All throughout the school year, we see school buses driving on our roads to transport children to and from their classrooms and extra-curricular activities. The parents and teachers of those children never want to think about an accident happening during a bus ride, but school bus accidents are actually quite common in New York.
Here’s what you need to know about school bus accidents and how a school bus accident lawyer can help if you are involved in a crash.
Causes of School Bus Accidents
School buses are unique vehicles because they need extra room to maneuver the road and take longer to stop than the average vehicle. There is also a high potential for school bus drivers to be distracted due to rowdy and unpredictable children who may be onboard. Bus drivers are often responsible for dozens of children, and they can also be distracted by checking routes, using a cell phone, eating, drinking, or adjusting the controls.
In some school districts, there has been a staffing shortage of school bus drivers lately, which can lead to longer shifts for current drivers, more crowded buses, and inexperienced drivers who are new to the job. Rainy or snowy weather conditions in New York can cause automobile accidents involving school buses, as well as poor bus maintenance and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Proving Liability in a School Bus Accident
Based on how a school bus accident takes place, a school bus driver, other driver, school district, or bus part manufacturer could be found negligent. You may have a valid claim against a school bus driver if he or she was distracted or driving unsafely. A third-party driver could be held responsible for the accident if that driver rear-ended a school bus or illegally passed a school bus in a way that caused a crash. The school or a commercial company could be to blame if there was a known defect in the bus and nothing was done to correct it. This is why you need an experienced attorney on your side after a school bus accident to sort through all of these details, determine who was at fault, and pursue that person or organization for compensation.
Driving Safety Tips Around School Buses
Even if you have been driving for many years and have a good understanding of the rules of the road, it is always a good idea to brush up on how to drive safely around school buses. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles provides helpful safety tips about what to do when a school bus stops and flashes its red lights and how to safely share the road with school buses that are preparing to stop.
When to Call a School Bus Accident Lawyer
Whether your child was injured on a school bus, your car was hit by a school bus, or any other scenario occurred involving a school bus on a New York road, the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum is here to help.
Attorney Kestenbaum is the school bus accident lawyer you need, so contact us today at 718-237-5586 for a free legal consultation.
