Are Children Safe in School Buses?
Going to school on public transport is a very common thing for children all over the world. While some prefer hailing a cab or taking the metro, there are a lot of students who like to avail the school bus service. This is simply because riding on a school bus is convenient for various reasons. For one, you do not have to worry about managing your daily transport. Secondly, the expense of school bus service is fixed. So, parents do not have to stress about paying more than they can afford. The only cause of concern that has arisen in recent times is personal injury taking place due to negligence in and around school buses. Here are a few useful questions that can you help understand the safety of children in school buses in the best possible way: Who is to be Blamed for a School Bus Mishap? In a situation wherein a child gets hurt on a school bus, parents can claim compensation for the medical expenses. Whether it is a mild accident or a life-threating scenario, the parties who can be responsible for it are: School bus manufacturer in cases where technical issues in the vehicle caused the accident School bus drivers who do not follow the rules set by the authorities efficiently School authorities or any other party under contract to provide transportation to children Vehicle service center where repairs and replacements of school buses take place Government bodies responsible for maintaining roadways in a city There have been unfortunate events that lead to permanent disability, long-term care, or even the death of a child in a school bus accident. Every parent in New York City has the legal right to claim compensation for their child’s damages. A reputed personal injury attorney should be consulted in this matter. How are School Buses Made Safe for Children? Children going to school should be provided with a safe route and mode of transport. Keeping this in mind, there are efforts by the authorities to keep school buses safe: Difference in Design The design of school buses can be easily distinguished from other buses operating in the city. Due to this reason, other drivers on the road remain cautious driving near a school bus. Provision under the Law The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA has developed strict laws that protect young children in school buses. All commercial passengers’ drivers must follow these protocols all at times. Along with this, people who are driving past a school bus or a stop also need to follow certain regulations. Compulsory Seat Belts Children who are used to going to school on a bus know the importance of securing themselves with a seat belt. However, there can be some students who might not be aware of this rule. For this purpose, regular awareness talks, and events are organized by school authorities to re-iterate this necessary rule of keeping seat belts on. Bus Stop Safety Waiting for the bus to arrive at a stop tests your patience immensely. But this does not mean that children or their parents do not maintain discipline at a bus stop. When the bus is at the curb, children should be standing at least three feet away. If children are too young to cross a street on their own, assistance should be given by the parents. When a child suffers from a personal injury due to a school bus mishap, the parents have the legal right to claim medical expenses from the school authorities or any third-party transport company involved in the matter. In case you know someone, who has faced this legal issue, and requires the services of a school bus accident lawyer, they can reach out to our personal injury experts at Siler & Ingber on 516-294-2666.
Dangers of Back-to-School Buses
Long Island and New York City students are officially in back-to-school mode. While some will walk, bike, or ride to classes in personal vehicles, millions of students will be hopping back on the big yellow school bus for their daily commute. Sadly, school buses are not as safe as we would like for riders or other motorists and pedestrians sharing the road. School bus-related accidents take the lives of hundreds of people every year and cause serious injuries to tens of thousands of others. Therefore, it’s essential for the safety of all New Yorkers that you take precautions this school year to avoid preventable accidents. School Bus Accident Statistics From 2007 to 2016, the National Highway Safety and Transportation Administration (N.H.S.T.A.) reported 1,282 school bus-related fatalities, most of which were pedestrians on sidewalks or crossing the road. Among these victims, 281 were school-aged children: 116 were occupants of other vehicles, 98 were pedestrians, 58 were riding the bus, 8 were cyclists, and 1 was a non-occupant. The majority of fatal school bus accident victims were individuals 19 years and older. The fatality rates across all age groups including: – <5 with 11 deaths; – 5-7 with 44 deaths; – 8-13 with 57 deaths; – 14-18 with 44 deaths; and – 19+ with 178 deaths An additional study conducted by the National Safety Council (N.S.C.) reported that in 2019 alone, 109 people died in school bus-related accidents. Considering that a school year is approximately 180 days, this leaves only a third of the school year where there are zero school bus-related fatalities. Most of the fatalities reported in the N.S.C. study involved occupants of other vehicles (79), while the remainder included pedestrians (15), school bus