San Diego School Bus Accident Injures 23 Students
At least 23 school children sustained injuries in a bus accident involving two school buses ferrying students from the same school to a field trip. Two adults were also injured in the crash on the northbound San Diego freeway.
The buses were transporting children of Lennox Middle School to the La Brea Tar Pits. At some point, the traffic slowed down, and the first bus too decelerated. The second bus couldn’t stop in time, and it rear-ended the first vehicle. The impact of the crash caused bruises and pains to the children in the two buses, as well as the adults who were accompanying them. In all, twenty three children have sustained injuries. Some of them complained of severe neck and back pain. These students were secured to back boards to prevent further injuries, and were transported to local hospitals. The two bus drivers were checked for alcohol and drug use, but seem to have been given a clean bill of health.
The two buses were reportedly traveling at between 50 to 55 mph at the time of the bus crash. Investigations are still ongoing, and we will have more information on the cause of the accident in the weeks ahead, but for now it does seem as if the second driver was following too close to the first bus, and couldn’t stop in time to avoid a crash. Personal injury litigation in a bus accident will have to involve looking into all parties who may bear some amount of responsibility in the accident, and holding them accountable.
Any probe will have to look into the speed of the two buses, especially the second bus. Both buses were operated by Durham School Services, and investigations will have to look into the condition of the buses at the time of the accident. Often, bus accidents are the result of poor maintenance of buses. These are large vehicles that are required to travel long distances carrying loads of passengers, and are therefore, more prone to wear and tear than a car. When you’re talking about a mode of public transport that is responsible for caring hundreds of passengers safely to their destinations every day, it’s necessary to make sure that tires, brakes, lights and steering mechanisms as well as other parts are all in perfect condition, and are not worn out. In case the maintenance of the bus was contracted out to a third party company, as sometimes happens, then these companies can be held liable for any injuries arising out of a bus accident. The operating company also has the responsibility to make sure that its vehicles are only operated by trained drivers, who pass all drug and alcohol testing. A poorly trained, ill-equipped driver who has a criminal record or a background of alcohol or drug abuse is hardly someone that passengers are safe with. If the bus was operated by a school, then the school board too can be held liable in the event of an accident. These are all aspects that will have to be looked into. All these matters can be addressed only by an experienced California bus accident lawyer.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of bus accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.
