When you send your child off to school on a bus, you trust the bus driver and other drivers to act responsibly and ensure your child stays safe. More than that, you expect that school bus drivers who are entrusted with the safety of children put your child’s safety ahead of anything else.
Unfortunately, accidents happen, often leaving the bus driver, passengers, and others injured. If you or your child suffered injuries in a school bus accident, it can be challenging to know who’s responsible because multiple parties may be involved. Although the overwhelming majority of school bus drivers are well trained and responsible, lapses in judgment and mistakes happen. With the help of the experienced lawyers at Jassim Law, you can better understand whose negligence caused your injuries.
When a school bus accident occurs, the party ultimately responsible is likely to be the school district. Beyond the district, bus manufacturers, maintenance companies, government entities, property owners, and bus drivers are involved in ensuring the safety of passengers. Determining liability is often complicated, and requires looking at the specifics of each case. Accidents involving school buses involve many facets, for example the proper pick up and drop off location of students, and other factors that may lead to an accident. At Jassim Law, we consider every detail and conduct a thorough investigation to identify the liable parties involved and fight for your rights.
Our trusted team understands the intricacies of school bus injury cases, from investigating negligence to identifying liable entities. Attorney Pajman Jassim, a SuperLawyer since 2017, brings extensive legal experience to help families seek justice and create safer communities for everyone. Our unmatched comprehensive legal services have garnered countless positive reviews that speak for themselves. This commitment to excellence and justice gives you the best chance of holding the at-fault party liable and achieving maximum compensation.
Who Could Be Responsible for a California School Bus Injury?
With 23.5 million children taking the bus to and from school and school-related activities nationwide, many families rely on this system to transport their children safely. If a bus accident causes you or your child harm, our experienced lawyers at Jassim Law can help you determine who is liable. Depending on the specific details of your case, one or more of the following parties may be responsible for a school bus injury:
Bus Driver
Bus drivers are held to a higher standard of care when driving because they are responsible for passenger safety. If a bus driver breaches this duty of care by violating traffic laws, driving recklessly, driving while distracted, or driving under the influence, they may be responsible for putting passengers in danger and causing injuries.
Additionally, California VEH § 22112 outlines required safety protocols for school bus drivers, including turning on red lights and the red stop sign arm when children leave and enter the bus and escorting students across roads with a handheld stop sign. Failing to follow these safety requirements could mean the driver is responsible for your injuries.
School District
Bus drivers typically work for a school district that owns the buses used to transport students. This means they may be legally responsible for school bus injuries as the driver’s employer. The district may be directly responsible for a school bus injury if it fails to give bus drivers proper training, fails to conduct routine maintenance on school buses, or neglects its duty of care as a school district.
Manufacturer
School bus manufacturers are responsible for ensuring all parts of the vehicle work properly. Therefore, if a defective part of the school bus, such as faulty brakes, roof failures, electrical problems, and stop arm malfunctions, causes an injury, the manufacturer may be liable for your losses.
Maintenance Company
Many school districts use a third-party company to maintain their buses. If this maintenance company does not identify a problem they should have noticed or does not address an issue the school district requested they fix, they may be responsible for school bus injuries their negligence caused.
Another Driver
Bus drivers are not always responsible for school bus accidents. Other motorists also must drive responsibly and safely, so if they breach this duty, they may be liable for school bus injuries. For example, a driver may cause an accident with a school bus and its passengers by running a red light or passing a stopped school bus.
Government Entity or Property Owner
Government entities and property owners are responsible for maintaining their roads and keeping them safe for drivers. If poor road conditions caused a school bus accident and injuries, the government entity or property owner may be liable for damages.
At Jassim Law, we conduct a detailed investigation, gathering evidence like medical records, police reports, witness testimony, and surveillance footage to identify a liable party and prove their negligence directly caused your injuries. Acting quickly is crucial to pursuing justice in California school bus injury cases, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us as soon as you are well enough to pick up the phone.
Contact the Trusted California School Bus Injury Lawyers at Jassim Law Today
At Jassim Law, we understand how devastating school bus injuries can be for your family. Whether it’s holding a bus driver accountable for negligence, investigating maintenance failures, or uncovering unsafe road conditions, we are prepared to take on your claim and provide the exceptional services you deserve. Our team provides thorough, compassionate support while building a strong case on your behalf.
Attorney Pajman Jassim’s consistent recognition as a SuperLawyer since 2017 reflects our dedication to justice for families across California. Reach out to us today to take the first step toward seeking accountability for those responsible. Fill out our contact form or call us at (858) 524-6140 to schedule a free consultation.