passengers (4), school bus drivers (5), and cyclists (6). Fatal accidents were more common during the morning and afternoon drop-off times, between 6:00 am to 9:00 am and 2:00 pm to 5:00. Several accidents were also recorded from 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm, presumably when buses returned to the bus yards at the end of their shift. School-Bus Accident Risk Factors Now that most students are going back to in-person classes, buses will be in full swing once again. School buses tower over most pedestrian vehicles on the road, weighing in at 24,000 pounds. Buses cannot stop as quickly or maneuver as gracefully to avoid road hazards. This incapacity can lead to devastating accidents when encountering smaller vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists on the roads, especially when kids are in tow. The most common risk factors leading to school bus-related accidents include: Congested Roads School buses, especially those operating on busy NYC streets, have little room to move around or switch courses quickly. Cars that do not stay alert to school buses stopping can easily rear-end these vehicles when they stop to load/unload. Similarly, bus drivers who are distracted on congested roads can rear-end passenger vehicles in stop-and-go traffic. Congested roads are also far more dangerous for students waiting at the curb or who must cross the street after they exit the bus on their way home. Reckless Drivers No one wants to be stuck behind a school bus when they have a place to be, but some drivers will do whatever it takes to get around them– even if it puts others in danger. Reckless drivers have been known to tailgate and weave through buses to avoid becoming stuck. Others try and illegally pass, putting school buses at risk of rollovers, sideswipes, swerving into people or permanent structures, or colliding with other oncoming vehicles. Bus Chaos Accidents that are caused by bus driver errors can sometimes be related to chaotic environments within the vehicle. School buses that operate without proper supervision can lead bus drivers to become distracted or overstimulated. These qualities lead drivers to miss road hazards they would generally catch, leading to increased accidents. Schedule Adjustments At the start of the school year, accidents often occur when motorists are unprepared for back-to-school traffic and activity. Drivers who are used to commuting every day in the summer can be caught off-guard by the influx of school busses and are not prepared for students waiting on the side of the roads. Dark morning hours can also contribute to accidents, reducing a driver’s visibility. Lack of Seat Belts While all school buses are required to install lap belts, not all districts require students to wear them. In the case of an accident, passengers are more likely to propel forward into seats, windows, and other hard components on a bus, leading to traumatic and sometimes fatal injuries. How To Avoid School Bus Accidents We send out kids to school to learn, not to become injured during transportation. Most school bus-related accidents are entirely preventable when all parties operate, ride, and share the road with care. It’s up to all of us who share the roads to look out for school buses and students this fall, following proven safety methods to keep everyone safe. Vehicle Safety If you are driving in the morning, look out for students crossing the road to their bus stops and busses with flashing lights to signal that a bus is loading/offloading. Give buses plenty of room to move about the road. Keep your speeds low through neighborhoods and school zones and refrain from pulling aggressive maneuvers to get around busses. If you continuously find yourself behind a stopping bus, leave a little early or try to take an alternate route to avoid being late for your commitments. Most importantly: never pass a bus with flashing lights and stop signs activated. Pedestrians and Cyclists Safety Pedestrians and cyclists can stay safe by remembering that school buses have a hard time seeing you in the dark or if you cross the road unexpectedly. Never assume that a bus sees you coming or that they will stop when approaching you at an intersection. Remain visible and in designated walking or cycling lanes when available to allow school buses ample room to pass. Please take notice of the bus routes in your area and avoid them whenever possible. Parents Safety Tips Keeping
Here’s What You Need to Know About Bus Accident Lawsuits
Buses are one of the most efficient public transports in the United States. They make travelling simple and affordable for one and all. However, bus accidents have also become common as the use of buses has increased across cities. As per available statistics, there are about 63000 bus accidents each year injuring 14000 people and killing 325 people in the United States. Any kind of bus can get into an accident – private bus, school bus, local bus, or inter-state buses. Personal injury lawyers are hired in accidents caused due to someone’s negligence. There are several causes of bus accidents. Some of the most common ones are: Driver fatigue – Bus drivers work long hours which leads to tiredness. This could lead to accidents. Congested urban areas – Manoeuvring buses in an urban crowded location can be challenging which may cause accidents. Construction on the road – Sometimes construction or other conditions on the road might