Although bus crashes are not as common as other types of vehicle crashes, the results can be devastating. For example, in 2020 a commercial tour bus crashed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, killing five and injuring all sixty-one other passengers on board. According to 2018 statistics, there were over 900 bus crashes in Pennsylvania, approximately 300 of which were school bus crashes.

How are Bus Accidents Different from Car Accidents?

There are a number of ways that bus crashes differ from other types of vehicle crashes, which can make them more complex to litigate. For this reason, if you have been injured in a bus crash, it is always advisable to speak to an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney.

• Potentially more liable parties. In a standard car accident, most suits are between you and the other driver. However, if you are injured as a passenger on a bus, there may be a number of parties liable for the crash. For instance, if the bus driver was distracted, driving too fast, or acting otherwise negligently, they will be a party to your suit. However, it’s rare that only one driver is at fault in an accident. If another driver or drivers also contributed to the crash, they can also be parties to your suit. Additionally, the bus driver’s employer may be responsible via the doctrine of respondeat superior. Finally, the manufacturer of the bus of any of its component parts may also be liable if any malfunctions or product liability issues contributed to the crash.
• Bus drivers owe a higher standard of care. Bus drivers are designated as common carriers under Pennsylvania law. Common carriers have a higher standard of care for passengers than regular motor vehicle drivers do. This means that it can be easier to establish negligence in a bus accident than in a car accident, as the threshold for negligence is lower and the standard of care expected is higher.
• No seat belts. Unlike standard passenger vehicles, busses are not equipped with seat belts. This means the injuries experienced in bus accidents can be different than in car accidents. Common bus accidents include traumatic brain injuries, sprained and broken bones, and spinal cord injuries. However, less severe injuries, like whiplash, are common as well.

Contact a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured in a Pennsylvania bus accident, it’s important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A personal injury attorney will review the specifics of your case, and determine the best possible course of action to get you the compensation you deserve. A successful personal injury lawsuit will reimburse you for all expenses related to the accident, as well as compensate you for all anticipated future expenses, and pain and suffering. You don’t have to shoulder this burden alone. Schedule a free initial consultation with the  personal injury attorneys at the O’Donnell Law Offices serving clients in Kingston, Wilkes Barre, Hazleton and Pittston at 570-821-5717 or online today. There is no fee or costs until we win your case.

Resource:

enjuris.com/pennsylvania/car-accident/bus-accidents.html

The post Have You Been Injured in a Pennsylvania Bus Accident? first appeared on O'Donnell Law.

However, while 23.5 million children take a school bus to school every single day, over 17,000 children suffer injuries and need to go to the emergency room due to school bus accidents every year. If your child has suffered any injuries related to a school bus, here are five things you need to know.

1. School Bus Vehicle Safety

According to the American School Bus Council, 25 million children are transported by big yellow school buses every day. Drivers are required to carry an “S” endorsement on a Commercial Drivers Licence (CDL) and safety is built into the very design of the bus. While they typically do not have seat belts, they have been engineered to distribute force differently and “compartmentalize” and protect children in the event of a crash. Study after study shows that school buses are extremely safe for children, and even safer than traditional passenger vehicles.

2. Bus Stop Safety

One-fourth of all injuries related to a school bus happen upon entering or exiting, according to the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice. The following safety tips can help your child be safe and protected when either waiting for a school bus or exiting one.

• Arrive Early.
• Keep Your Distance.
• Minimize Play.
• Line Up Facing the School Bus.
• Do Not Approach Until the School Bus Stops.
• Use Handrails.

3. Pedestrian Safety

17% of all deaths related to school buses happen to pedestrians, according to the National Safety Council. These following steps will decrease your chances of being in an accident as a pedestrian around or near a school bus.

• Always walk on the sidewalk or on the side of the street far away from the school bus if possible.
• Confirm that the bus driver can see you and that you can see the bus driver.
• Never walk behind the school bus.
• Never cross the street behind the school bus.
• Never allow a child to pick something up if they drop it near a bus.

4. Rider safety  

While school buses are created and engineered to keep children as safe, children need to act and behave appropriately as passengers. Disruptive behavior, walking from seat to seat, or standing up, causes a distraction for the bus driver, and can also cause injuries to a child.

5. Motorist Safety

The largest amount of deaths related to school buses are actually drivers and passengers of other vehicles on the roadway. The National Safety Council states that approximately 70% of the deaths related to school bus accidents are in other vehicles. Remember to always give school buses the right of way, and try to be as safe as possible when driving around school buses.

Let Us Help You Today

If you as a motorist, or your child as a passenger, were injured in a school bus accident, you could have the right to compensation and a legal claim under either personal injury, workers’ compensation, property damage, or possibly wrongful death.  The law related to school bus accidents is complex. Contact the bus accident attorneys, serving clients in Kingston, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Pittston,  at the O’Donnell Law Offices today to help you understand your rights, and what type of legal claim you may have.

Resources:

injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/

stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=how-safe-is-the-school-bus-1-1133

americanschoolbuscouncil.org/

nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety#bus-regs

The post School Bus Injuries first appeared on O'Donnell Law.