Were you or was someone close to you injured in a school bus accident in Georgia?. If so, you could be entitled to compensation for losses including medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. You and your child should not have to suffer unduly because of someone else’s poor decisions.
At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, our Georgia injury attorneys are here to help you demand the recovery you deserve. Continue reading to learn more about school bus accidents in Georgia, and contact our offices today for a free consultation about your case.
School Bus Accident Statistics
Tens of millions of American students rely on school buses to take them to and from school and extracurricular activities every day. And fortunately, most of these bus trips are completely uneventful. Traveling by school bus is the safest option for transporting school children, safer than both walking and riding in a private car to get to school.
While school buses largely have excellent safety records, crashes involving these massive vehicles do occur.
The following statistics from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the National Safety Council (NSC) illustrate just how frequently school bus accidents result in injuries and fatalities:
- In a recent 15-year period, the GAO estimates that 115 fatal school bus crashes occur each year, representing roughly 0.3 percent of all fatal crashes nationwide.
- Based on the GAO’s analysis, school bus drivers were at fault in approximately 27 percent of fatal school bus accident cases during those years.
- Additionally, 72 percent of fatal school bus accidents occurred when bus drivers were transporting school children from home to school or from school to home.
- Among all school bus crash fatalities in a recent 10-year period, roughly 70 percent of those who died were occupants of vehicles other than the school bus.
- Approximately 16 percent of those killed in fatal school bus accidents during that time were pedestrians. Five percent were school bus passengers, another 5 percent were school bus drivers, and 3 percent were cyclists.
- Among those who were injured in school bus crashes during that 10-year period, roughly 54 percent were occupants of other vehicles, 33 percent were school bus passengers, 8 percent were school bus drivers, and the remaining 5 percent were other road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
- Speeding was a factor in 23.5 percent of fatal school bus accidents to occur in one recent year, and driver distraction was a factor in 11.8 percent.
Top Causes of School Bus Accidents in Georgia
Many of the top causes of school bus accidents are the same as the top causes of all other types of motor vehicle accidents. However, school buses are much larger than other vehicles, and bus drivers are held to different standards than other motorists. As a result, there are several common causes that are unique to school bus accidents.
Here are some common contributing factors to school bus accidents in Georgia:
- Distracted driving – Driver distraction is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents in the U.S., and school bus accidents are no exception. School bus drivers may become dangerously distracted while texting, receiving or responding to dispatch communications, or interacting with passengers.
- Driver impairment – Commercial drivers, including school bus drivers, are subject to stricter blood alcohol limits than other Georgia drivers. School bus drivers may be charged with operating under the influence (OWI) if they get behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration of just .04 percent, whether passengers are on board. Unfortunately, some school bus accidents are still caused by school bus drivers who are drunk, high, or otherwise impaired.
- Speeding – Speeding and driving too fast for conditions are common contributing factors in many accidents, including school bus accidents. A fully-loaded school bus traveling at high speeds carries a lot of momentum, which can be devastating if the driver cannot slow down in time to avoid a crash.
- Driver error – School buses are large, complex machines that require special knowledge and experience to operate safely. When bus drivers are inattentive or inexperienced, they can commit grave driving errors that result in serious wrecks.
- Large blind spots – Due to their size, school buses have massive blind spots that can conceal large portions of the road from the driver. If school bus drivers do not compensate for this handicap by monitoring their blind spots constantly, they can strike or even crush smaller vehicles lurking in those blind spots.
- Long stopping distances – The weight and size of a school bus both contribute to incredibly long stopping distances, which make it difficult for bus drivers to slow or stop swiftly. If a bus driver tailgates other vehicles or follows too closely for conditions, these longer stopping distances can prevent the driver from slowing in time to avoid accidents.
- Inadequate maintenance – With more moving parts and more frequent wear and tear, school buses require more in the way of maintenance than the average vehicle. If bus drivers or school districts fail to keep up with bus maintenance needs, defective components or systems may contribute to school bus wrecks.
- School district negligence – The negligence of school districts also contributes to some school bus accidents. For instance, a school district may be at fault if it hired an unqualified school bus driver, failed or refused to properly inspect or maintain buses, or issued unsafe driver dispatch instructions.
How a School Bus Accident Attorney Can Help You
If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a Georgia school bus accident, the experienced attorneys of Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can help you by:
- Answering your questions and evaluating your case in a free strategy session
- Conducting an independent investigation into the school bus accident
- Identifying liable parties and obtaining valuable evidence for your claim
- Interviewing eyewitnesses and experts for useful supporting testimony
- Communicating with school districts and other parties on your behalf
- Managing important case documents and filing deadlines on your behalf
- Negotiating aggressively every step of the way to maximize your settlement
Contact an Experienced School Bus Accident Lawyer Today
When you need help in the aftermath of a school bus accident, do not hesitate to get in touch with Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC. You can discuss the details of your case with a school bus accident lawyer when you contact our firm for a free initial case review.
