Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
School Buses and Child Safety
Every day millions of parents send their children to school on a school bus never suspecting that they may be seriously injured or even killed if they are in a bus related accident. However, fatalities and injuries, either minor or catastrophic, may be the outcome of a school bus related accident. Out of the 16,000 school bus related accidents that take place each year approximately 12,000 children suffer from varying degrees of injury. In a recent fifteen year period, almost 1,500 people have died after being involved in bus related accidents in the U.S., including the bus occupants, drivers of other vehicles, and pedestrians.
There are many reasons that a school bus may be involved in an accident, such as:
- Damaged or hidden traffic signs
- Dangerous or faulty roads
- Defective bus parts
- Lack of security on the bus
- Negligence on part of other motor vehicle drivers
- Negligence on the part of the driver
- Poor weather conditions
Like other motor vehicles, school buses are also plagued with defects and other hazards that pose a threat of serious physical injury.
Unfortunately, many school buses that are transporting our young children do not come equipped with safety belts or any other type of restraint system. The lack of seat belts places school aged children at risk for a variety of injuries, as well as ejection from the vehicle.
A new rule is now in effect to help make small school buses safer with the introduction of three point seat belts.The rule goes into effect for new buses manufactured after October 21, 2011.
After any bus mishap, even if your child says that he or she feels fine, and does not have any visible injuries, you should take your child to their physician immediately. Some injuries may only be discovered after certain tests have been performed; and if you decide to file a claim against the bus company, the medical exam can be used in your favor. If your child suffered injuries in a school bus accident, contact a Boston car accident attorney at the Kiley Law Group, as you may be able to file a claim against the bus company to recover monetary compensation for your child’s injuries.
