School Bus Accident Injures One

It’s that time of the year again – back to school. With the start of school, we typically see more traffic on our morning and evening commutes as everyone tries to get where they need to be during those times. One of the biggest changes in traffic is the addition of school buses into the mix. Unfortunately, we also start to see accidents involving school buses, such as one that occurred in Miami-Dade County one recent afternoon. Authorities report that none of the students who were on the bus at the time of the accident were injured, but the driver of the car that hit the bus and ended up pinned underneath. The driver remained trapped until officials were able to get them free; they were then transported to the hospital for their injuries.

When Accidents Occur, School Bus Riders Fare Better Than Passenger Vehicle Occupants

As in the Miami-Dade school bus accident, many times in accidents involving school buses and passenger cars and trucks, the occupants of the smaller passenger vehicles are injured more frequently than those in the buses themselves. School bus accidents are fairly rare, and few students are killed in crashes involving school buses. On average, fewer than eleven bus passengers and/or drivers have been killed each year as a result of accidents. Considering the total miles that buses collectively drive each year, it is thankfully surprising that accident and student death numbers remain as low as they do.

Seat Belts For Students

School buses are, overall, the safest way for students to get back and forth to school. They are designed to be safer than other passenger vehicles and to prevent injuries. Interestingly, though, in general passengers on school buses do not wear seat belts and, in fact, most buses do not even have these safety features. Given the push to make sure everyone on the road wears a seat belt, this is surprising and likely to change at some point. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently recommended that safety belts be installed on school buses in an effort to make school buses even more safe. Some states and districts are beginning to move towards making seat belt usage on school buses not only possible, but required. In the meantime, until school buses are equipped with seat belts, we can only hope that accident rates continue to be low and deaths as a result of those few accidents continue to be rare.

We Can Help You Today

If you have been involved in an accident, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. Facing an unfamiliar legal system is something that can be daunting, but when you contact Boone & Davis you can rest assured that you have made the right choice. Our Fort Lauderdale auto accident attorneys have experience with all types of accident cases and will advocate for your rights from start to finish. Take action now to pursue the relief you are entitled to receive. Contact our office online or call us at 954.556.5260 to schedule your appointment today.

Resources:

http://www.local10.com/traffic/car-gets-pinned-under-school-bus-in-miami-dade-county

http://www.nhtsa.gov/School-Buses