Liability in a Car Accident Involving a School Bus

Car Accident Lawyer

The last thing anyone expects to occur is to find themselves victim of a car accident. This is especially the case when faced with an accident that resulted from a school bus driver’s negligence. Although this may be an unusual situation, there is still a likelihood that you stand to suffer injuries. While a school bus can certainly help to protect its’ passengers, motor vehicles who are involved in a bus accident crash stand to withstand serious injuries. An accident attorney can help determine who should be held liable for the accident and collect evidence to prove liability.

The Impact a School Bus May Have

School buses are clunky. Watching their girth as they slowly chug down the road can leave you wondering if they have the ability to keep up with the flow of traffic. In the morning and afternoon hours, school buses are a standard part of the commute. Whether driving through your neighborhood or sharing the highway, the last thing you suspect is the likelihood that a bus driver won’t be able to safely operate their vehicle. As a society, it’s not uncommon for people to hold bus drivers to a high standard. After all, they are transporting the most precious cargo in the world, our children. What many unsuspecting accident victims may not realize is the impact such a large vehicle can have on a car should an accident occur. Because of their size, school buses can do serious damage to other drivers on the road should an accident occur. School buses are designed to protect young passengers from the force or impact when faced with a crash. However, accident victims stand to suffer damages; leaving them to consider the possibility of filing an accident claim for compensation. This can be a tricky road to travel that may be best faced with the help of a car accident attorney.

Determining Who is Liable

When injured in an accident caused by a school bus driver, an attorney can assist in helping you determine who you should file a claim against. This will depend upon several factors. You will need to determine who should be held liable for the accident:

• The bus driver?
• The school District?
• The school bus vehicle manufacturer?
• A contracted transportation service?

This can be tricky to determine. You will want to be sure that you start off your case on the right foot. This begins with determining who should be held responsible for negligence. An attorney can assess cases for victims in need of compensation for the injuries they are facing.

Proving Liability

In order to prove liability, your attorney will work with you to gather the evidence needed to prove that the transportation service or bus driver did not act within their duty of care. Following a crash caused by a school bus, you stand to suffer greatly, you may be managing:

• Injuries
• Medical Expenses
• Property Loss
• Missed Time from Work

In some cases, you may be able to hold both the bus driver, and the transportation company accountable for their negligence. This will require proving that the following elements were present:

• Duty of Care
• Breach of Duty of Care
• Causation
• Damages

A car accident lawyer Memphis, TN trusts may play a key role in protecting your rights and gathering evidence to help prove the case. In the wake of an accident, time is of the essence. It’s important to act quickly by contacting an accident attorney in order to protect the compensation you may be entitled to.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at Darrell Castle & Associates, PLLC for their insight into car accidents involving school buses.