In 2020, there are many things to worry about as the new school year approaches. Will your child be safe from COVID? Will they get the personal and social interaction they need? With these never-before-seen issues to consider, you do not need to add worry about sending your child to school on a school bus. Yes, school bus accidents do occur. However, when you read on you will get all the facts that can help you feel confident in your decision.
The “Other Guy” is Often in More Danger from a School Bus
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) points out that in a nine-year period, there were just over 1,200 fatal school transportation accidents, which included deaths of 1,353 people. On average, this means there were about 135 deaths each year in school transportation accidents. Only 35 of those would have been on the bus. The other 100 were drivers or passengers in other vehicles.
It is Rare for a Child to Die in a Bus Accident
Of all 1,353 fatalities over ten years, only 174 of them were children. What is more, most of those children were injured in pedestrian accidents involving a bus – not riding on the bus: 119 were pedestrians and 55 were passengers. That means that only 55 children died in nine years of bus riding throughout the entire country.
Children Are in Higher Danger Getting on and Off the Bus
Knowing when your child is in greatest danger, and ensuring that you teach them to avoid these situations, can save their life. According to the NHTSA, there is a ten-foot danger zone around the front, sides, and back of the bus. This is where kids should be most careful and where adults should keep an eye on their children.
What to Do if Your Child is Injured in a Bus Accident
While it is extremely unlikely, if your child does become injured on a school bus, there might be legal recourse you can take. However, this is not like other personal injury cases. In this instance, if the bus was run by a government agency or school, then you will have just six months to file the claim versus the two years you would have if it was an individual.
Second, you might have several people to sue. Even if the driver was negligent and caused the accident, their employer might also share some blame for hiring and employing a dangerous driver. For these and other reasons it is important to work with an experienced attorney. You can reach Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
