School buses are essential in a city like New York, where traffic makes getting thousands of children to school on time difficult. However, as a parent, letting your children out of your sight can be challenging, and hearing that the bus your child rides was involved in an accident can be your worst nightmare. If your child was injured, understanding who can be held liable for school bus accidents is essential to receive damages for medical expenses and emotional damages. The following blog and a New York City car accident lawyer can help you through this process.
Who Can Be Held Liable for School Bus Accidents?
There are several parties that can be held liable for any accidents that occur. Unfortunately, if the collision is caused by the driver of the school bus, they can be held responsible. However, the school district may also be liable if they did not provide the proper training or background check, meaning they can also face a lawsuit.
However, these are not the only people who can be liable. If a mechanical error caused the accident, the manufacturer of the bus and the owner may be responsible. This is because the manufacturer can be liable for any defects that occurred during the production process, while the owner is responsible for maintenance.
Finally, if a third party, such as a negligent driver, caused the collision, they can be liable. For example, if a driver is intoxicated, speeding, or distracted, they can be held responsible for any injuries or damages occurring.
What Injuries Can Occur?
Unfortunately, involvement in an accident can cause a number of damages for all passengers aboard the bus. Injuries caused by auto collisions can include:
- Head injuries, like concussions
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
If My Child Is Hurt, What Can I Do?
If your child was on a bus involved in an accident, understanding what you must do after is essential. When you receive a phone call informing you that your child was injured, the police will likely have a system to help reunite parents and children while taking any children with severe injuries to the hospital.
In the event your child was not taken to a hospital, you must take them to a doctor as soon as possible. Even if they say nothing hurts or they were seen by emergency medical technicians at the scene, you should still have them checked out, as they could be suffering internal injuries. Similarly, some injuries do not present themselves immediately and may go unnoticed.
Finally, you must contact an experienced auto accident attorney as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you risk evidence being lost and memories becoming forgotten. At Mirza Law, we will work tirelessly to help fight for justice when your child is injured due to another party’s negligence. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.