| Parents across
Pennsylvania rely upon the
school bus to safely transport their children to school or
related activities such as field trips. Yet school bus accidents
are all too frequent, and the consequences can be devastating.
In 2005, there were 491 accidents involving school buses – and 5
were fatal.
School bus accidents occur due to a number of factors:
- Most full-size school buses are not equipped with seat
belts.
- Children are at their most vulnerable when entering or
departing the bus; 80% percent of children killed in school
bus accidents were in the process of boarding or leaving the
bus at the time of the accident.
- School districts reduce costs by keeping older vehicles
in service, extending maintenance schedules and using less
experienced drivers.
Regardless of the reason, school bus accidents can cause
serious injuries, ranging from sprains and fractures to brain
and spinal cord trauma. Like any accident involving a motor
vehicle, victims may only walk away with scratches and bruises –
but in some accidents the results can be deadly. Whether you are
a driver sharing the road with a school bus, or a parent whose
child is a school bus passenger, understanding the laws
regarding school bus accidents is particularly important.
A school bus is considered a common carrier, and thus owes a
greater duty of safety to its passengers than the driver of a
regular passenger car. If you or a loved one is injured in a
school bus accident, you may be able to pursue legal action
against the bus operator, the bus manufacturer, the school
district, or any other vehicle involved.
Damages vary according to the accident, but typically school
bus accident victims can file claims for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages (if applicable)
- Pain and suffering.
- If the victim dies as a result of the accident,
additional compensation may be sought.
If you or your loved one suffers serious injury from a school
bus accident, legal action may not be your first consideration –
but you should not have to bear the responsibility for medical
expenses incurred because of someone else's failure to observe
the law. Long term treatment, such as rehabilitative care and
physical therapy, can be very expensive. Families shouldn’t have
to decide between paying the bills and obtaining necessary
treatment. An experienced transportation injury lawyer familiar
with school bus accident cases can evaluate your case to
determine who is responsible, and develop the most effective
strategy to obtain maximum financial compensation.
The Pennsylvania transportation injury lawyers at Munley,
Munley & Cartwright, P.C. have more than 40 years of experience
in handling accident cases. Our goal is to provide exceptional
legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest
standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights
through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and
experience.
We have offices conveniently located in
Stroudsburg,
Carbondale,
Hamlin,
Hazleton,
Scranton, and
Wilkes-Barre,
PA. If
you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a school bus
accident, please contact us by e-mail or telephone
1-800-318-LAW1. For more information about our firm, please
visit
www.munley.com. |
