The experience of being in a school bus accident can be highly stressful. Children might have been injured, and the accident may have been more severe due to the significant size and weight of school buses. Below are some of the common causes of school bus crashes and how a lawyer can help you recover from your damages in the accident. The San Francisco, CA bus accident attorneys at The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. can help provide you with further information about your specific situation.
Bus Driver Error Can Lead to Crashes
Drivers of large buses are tasked with being professional and alert as well as following all applicable rules of the road and safety regulations. However, research shows that driver error is a leading cause of commercial vehicle crashes, including accidents involving buses.
Driver Fatigue
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) addresses driver fatigue regularly because it is such a problem among commercial drivers. There are strict limitations on how long bus drivers can transport passengers before they must take time to rest. However, too many bus drivers are fatigued for other reasons when they are behind the wheel.
These can include:
- Driving at night
- Sleep disorders
- New parents or other reasons for sleep deprivation
No matter what the reason might be, a school bus driver should know when they are too tired to drive. Employers should have contingency plans in place to protect passengers if a driver is feeling fatigued. Check out these tips to prevent drowsy driving.
Driver Distraction
Distracted driving is an epidemic in the United States, and school bus drivers are certainly not the exception. Even though school buses carry precious cargo, drivers can get tempted to check their phones or engage in other smartphone activities. They also can be distracted by students on the bus if they are too loud or acting out.
There should be measures in place, such as having student supervisors, to avoid bus driver distractions.
Not Following Traffic Laws
It is especially important for school bus drivers to obey all traffic rules and regulations, though they can make mistakes or poor decisions like any other driver. Some common traffic violations that can cause school bus accidents to include:
- Speeding
- Improper lane changes
- Failure to yield
- Running stop signs or traffic lights
Any violation can cause crashes, which can injure school bus passengers or others on the road.
Equipment Failures are Also Common with School Bus Crashes
Within the context of any school district, there might be dozens or even hundreds of school buses that are used in the transportation of children to and from school throughout the area. While ideally, these buses are universally kept in solid operating condition through appropriate ongoing maintenance, this may not always be the case.
A common cause of many crashes is simply the failure of a vehicle to perform as it should have. When a vehicle needs to come to a sudden stop, and the brakes have not been properly maintained, the sudden stop might instead be a slow and lengthy stop – this leads to an accident.
Tire blowouts are also common on buses, and these can lead to tragic rollover crashes that injure many children on the bus.
Liability for a School Bus Crash
Knowing who is liable for the damages in an accident depends on what the cause was. In an accident with a school bus, an experienced bus accident attorney knows the right questions to ask to determine which parties should be liable. Some potentially responsible parties include:
- The bus driver
- The school bus company or school district
- Maintenance crews
- Bus manufacturers
- Third-party drivers who cause a school bus to crash
Knowing who should be liable is essential to know which insurance claims to file. You want to file all possible claims to ensure you and your family receive full compensation for your losses. Such losses can involve:
- Medical bills for injury treatment
- Permanent injuries and impairments
- Lost opportunities or income
- Pain and suffering
Certain types of claims are governed by special rules and procedures that do not apply in regular traffic accident cases. For example, there are special deadlines when a child is the injury victim in a claim. There are also different rules and requirements if you need to file a claim against a public school district or another public entity. You want help from a San Francisco bus accident lawyer who knows the ins and outs of this process.
Tragic School Bus Crashes Can Lead to Wrongful Death Claims
In 2018, 5,096 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes. These fatalities can involve people in other vehicles, pedestrians, the school bus driver, or school-aged children riding on the bus. In any case, such fatal crashes are tragic events that can change your family forever.
If you have lost a loved one in an accident with a school bus, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. This type of claim allows a surviving loved one of a person lost in an accident to bring a claim to collect damages.
These damages generally include the lost value of that person’s contribution to the family, both financial and emotional, which can be quite significant depending upon the circumstances of the accident and the related facts and characteristics of the individual lost. Contacting a compassionate bus accident lawyer who handles wrongful death claims should be your first step to recovery.
Connect with a San Francisco, CA Bus Accident Attorney Today
Recovering from an accident is accomplished not only by attending to any medical needs, but also by being made financially whole for the damages that you suffered. You need a legal advocate handling the proper insurance claims or wrongful death cases following a serious school bus crash, and you should never wait for your free case evaluation. To discuss your situation, schedule an appointment now with one of the San Francisco, CA bus accident attorneys at the Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. Call: (415) 851-6486
Resources: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
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