The big yellow bus is an iconic symbol of transporting children to and from school. Fortunately, riding a school bus is relatively safe for children. According to NHTSA statistics, of the approximately 300 school-age children who die in school transportation-related accidents each year, only about one-sixth of them are passengers at the time. The remaining children are passengers in other cars, pedestrians, or bystander/cyclists. Unfortunately, children involved in school bus accidents – whether on the bus or not – often sustain severe injuries.

Restraints Increase Student Safety

Until 2005, school busses did not have to be equipped with seatbelts for passengers. Since that time, California is one of the states that has mandated that school busses made after that date be equipped with three-point restraints for school bus passengers. Restraints have been shown to increase the safety of school bus passengers and to decrease the severity of injuries sustained in an accident.

What Happens to Children Who are Outside the Bus?

Children’s are involved in School Bus Accidents are at risk for life-changing injuries. These may include:

• Traumatic Brain Injury – TBI can range from a mild concussion to permanent brain damage, coma, or death
• Spinal Cord Injury – SCI can be a minor fracture of the vertebrae or complete paralysis of the arms and/or legs
• Amputation – loss of fingers or toes, or arms and legs
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – can manifest for years to come as severe anxiety, depression, or substance abuse disorder

Each of these injuries can require months or years of treatment, rehabilitation, and painful surgical procedures, essentially halting the life of the child for an unknowable amount of time. In some cases, the victim suffers from paralysis, loss of a limb, brain damage or severe anxiety, and may never fully recover. Both the parents and child must adapt to a lifestyle very different from what they previously imagined.

What Should I Do If My Child is Injured?

When a child is seriously injured in School Bus Accidents, there are steps you should take to make sure the person responsible for the accident is held accountable. According to the law, when someone causes an accident through negligent or reckless driving, that person may be liable for damages to the injured party. If your child is hurt in an accident, be sure to document the details of the accident scene with pictures and witness statements. Collect copies of the accident report from the police and the medical records from the hospital or urgent care facility. In addition, contact a personal injury attorney to help you navigate the claims process.

A School Bus Accident Attorney in Los Angeles Can Help

If your child has been injured in an accident, you need to spend your time and energy as a great parent. A personal injury attorney at Jahrmarkt & Associates can take care of the legal part. You do what you do. What we do is help people like you collect monetary compensation for injuries sustained in an accident. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation.