Blog

Home»Personal Injury»Preventing School Bus Accidents

Preventing School Bus Accidents

As each new school year begins, there are concerns for school bus safety. At the start of the 2014-2015 school year, there were three bus accidents reported in the news within a week of each other, highlighting the importance of safety.

School bus safety is a team effort between the school, parents, children and drivers. It is important for proper training courses to teach children the rules of the road and safety at the bus stop, in addition to reinforcement from parents. The personal injury lawyers at Contrada & Associates believe that a major effort that can help in the prevention of school bus accidents is for children to attend the local ‘Safety City’ program as they enter elementary school.

Most of the suburbs surrounding Toledo have their own version of Safety City.

Safety City Programs Prevent Child Accidents

While parents begin to teach their children the importance of safety prior to their entering kindergarten, Safety City is a way to reinforce that teaching and add a real-life scenario to it.

The Toledo Police Department runs a ‘Safe-T-City program for those children entering kindergarten that includes classroom instructions, as well as hands-on learning. The miniature city is complete with sidewalks, buildings, traffic lights, and stop signs. We believe that this an essential program for all children as they will be navigating to the bus stop on a daily basis.

School Bus Safety Tips for Parents

Parents can also greatly impact their child’s safety at the bus stop by sharing the below tips with them:

  • Always use the sidewalk when walking to the bus stop
  • When crossing the street, look left, right, then left again
  • Only board the bus when the red lights are flashing
  • Do not run when boarding the bus – always walk
  • Do not re-board the bus if an item is left on it – the bus driver may not see you

School Bus Accidents

Although parents and children can prepare for school bus safety, there are times when accidents happen regardless of the preparation. These accidents could be a result of many things, such as:

  • Faulty school bus parts
  • School bus driver mistake
  • Improper safety training
  • Driver error

If your child has been involved in a school bus accident and suffered injuries as a result, it is crucial to seek the guidance of an experienced child accident lawyer. Accidents of this nature may not only cause physical injury to a child, but also emotional trauma. Having a lawyer working on behalf of your child is essential to receiving the settlement that is deserved.

To speak to one of the child accident lawyers at Contrada & Associates, call 419.841.4400. We have helped countless families through similar child accident cases, going through the legal process with the child’s best interest in mind.

Written by

Attorney Charlie Contrada has been practicing law since 1979, focusing his career on personal injury, car accident, and mesothelioma cases. Over the years, Charlie has helped thousands of clients throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan to receive the settlements that they deserve.

Leave a Comment