School Bus Accident Injures 28 Students

More than 28.5 million children ride school buses to and from school each day in the United States. School buses are a safe way for our kids to get to school. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school bus-related accidents send 17,000 children to emergency rooms each year. The accident can be caused by many different factors and can result in death and serious life-altering condition.

Over the past few weeks there have been several school buses accidents across the nation. In Delaware, a school bus crashed into a concrete barrier after the brakes on the bus failed. In Philadelphia, a school bus struck a pedestrian. In New Jersey, 28 students were taken to the hospital for precautionary measure after a fender-bender. In California, a fast-moving school bus jumped a curb, plowed into trees and a lamp post, and came to rest tilting sideways, leaving 12 people injured, three of them critically. For parents, a school bus accident can be extremely devastating; however contacting a school bus accident lawyer immediately can help parents understand their legal rights and options.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are the safest mode of transportation for getting children back and forth to school. The buses keep an annual estimated 17.3 million cars off roads surrounding schools each morning. Furthermore, the American School Bus Council provides that school buses are designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in avoiding crashes and preventing injury.

Pennsylvania law requires school buses that transport public school student have safety belts. While the driver seat belts must have over the shoulder and lap seat belts, all other designated seating positions do not require lap and shoulder seat belts. Thereby, accidents involving high speed, lateral impact, rollover or impact with fixed objects/large mass vehicles, put our kids at risk. The National Transportation Safety Board has been recommending seat belts on school buses since 1999. There’s good news, though: Senate Bill 122, mandating seat belts on school buses, was referred to the transportation committee for approval within the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

We entrust the safety of our children in the hands of school bus companies and drivers. Today’s school buses are supposed to be built with safety in mind. School buses should be tougher, cleaner and more diligently maintained. Moreover, drivers should be required to receive special security and medical training, and undergo regular drug and alcohol testing to provide a safe ride for children. Furthermore, school bus traffic laws must be strictly enforced, and regulated.

Contact a Pennsylvania Accident Attorney

In the unfortunate event your child is injured in a school bus accident, it is important to realize the impact such an accident can financially, physically and emotionally. You may be able to file a claim against the bus company to recover damages. The accident can be caused by driver negligence, dangerous roadways, defective products, or improper maintenance, among others. Children can suffer head injuries, brain and spinal cord injuries, fractured bones, cuts and bruising, amputations, and internal injuries.

If you or a loved one was involved in a school bus accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact our experienced advocates at Solnick Lawyers to discuss your rights. Call us today at 215-481-9979 for a free consultation.