School Bus Accidents
An average of 19 school children die in school transportation-related traffic crashes each year in the United States according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On average, five of those 19 victims are occupants of school transportation vehicles and 14 are pedestrians. Thousands more are injured badly enough to require emergency room medical care.In Washington, Western States School Bus Safety Commission, the school bus advisory council, adopts school bus regulations. The commission’s main goal is to establish uniform rules to ensure the safety of school bus passengers and minimize school bus crashes.
A school bus related crash is a crash which involves, either directly or indirectly, a school bus type vehicle, or a vehicle functioning as a school bus transporting children to or from school or school related activities. Since 1995, there have been about 416,295 fatal traffic crashes. Of those, 0.33 percent (1,368) were classified as school transportation related. Since 1995, 1,509 people have died in school transportation related crashes - an average of 137 fatalities per year. Most of the people who lost their lives in those crashes (70%) were occupants of other vehicles involved. Nonoccupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) accounted for 22 percent of the deaths, and the occupants of school transportation vehicles accounted for 8 percent.
In all school bus accident cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the accident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate any injuries. If you or a loved one is a victim of a school bus accident, call Crary, Clark & Domanico now at (509) 926-4900 or Click Here to Submit a Simple Case Form. The initial consultation is free of charge, and, if we agree to accept your case, we will begin work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don’t delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitation expires.