What to Do if Your Child Is Injured in a School Bus Accident
Statistics show that children are at a lower risk of suffering injuries on a school bus compared to being driven to school in a car. However, this does not mean that school bus accidents don’t happen in Los Angeles.
If you find out that your child was injured in a school bus accident, either while riding on the bus or as a pedestrian, it is essential to understand your family’s legal rights. Getting in contact with a bus accident attorney in Los Angeles can help you find out if you are eligible for financial compensation for your losses.
Take Your Child in for Medical Care
The first thing you should do is to ensure that your child gets professional medical care. Always take your child in for a checkup in an emergency room or with his or her regular pediatrician after a school bus accident.
Even if your child doesn’t exhibit immediate injury symptoms, he or she could have a serious hidden injury. Prompt medical care can quickly diagnose any injuries so that treatment and healing can begin.
Collect Information and Evidence
The more you know about the school bus accident, the easier it will be to identify the at-fault party and take action in pursuit of justice. Do what you can to collect information and evidence in the aftermath of the bus accident. This may include:
- An accident report from the school or police
- The school bus driver’s name
- The bus number and route information
- Photos of the crash scene
- Surveillance or dashcam footage of the bus accident
- Contact information or statements from witnesses
You can gather information by contacting the school, the Los Angeles Unified School District or the Los Angeles Police Department. You can also contact a bus accident attorney for assistance with evidence preservation and collection.
Exchange Stories With Other Parents
Communicate with the parents of other students involved in the school bus accident. Their children may have different versions of events to add to the record. A parent may have also witnessed the school bus accident or been on the bus at the time of the crash. Gathering information from other parents can help you present the strongest injury case possible.
Document Your Child’s Recovery
Document everything while your child recovers from his or her injuries. If you plan on filing an injury claim against the school, the government, the bus maintenance crew, another driver or a third party for causing the bus accident, you will need strong documentation of your child’s injuries. This includes medical documents and hospital records, photos of your child’s injuries as they heal, and a diary of how your child feels (pain and suffering) day-to-day.
Don’t Accept a Settlement Without Talking to an Attorney
School bus accidents are often caused by negligence, or someone’s failure to use proper care. Common examples include careless and reckless bus driver mistakes, poor bus driver hiring and training practices by the school, and inadequate school bus maintenance.
Proof of negligence and the damages you suffered (e.g., your child’s medical bills, future care needs, and pain and suffering) could form the foundation of a personal injury claim in Los Angeles, CA. If you are contacted by the school’s insurance provider and offered a quick settlement, don’t accept it before consulting with a bus accident attorney. Your child’s case may be worth more than the initial offer. Do not give the insurance company a recorded statement about the accident or your child’s injuries. Instead, contact an attorney in Los Angeles for legal assistance and advice. A lawyer can take over communications with an insurance claims adjuster on your family’s behalf to fight for justice and maximum compensation.