Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Child Safety and School Bus Accidents
Parents send their kids to school on the school bus each weekday, never thinking that a bus accident could leave them seriously injured. The unfortunate reality is that there are roughly 16,000 school bus crashes each year and about 12,000 kids sustain injuries ranging anywhere from minor cuts to fatal injuries. Over the last two decades, there have been about 1,500 deaths of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians resulting from bus accidents across the country. There are a variety of reasons that a school bus is involved in a crash:
- Obscured or damaged traffic signs
- Dangerous roadways
- Malfunctioning bus parts, causing a breakdown of the bus
- No security
- Reckless or negligent driving of other drivers
- Reckless or negligent driving of the bus driver
- Bad driving conditions due to weather
Safe Arrival Bar
School buses do not have seat belts or other types of safety restraint systems installed in order to protect students who are riding on the bus. Not having belts, restraints, or other safety features on buses places students at a high risk of injury in the event of an accident. The Safe Arrival Bar is an idea based on the safety restraints on amusement or theme park rides and is being introduced to administrators around the U.S. to consider installing the bar in buses. The bar allows for the following kid-friendly options:
- Very easy access and exit
- Provides support for a child to grip in the event of an accident or sudden swerving
- Simple design, requiring slight lifting of the bar to exit and pulling down on the bar when seated
Hopefully, the Safe Arrival Bar will catch on and soon be installed in all school buses for the safety of our children.
If your child is involved in a bus accident, don't hesitate to bring them to their pediatrician promptly. Testing and a full medical exam will be able to reveal any injuries your child may have sustained in the crash. Medical records can also be used against the bus company in support of a potential claim that you may have.
When to Contact a Person Injury Law Firm in Boston
If your child has been injured in a school bus accident in Massachusetts due to someone else's recklessness, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, contact the Boston bus accident lawyers with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.
Our personal injury lawyers have 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.
Call (888) 208-1695 to receive your free legal consultation today! And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.
