Personal Injury Due to School Bus Accidents

Washington, D.C., Virginia, & Maryland

Many parents trust that a school bus is the safest way for their child to school. Unfortunately, school bus accidents injure thousands of children and kill about 26 each year. Many school bus accident cases involve government entities, so they are often more complicated than regular auto accident lawsuits.

Loading and Unloading

Most cases of wrongful death in a school bus accident do not occur in collisions between the school bus and another vehicle. Most die in auto-pedestrian accidents when they are struck when boarding or exiting the bus. Some are struck by the school bus, while others are hit by passing cars, many of whom ignore or fail to notice the lights and signs of the stopped bus.

Fatal School Bus Crashes

Most vehicle-to-vehicle school bus accidents involve a school bus and a smaller vehicle.  As a result, about 70% of people killed are occupants of other vehicles, even though the school bus nearly always has more passengers.

No Seat Belts

Most school buses do not have seat belts. Even when the buses do have seat belts, there is no law requiring that students wear them. Some parents’ groups have pushed for a seat belt requirement for school buses, but have made limited progress.

Causes of School Bus Accidents

School buses have to run every day in all kinds of weather and may be in disrepair during the school year. Economic causes may contribute to school bus accidents.

Factors that commonly contribute to school bus accidents include:

• Hazardous weather conditions
• Faulty vehicles
• Driver negligence
• Intoxicated drivers
• Defective roadways

Many of which present risks that can be minimized by the school district. Holding schools financially responsible for these accidents can actually change the way that school districts calculate financial risk and encourage schools to prioritize child safety.

Responsible Parties

School bus accident cases can be complicated because they may involve multiple responsible parties, including government entities. Responsible parties can include:

• School districts
• School bus drivers
• Government agencies responsible for maintaining roads
• Other drivers

If you or your child has been injured or killed in a school bus accident in Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC, please e-mail or call our personal injury lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. before you settle with an insurance company.