Who is Liable for My Child’s Florida Non-Collision School Bus Injury?

Data furnished by the National Safety Council demonstrates that an estimated 13,000 victims are injured every year in accidents involving school buses. More than 25% of these accident-related injuries are sustained by passengers on board the school bus. In some cases, your child’s school district may be responsible for the bus accident.

Is the School District Liable for My Child’s Bus Accident Injuries?

While the rules vary somewhat from school district to school district, circumstances under which they will likely be liable include but are not limited to the situations listed below.

Injuries Caused by Violence

Injuries that are caused by the violent behavior of another passenger. 

Your Tampa personal injury attorney will find out what rules and policies the school district has implemented in regards to fighting and bullying on their buses, and will determine whether or not the bus operator reacted in accordance with those protocols. A more extensive investigation will then be conducted concerning whether the operator was fully and properly trained in the appropriate way to deal with this kind of event. 

If the operator had reasonable cause to know that one rider posed a danger to another will also be taken into account as your attorney pieces together more of the incident, most likely through prior complaints pertaining to the at-fault rider or through witness testimony.

Injuries Caused by Disregarding Safety Protocol

Injuries that are caused by cluttered aisles or an overly crowded bus.

Similar to investigating an act of violence, your Florida personal injury attorney will find out if the operator was suitably trained on the appropriate methods for loading and unloading the bus or for making sure that the aisle is kept clear to avoid trip and fall accidents.

Injuries Caused by Improper Maintenance

In the event that the school bus has not been sufficiently maintained or that mandatory safety equipment, like fire extinguishers, is not on board, your child’s school district could be held liable for that as well. 

Not every school district owns and operates its own school buses. Some school districts offer bus services that are contracted through a third-party company to their students. A skilled Tampa personal injury attorney will be able to examine your case and identify all possible sources of liability to ensure that you receive full and fair financial compensation for your child’s school bus injuries.

As with every kind of personal injury case, the endless number of variables makes your claim unique. Someone with a case that sounds very similar to yours could end up with a very different outcome than what you should expect. This is just one of the many reasons why hiring a skilled attorney is beneficial to your Florida personal injury claim. 

Your attorney will know the most thorough and efficient way of collecting vital evidence that proves you were not at fault for the accident. Establishing this fact is essential to the success of your Tampa personal injury case.

If you have sustained injuries during any kind of accident that was caused by another person’s negligence or carelessness, there is evidence out there that will substantiate your claim. A reputable personal injury attorney from Fulgencio Law will be able to help you. Call us at (813) 463-0123 to schedule your free Tampa personal injury consultation today.