Types of School Bus Accidents
The structure and design of school buses make them relatively safe to transport children, despite the lack of seatbelts and airbags. Seats are padded heavily with shock-absorbing material that can prevent serious injuries if the bus is involved in a collision. But, if enough force and speed are applied, occupants can suffer extensive trauma from the impact. In addition, if the school bus driver is negligent, such as by being intoxicated, distracted, or fatigued, then they can drive the bus off-road or into oncoming traffic.
Accidents and injuries involving school buses can occur in various ways. The four basic types of school bus accidents are:
- School bus collisions with other motor vehicles: Like commercial trucks, school buses are much larger and heavier than the average passenger vehicle. In a collision with a school bus, drivers and passengers of cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, or other vehicles are likely to suffer serious injuries.
- Single vehicle school bus accidents: Not all accidents involve other vehicles, however. Buses can drive off-road into trees, railings, or buildings, or the tires or brakes can malfunction, causing a rollover.
- Pedestrians or bicyclists struck by a school bus: When a pedestrian or cyclist is hit by a school bus, the injuries are likely to be catastrophic or fatal, even at low speeds.
- Accidents involving school bus occupants: School buses are designed to be extremely safe for children, but they can still be injured if the bus is involved in a rollover.
The type of accident you or your child were involved in may drastically change the process for filing a claim. If another vehicle collided with the bus, you may be able to file an auto accident claim against the driver’s liability insurance to recover compensation for your child’s injuries. However, if it is shown that the school bus driver or district was at fault, you would need to file a government claim, which is far more complicated and requires a thorough review by an attorney.
Over $50M Recovered in the Past Seven Years
At the Tenge Law Firm LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.
-
$3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
-
$1,500,000 Tire blowout on I-70 causing serious injuries
-
$1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
-
$1,350,000 Auto accident with orthopedic injuries to foot, ankle, and leg
-
$1,250,000 Wrongful Death
-
$1,250,000 Lower Leg Orthopedic Injury Resulting in Surgery
-
$1,100,000 Construction site accident
-
$1,050,000 Trucking accident with low back injuries
-
$1,025,000 Motorcycle accident resulting in traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injuries
-
$950,000 Car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
-
$750,000 Policy Limits – Low speed auto accident leading to minor stroke
-
$533,000 Trial Verdict - Client hit by airborne patio umbrella with facial scar and concussion.
-
$450,000 Pedestrian hit by car
-
$300,000 Four-car accident resulting in vertebral fracture and facial injuries
-
$200,000 Auto accident with facial injuries
-
$120,000 Slip-and-fall at fast food restaurant
Hundreds of 5-star Reviews. Exceptional Results
-
"Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient"
I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!
- Betty C. -
"Definitely made it a stress-free experience"
Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
- Zitlaly O. -
"Would highly recommend to anyone!!"
Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
- Zack K. -
"They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well."
Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!
- Rachel V. -
"They treated me like family"
Todd, Liz and Nina were amazing. They handled my case very professionally. I recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a great firm. They treated me like family
- Jenn K.
Common Causes of School Bus Accidents
Determining what type of claim you can file will come down to what caused the accident and who was liable. Many different factors can contribute to school bus accidents, but most involve driver error, either on the part of the bus driver or the driver of another vehicle. After an investigation, it may be determined that you or your child’s injuries were caused by:
- Driver distraction
- Driver inexperience
- Intoxication
- Reckless driving such as speeding
- Poor construction and road conditions
- Bus equipment defects
- Weight distribution problems
- Lack of passenger protection
If you work with the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our legal team can thoroughly review you or your child’s medical records, accident report, and witness statements to determine just what caused your injuries and how to hold the responsible party accountable.
-
Reviews
When our clients are happy, they say so. Whether we’re being described for how well we communicate, our responsiveness, or the quality of our service, we’re consistently rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by those we represent.
-
Ratings
As an industry leader in the field of personal injury, we're proud to maintain a superb 10.0 out of 10.0 rating on AVVO.com, have a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and have recently been awarded Client Champion Platinum status from Lawyers.com.
-
Results
In the last ten years, we've recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - You do what you need to do physically recover, and we'll handle the rest.
Liability in School Bus Accidents
As mentioned earlier, your claim may fall into a government claim or an auto accident claim depending on who is liable for the collision. But not all claims are clear cut and there may be multiple parties that are found liable. For example, if a school bus collides with another vehicle, you may be quick to place fault on the school bus driver. However, a thorough investigation may reveal that the driver only lost control because of a mechanical failure. Thus, the fault would lie with whoever was responsible for the repairs and maintenance of the bus, or with the school district for not having the bus serviced. This may ultimately shift the type of claim you can file and the amount of compensation you can receive.
Generally, school bus accidents are the fault of:
- School bus drivers
- School districts who oversee that bus route
- Mechanics or bus manufacturers
In the first two instances—bus drivers and school districts—your claim will be filed against the school district itself. This is because government claims against a specific worker are technically filed against the agency they worked for, which in this case would be the school district.
Deadlines for Filing a Claim Against a Government Worker
One of the key differences between an auto accident and a government claim is the deadline to submit a lawsuit. When you file a claim against a governmental agency in Colorado, you must first file a written claim with the Attorney General or government agency—school district—within 180 days from the date of the school bus accident. You may only file a lawsuit to recover compensation when 90 days have passed, or the agency has denied your claim, whichever comes first.
This contrasts significantly with school bus accidents that are the fault of other drivers. In those cases, you would file a standard auto accident claim, which allows up to three years for your to file. In addition, a government claim is capped at $150,000 for one injured party or $600,000 for two or more people injured in a single accident, whereas an auto accident claim does not have a cap for economic damages. If the accident was with a commercial vehicle, you may be able to file against a higher policy limit.
Why You Need an Attorney
Lawsuits against the government are complex cases with special rules, procedures, and deadlines. If you fail to comply with the legal requirements or miss a filing date, your claim for compensation could be barred. Our lead personal injury lawyer at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, has an extensive history of success filing claims on behalf of Colorado residents and have a thorough understanding of the legal process. We offer a free consultation to every prospective client, so there is no cost to contacting us to discuss your case.
If you or your child has been hurt in a school bus accident, call us at (303) 219-7377 to speak to an experienced Boulder school bus accident attorney and learn what options are available to you.
