in Pike County, Alabama. School busses are generally difficult to control unless driven very carefully and at a reasonable speed and they are at risk of turning over if the driver runs slightly onto the shoulder or side of the road. Driver error is a frequent cause of roll-over and other types of accidents.

School bus injury cases can be both complicated and emotional affairs. Having an experienced Alabama school bus accident attorney on your side can ensure that mistakes are avoided, your rights remain protected, and you receive the just compensation you deserve. Contact the office of Chip Nix, Attorney at Law at (334) 279-7770 or online to learn about how we can help you after your child’s school bus injury.