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Was your child injured in a school bus accident in North Mississippi? Are you wondering if you can file a lawsuit? If someone else was to blame for what happened, you have the right to demand they compensate you for what your child has suffered as a result—including their medical expenses, any wages you’ve lost while caring for your child, and the pain and suffering your child was forced to endure through no fault of their own. Here’s what you need to know about the process and how an experienced school bus accident lawyer can help.
Determining Liability in School Bus Accidents
One of the complicated aspects of school bus accidents is that many different parties could be solely or partially to blame for what happened. Determining who these parties are is key to holding them liable for the consequences of the accident. Depending on the circumstances, at-fault parties could include:
- Bus Driver: As the person most immediately responsible for the safe operation of the bus, the driver may be the person most specifically to blame. Their liability could arise through such negligent behaviors as speeding, becoming distracted, or failing to signal turns.
- The School: If the bus is owned and operated by a school district or a private school, this entity may be held liable for negligence in its maintenance of the truck or its hiring and supervising of its drivers.
- The Bus Company: If the bus is operated by a private company contracted by the school, you can hold this company responsible for inadequate training, improper maintenance, or other negligent acts.
- Maintenance Providers: A company responsible for inspecting and repairing the bus might be liable if a mechanical failure caused by improper maintenance led to an accident.
- The Bus Manufacturer: If a defect in the bus’s design or manufacture contributed to the accident, the manufacturer could be responsible under product liability laws.
- Other Motorists: If the accident involved another vehicle whose driver was at fault, that driver (and their insurer) might also be liable.
The process of determining liability is where an experienced bus accident lawyer can be particularly useful. They know how to thoroughly investigate an accident and work with reconstruction experts to understand what happened and who is to blame for it.
Compensation in School Bus Accidents
If someone else is to blame for the injuries your child suffered in the school bus accident, they could owe you compensation for the many ways your child and your family have been affected. This could include money for the following:
- Medical Expenses: Covers current and future medical bills related to the accident, including hospital stays, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and any other necessary medical treatments
- Rehabilitation Costs: Expenses related to physical or cognitive therapy your child needs to regain skills or abilities impaired by the accident
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical discomfort and emotional distress your child endured
- Special Education Needs: To pay for any special education services your child may require because of their injuries
- Future Earning Capacity: Compensation to offset any impairments to your child’s future ability to earn money and support themselves
- Home or Vehicle Modifications: Costs related to the installation of items like wheelchair ramps or specialized equipment
The Clock Is Already Ticking
All personal injury claims are subject to a deadline set by a statute of limitations, but the timeline becomes especially tight if a government entity like a school district is to blame for your child’s injuries. Under § 11-46-11(3) of the Mississippi Code, you have only one year from the date of your injury to file suit. Moreover, you must file notice of your intent to sue no fewer than 90 days before you bring your lawsuit. Don’t risk losing your right to sue—contact a school bus injury lawyer today.
Contact Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman for Help
If your child’s been injured in a school bus accident, the team with Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman wants to help your family secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation with a school bus accident lawyer in North Mississippi and learn more about your right to file a lawsuit against the at-fault parties.
