Common Ways Accidents Occur

As with any accident, a school bus accident may occur in any number of ways, including the following:

• A child may be injured entering or exiting the bus.  This, in fact, is the most common school bus injury.  A child may be injured by another car that fails to stop, or the bus itself.

• A child may be injured inside the bus itself, even if the bus is stationary.  An example of this includes a slip and fall inside the bus.

• A child outside of the bus altogether may be injured by a school bus.  Because school buses tend to load and unload in areas with many children around, a bus driver must be extremely careful not to move the vehicle until he is certain the area is clear.

• A child may be injured in a collision with another vehicle.

Who May Be Held Liable

Who may be held liable for a school bus accident is an extremely fact-specific question.  An experienced accident attorney can consider the complete circumstances of the accident and decide where responsibility for the accident falls.  Possible parties include:

• The school bus driver,

• The driver of the other car,

• Both drivers,

• The school district,

• Product manufacturer, if a defect is found to have contributed to the accident.

It is important to note that in Texas, a bus driver is not held to the higher standard of care that other buses are held to.  Because they are not considered common carriers, a bus driver must act as a reasonably prudent person would act in a similar situation.

In addition, there are limits to how much liability a school district can be held responsible for.  In most cases, school districts are liable for $100,000 per person, and $300,000 per accident.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians and Motorists

In 2010, 1 out of every 5 children ages 5 to 9 that were killed in traffic accidents were pedestrians.  Because children are so vulnerable to injury as pedestrians, it is important to be aware of ways to make the streets safer for our children.  There are many ways, both as motorists and parents, that we can help create a safer walking atmosphere for our children.

• As a driver, remember that you share the road with pedestrians.  You do not have the right of way.  When a bus is stopped in front of you, you must stop completely and wait until all passengers have entered and exited the bus safely.  Because pedestrians are so much more vulnerable to injury in motor vehicle accidents, remember to use extra caution.

When searching “school bus accident lawyer Dallas” contact Kirkendall Dwyer today for a free consultation.