A previous post here discussed school bus safety and how this is addressed for students in Massachusetts and elsewhere. While several measures have been taken to increase the safety of children riding the school bus to and from school, making it presumably a safer mode of transportation than a passenger vehicle, school bus accidents can still occur. Whether it is due to the negligence of the bus driver or the negligence of another driver, when a school bus is involved in a collision several victims could be involved.
Authorities in Massachusetts were recently dispatched to a school bus accident in New Bedford, which resulted in a few injured students. According to preliminary reports, the bus was transporting 27 students at the time of the crash. The crash occurred near the intersection of Illinois Avenue and Tarkin Hill Road around 2:47 p.m., when a pick-up truck collided with the school bus.
Emergency and fire crews responded to the collision. While the crash has been called minor and did not result in any serious injuries, two or three students were transported to the hospital for injuries suffered in the accident. The remaining students were transferred to another bus and transported to the hospital to be checked out as a precaution.
The accident is still under investigation and no charges were filed initially. Once the investigation is complete, the cause of the crash could be determined. Whether one or both drivers were at fault, an injured victim in the school bus accident could hold the negligent driver or drivers liable.
A personal injury lawsuit could help a victim obtain compensation for losses and damages. Compensation could be used to cover expenses such as medical bills, pain and suffering, rehabilitation and other related damages. Those injured in a bus accident should understand what options are available.
Source: Southcoasttoday.com, “Children sent to hospital after minor school bus accident in New Bedford,” Auditi Gua and Curt Brown, Sept. 29, 2015
