More than 23.5 million children ride school buses to and from school each day in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school bus-related accidents send 17,000 children to emergency rooms each year.
Nearly one-fourth of the accidents occur when children are boarding or leaving school buses, while crashes account for 42 percent of the injuries. On average, more than 10 children a year die as a result of school bus-related accidents, with 40 percent of those deaths occurring between the hours of 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
If you have been injured as the result of a bus accident or your child has been injured in a school bus accident in Raleigh, Wake County, or anywhere in North Carolina, either as a passenger of the bus, pedestrian or driver or passenger of another vehicle involved in the accident, contact the Raleigh school bus accident lawyers at Hardison & Cochran to discuss your case. You may be able to file a claim against the bus company to recover for your damages.
School bus accidents can be caused by such contributing factors as driver negligence, dangerous roadways, weather conditions, defective products and improper maintenance, among others. These accidents may lead to death or serious physical injury, including:
- Head injuries
- Burn injuries
- Brain and spinal cord injuries
- Fractured bones
- Cuts and bruising
- Amputations
- Internal injuries
Many of those school buses do not have restraint systems or seatbelts. The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates having lap-shoulder belts on all new school buses and supports having adult monitors on buses. However, in a 2002 report to Congress, NHTSA recommended against lap-only belts in school buses because they can be risky, especially in small children, by restraining them high on the abdomen, potentially causing internal injury in a crash.
Because we entrust them with our children’s safety and lives, school bus drivers must abide by all transportation laws, including laws that prohibit speeding and consuming alcohol before or while driving. In addition, the companies that maintain public transportation vehicles like buses are liable for the safety of their vehicles. If you or your child has been injured in a school bus accident, the Raleigh personal injury attorneys at Hardison & Cochran, Attorneys at Law, can help.
A school bus accident can impact the lives of the victim and his or her family. Depending on the severity of the accident, the victim may need to undergo surgery or visit numerous specialists. Treatment for school bus-related injuries may be very expensive and cause financial stress on the family. If you retain a skilled bus accident injury lawyer you may be able to recover monetary compensation for your injuries and other accident-related costs.
Do not permanently lose your right to seek damages from those who caused you harm, contact the Wake County school bus accident attorneys at Hardison & Cochran today. Our Raleigh personal injury lawyers are always working with “Experience, Integrity and Personal Attention” to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation available to help in your recovery.
Hardison & Cochran serves personal injury and accident victims throughout the state of North Carolina, including, but not limited to, Raleigh, Cary, Durham and Fayetteville, NC.