lead to a bus accident as it may catch the bus driver off guard. Maintenance issues – Some unknown issues with the bus mechanics or inadequate maintenance may also make it vulnerable to an accident. Distracted driving – If the bus driver is distracted or drunk, it may lead to an accident due to their negligence. A crash with a bus can cause life-threatening injuries to people traveling in the bus as well as those hit by the bus in the crash. These injuries can have a long-term impact on the victim’s health. The type of injuries will depend on the scale of the accident, however, no matter how minor, it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately in case you’re involved in a bus accident. More importantly, the chances of a major injury are higher in case of a bus accident due to the sheer size of this vehicle. If you’ve been involved in a bus accident caused due to a bus driver’s negligence, you’re owed compensation from the at-fault party. However, it is a complicated process, especially as far as identifying the at-fault party is concerned. For example, if your crash involved a city or school bus, then it’s likely that a government entity will be at least partially at fault. This means that there will be additional steps to take when filing your personal injury claim and special time restrictions. Hence, it is recommended you hire a personal injury attorney to help you navigate effectively through these complexities. Moreover, the personal injury lawyer will help you get the most compensation possible by factoring in all the future losses and non-economic damages in addition to your current medical expenses and financial damages. If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus accident due to the driver’s negligence, you need the top injury lawyers, contact Siler & Ingber today. Call us on 1-877-529-4343 or complete our online form on this page to schedule a case evaluation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. Our consultation is free and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.
NYC Bus Accidents On The Rise
A recent spike in bus accidents has left New York City residents on high alert. This past Monday, three people were killed and dozens injured after a charter bus tragically crashed into an MTA bus in Queens. In a notoriously busy intersection, the MTA bus was turning right when the charter bus barreled into its side, forcing the vehicle onto the sidewalk and straight into the front of a restaurant. Less than a week prior, a moped delivery driver was critically injured when colliding with an MTA bus at the intersection of Roosevelt Ave in Queens. The moped driver was sadly struck and dragged by the bus (while also making a right-hand turn) suffering severe head and body trauma. Thankfully, the driver is receiving care and expected to survive. Just a few weeks ago, an MTA driver attempted to exit his bus while on break and was left in critical condition after the bus began to roll. Courageously attempting to hit the emergency break, the driver tried to reenter the bus but was crushed between the vehicle and a pole. Luckily, a fellow MTA driver who happened to witness the freak accident was successful in enacting the emergency break before anyone else was injured. These massive vehicles are no joke. New York City pedestrians more than anyone else must be vigilant when navigating city streets, paying extra caution to densely populated intersections. A staggering 52% of fatalities caused by bus and truck accidents are pedestrians; people who are not even riding in the vehicles. WHAT’S CAUSING THESE ACCIDENTS Thousands of people are injured or killed every year in city bus accidents. Injuries sustained from these accidents can be devastating, ranging from fractures and broken bones to internal bleeding and paralysis. So what is going on with these city buses that is causing an influx of life-altering injuries? The answer: too much! Some of the most common variables increasing bus-related accidents include: -Speeding (particularly through busy intersections) -Driver fatigue -Distracted drivers -Reckless/careless driving practices -Negligence in driving and vehicle maintenance -Overcrowded bus loads -Mechanical and part failures/defectiveness. WHAT TO DO WHEN IN A BUS ACCIDENT Bus accidents are terrifying, and for pedestrians, completely out of their control. As a resident of New York City, the most important actions you can take is to remain observant and informed. MTA drivers operate under specific laws and regulations unique to New York City, so knowing what steps to follow if you are involved in an MTA bus-related accident can be extremely helpful in resolving any harm caused: -Ensure you are in a safe area away from the wreck. -Seek medical attention for any injuries and wounds. -Document all injuries and accident details (including name of driver and bus number involved) -File a police report as soon as possible. -Contact legal representation immediately. Be it inadequate driving or faulty bus maintenance, your health and well-being are always the number one priority. Make sure you always practice defensive walking safety when in the city; never assume any driver is always paying attention. If you or a family member were involved in a bus related accident that caused injury or death, contact Siler & Ingber for a free case evaluation. Call 1-877-718-6079 to speak to one of our attorneys from our winning legal team.