School Bus Accident Lawyer Des Moines IA

If your child was injured in a school bus accident, you may want to speak to a school bus accident lawyer Des Moines, Iowa residents trust. At Des Moines Injury Law, we have helped individuals just like yourself get justice. Our lawyers fight hard to get our clients the compensation they deserve.

Who Is Held Responsible for School Bus Accidents?

In most school bus accident cases a school bus accident lawyer in Des Moines IA deals with, it is the driver who is held responsible. However, sometimes other entities are found liable, such as:

• School district;
• Private school;
• Driver of another vehicle;
• Bus manufacturer;
• Parts manufacturer; and
• Third party contracted to repair school bus.

Common Causes of School Bus Accidents

School bus accidents are pretty rare, but they still happen from time to time, as a school bus accident lawyer Des Moines IA locals respect can attest. Let’s take a look at some of the common causes of school bus accidents:

• Driver Distraction: School bus drivers are driving with many children, which can be a distraction. These children may talk loudly or run around, causing a school bus driver to lose focus of the road ahead. If a school bus driver isn’t completely focused on the road, he or she can cause an accident.
• Mechanical Errors: A school bus accident lawyer Des Moines IA residents rely on has also seen school bus accidents that result from mechanical errors. If a school bus isn’t properly maintained, something can go wrong on the road and lead to an accident.
• Driver Fatigue: If a school bus driver has not gotten enough rest the night before, he or she may have trouble focusing on the road. This can put the children on the bus and everyone else on the road in danger. It is important for school bus drivers to get eight hours of sleep every night so that they are ready to drive the school bus the next day.
• Other Drivers: Even if a school bus driver does everything right, accidents can still happen. There are many other drivers on the road and some of them might not be as careful. Other drivers may speed, talk on their cell phones, or even drive drunk.

Getting Compensation in a School Bus Accident Case

If your child was in a school bus accident and got hurt, you probably feel overwhelmed. You hate to see your child in pain and are angry that this accident happened. This can be an extremely trying time, and it’s often helpful to face these things with the help of professionals. If you file a lawsuit with the help of a Des Moines school bus accident lawyer, you may be able to get compensated for your child’s medical bills.

A school bus accident lawyer Des Moines IA locals depend on may help you gather important evidence, identify witnesses and negotiate with insurance companies. You don’t have to go through this alone.

If you are looking for a school bus accident lawyer Des Moines IA offers, contact Des Moines Injury Law today.

School Bus Accident Data

Fortunately, fatal school bus accidents remain rare across the nation. Between 2005 and 2014, 106 people riding in or driving school buses were killed nationwide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a database of all traffic fatalities.

On average, about 134 people die in school-vehicle-related crashes each year. Of those, 8% are riding in the buses. Pedestrians, bicyclists and others outside the bus account for 21% of fatalities. By far the most fatalities — nearly three-fourths — are people in other vehicles.

A school bus accident lawyer in Des Moines IA understands that for many people, driving behind a school bus is every late commuter’s dread. And although most drivers take extra care to come to a complete stop, watch for children, and use caution, accidents are still all too common.

Each year, an average of 137 people are killed in school transportation-related crashes, and hundreds more are injured. When it comes to school bus safety, the safest place to be is actually on the bus. Motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, make up 93% of the fatalities in these types of accidents each year.

A school-transportation-related crash is a crash that involves, either directly or indirectly, a school bus body vehicle, or a non-school bus functioning as a school bus, transporting children to or from school or school-related activities. Each Des Moines IA school bus accident attorney from our firm has extensive experience handling these cases. 

School Bus Accident Attorney

An experienced Des Moines IA school bus accident attorney is well prepared to take on your case and offers a reasonable chance of a positive outcome with damages for compensation.

The Need is Obvious

From 2007 to 2016 there were 320,874 fatal motor vehicle crashes. Of those crashes, 1,147 (0.4%) were classified as school-transportation-related.

Between 2007 and 2016, there have been 1,282 people killed in school-transportation-related crashes—an average of 128 fatalities per year. Occupants of school transportation vehicles accounted for 9 percent of the fatalities, and nonoccupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) accounted for 20 percent of the fatalities. Most (70%) of the people who lost their lives in these crashes were occupants of other vehicles involved.

From 2007 to 2016, 98 school-age pedestrians (18 and younger) have died in school-transportation- related crashes. Sixty percent were struck by school buses, 2 percent by vehicles functioning as school buses, and 38 percent by other vehicles (passenger cars, light trucks and vans, large trucks, and motorcycles, etc.) involved in the crashes.

The school bus is the safest vehicle on the road — your child is much safer taking a bus to and from school than traveling by car. Although four to six school-age children die each year on school transportation vehicles, that’s less than one percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide. NHTSA believes school buses should be as safe as possible. That’s why our safety standards for school buses are above and beyond those for regular buses.

Has Your Child Been Injured?

Although these vehicles are considered the safest vehicles on the road, accidents still happen. If your child has been injured, call Des Moines Injury Law  to schedule a free consultation with a school bus accident lawyer Des Moines IA families trust.