A school bus accident is every parent’s worst nightmare.  The nightmare becomes worse if a child is injured in the accident.  It is crucial to know that there are legal rights involved for families when a child is involved.  Legal representation becomes vitally important for parents in this situation to know their rights as well as their child’s rights.  

Legal Representation After A School Bus Accident 

There are several reasons why legal representation is necessary after a collision involving a school bus.  First, the school district has a responsibility to provide safe transportation to the children riding the bus to school.  Everyone knows accidents do happen and it is in the best interest of the school district to claim the situation as a true accident.  However, an attorney will investigate the details of the crash to make sure the bus driver in the situation was not acting recklessly or negligently.  Additionally, the law stating that due to the “compartmentalization” in school bus design seat belts are not necessary has been largely contested.  There have been successful cases in several states after an unrestrained child sustains an injury in a school bus accident.  For these reasons and more, legal representation is absolutely necessary after a school bus accident to ensure compensation where necessary.

Recoverable Damages After A School Bus Accident

Damages can be recovered after a child is injured in a school bus accident as the child is clearly a passenger with no fault in the situation.  These damages are meant to help families recover after experiencing financial expenses related to the accident.  Potential damages can include:

• Medical bills and expenses
• Funeral expenses in the event of death
• Rehab services such as chiropractic care and physical therapy
• Pain and suffering

State statutes vary from state to state but typically the statute of limitations for recovering for damages from a school bus accident is two years.  Additionally, child injuries sometimes are not apparent for a while as children’s bones are still growing.  This fact can typically be argued in court as a reason for extending the statute of limitations for a child to recover from injuries sustained in the accident.  

Hiring an attorney after a school bus accident is a crucial step in protecting your child’s legal rights and ensuring you receive the right amount of compensation you deserve.