Whenever a vehicle crash occurs, it’s deeply unsettling for everyone involved. And that is especially true of a bus crash that involves a school vehicle. Protecting your child’s health and safeguarding your rights as a parent requires immediate and informed action.
Make Sure Everyone’s Safe and Get Immediate Medical Attention
The top priority after a school bus crash is to ensure everyone’s safety. Direct your child away from any additional traffic hazards. And if there’s a group of kids, make sure that you (or another adult) stay with them to make sure no one wanders into unsafe areas.
Once everyone is away from immediate danger, check your child and others for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away. Even if their injuries seem minor, some, like brain injuries and internal bleeding, are not always immediately obvious.
If your child is unconscious, do not move them unless there’s an immediate danger, like a fire or explosion.
Collect Evidence and Document the Scene
With everyone accounted for and being properly treated (if necessary), you’ll want to document the scene as best as you can to prove what happened during the crash. The evidence you gather can support any legal claims and insurance processes that arise later on.
Take photos of the crash site, ensuring that you include shots of the damage to the bus and surrounding vehicles, as well as any visible injuries. Jot down the exact date and time of the accident, as well as notes on the environment, such as the weather, traffic conditions, and road signs. Videos can also be a big help.
In today’s digital age, your smartphone can be one of your best tools for gathering all of these forms of evidence. Even if you’re feeling overwhelmed with the situation, having visual proof can make a big difference later.
Get Contact Information From Witnesses
Eyewitness accounts will help support the visual evidence that you pull together, and they can give details that prove fault and liability. Ask anyone who saw what happened to make a statement about the situation. And don’t forget to get those individuals’ names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Ask them about what they saw before, during, and after the crash. Additionally, if it is at all possible, ask them to share any photos or videos they might have gotten on their phones or maybe even their doorbell cameras. With all of that information in hand, a bus crash attorney will be able to build a much stronger case.
Contact Authorities and File an Accident Report
As with any vehicle crash, it must be reported immediately to local law enforcement. An official accident report is an important piece of documentation that can serve as evidence later for both legal and insurance claims.
The report will give an objective account of the accident as it’s seen by the responding officers, in addition to listing critical details needed for a personal injury case, including statements from drivers and witnesses, road conditions, traffic violations, and whether any citations or tickets were handed out.
Make sure you obtain a copy of the report as soon as you’re able. Your bus crash lawyer will use it to better understand liability and support your case.
Notify the School District
When a crash involves a school bus, its school district needs to know about the accident as soon as possible. Schools are responsible for ensuring the safety of their students, so they need to know about any accidents with their buses.
You can contact the school’s transportation department directly, or if you don’t know how to reach out to them, you can call the school principal. Give them a summary of the accident, including the date and time, and ask for a written acknowledgment of your report for your records.
Depending on the circumstances, the school district’s liability might come into play, especially if negligence (such as driver misconduct or improper vehicle maintenance) played a part in causing the bus crash.
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer
The legal implications of a school bus crash can be equally confusing and overwhelming. By reaching out to a qualified bus crash attorney, you can make sure you know your rights and options as a victim or as a parent of a child who was involved in such an accident.
A lawyer will be able to help you figure out whether liability lies with the school district, the bus driver, or someone else entirely. They’ll also help you in the following ways:
- Evaluating the circumstances around the crash
- Filing claims against the people responsible for the accident
- Negotiating with insurance companies to ensure you don’t take a lowball settlement offer
Many injuries from a bus crash tend to come with hefty medical expenses, lost time from work for the adults involved, and emotional trauma. An attorney will make sure every factor is accounted for in the settlement so you get the payout you’re entitled to.
FAQ
What Should I Do if My Child Seems Injured After a Bus Crash?
The best thing you can do is get them to the hospital for a proper examination right away. Even if their injuries aren’t visible, they could still be hurt in a way that can cause bigger problems later if they’re not tended to.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Texas typically has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, but acting sooner ensures better evidence preservation and that you don’t miss any deadlines.
Will My Case Go to Court?
Not necessarily, as most personal injury claims settle out of court; however, if a fair agreement can’t be reached, the case could go to trial.
Prioritize Your Family’s Well-Being
If you or your child have been hurt in a crash involving a school bus, reach out to Ramsey Law Group today to schedule a free consultation of your case. We understand the challenges families face in these situations and will fight to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.