A school bus company in Cincinnati settled a wrongful death lawsuit for Five Million Dollars, after a teenager was struck and killed in a tragic accident. The accident and settlement highlights the fact that despite ample measures taken to prevent accidents in and around school buses, serious or potentially fatal accidents can occur. In this Ohio case, the family for the deceased alleged that the driver failed to adequately defrost and clean his windshield making it impossible to see the young man whom he struck and killed.
The statistics for school bus related accidents are quite alarming. When accidents occur, they are often very serious or fatal because of the extreme weight and size of a school bus. Also, the number of people injured in a single accident is much higher due to the capacity of a school bus. Each year thousands of people are injured in school bus accidents.
School bus companies and drivers have a very large responsibility because they are carrying small (and often impulsive children). Stop signs and bus monitors have become commonplace over the last 10-20 years to prevent accidents involving children and school buses, but they still occur. Some of the causes for school bus related car accidents include:
- Poor driver training
- Insufficient care and maintenance of the bus
- Overcrowding of the bus
- Driving in dangerous or inclement weather (much like in the above mentioned Ohio case)
- Driver distraction from children inside the bus
- Aggressive driving or speeding
School buses are one of the largest large vehicle carriers in the United States. Every day tens of millions of students are transported to and from school on buses. Accidents, sometimes serious, can and will occur. If your child was injured in an accident involving a school bus, contact my office right away.
My office is experienced in handling accidents with school buses or other large vehicles. My consultation is no-hassle and free. There is no fee or payment to me EVER until I recover money for you or your child. Home and hospital visits are also available.