What makes school bus accidents different?
If your child is injured while riding the school bus, you may want to consider hiring a top school bus accident lawyer Montgomery County MD can provide. When you send your child off to school on a bus, you have certain expectations about their safety. The attorneys at Cohen & Cohen are all too aware that those expectations are not always met. When accidents occur, your family deserves to be compensated for your child’s medical bills and other costs.
In addition to collisions, your child may become injured in other ways involving a school bus. A bus accident lawyer Montgomery County MD respects might be of benefit to you if any of the following scenarios caused harm to your child:
- Improper safety precautions prior to a student’s boarding, i.e. not illuminating the stop/hazard lights, not extending a stop sign warning oncoming traffic, etc;
- Distracted driving leading to excessive braking or negligent maneuvering causing the passengers harm;
- Failure to notice debris or hazards in the aisle which later causes your child to slip and fall, resulting in injury.
Injuries may be mild or severe, and in some cases, even fatal. These are common injuries suffered in school bus accidents:
- Cuts, scars, and bruising
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burns
- Brain and spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Fractured bones
- Internal injuries
Many bus accidents are avoidable and are caused due to someone’s negligence. An experienced bus accident lawyer can determine which parties were responsible for the accident and pursue justice for the victim or victims.
Holding Those Responsible to a Higher Standard
Individuals and entities involved in transporting children to and from school are held to a higher safety standard than other drivers on the road. There are licensing and training requirements a bus driver must achieve, as well as extra mandatory regulations they are required to follow while operating a school bus. These regulations are instituted to ensure a safer commute to and from school, and when they are not adhered to, the consequences can be costly.
Who Can Be Held Responsible?
When it comes to determining who is responsible for a school bus accident, it can quickly become complicated. Depending on how the accident occurred, several people and entities may be liable for damages and injuries resulting from the accident. The statute of limitations may be different for the various responsible parties depending on if they are government or private. A bus accident lawyer in Montgomery County MD respects can determine how the statute of limitations will affect your case. Any of the below entities may be held liable, depending on the cause of the school bus accident:
- School bus driver.
- School district officials and/or administrators.
- The company responsible for maintaining and repairing the school bus.
- The school bus parts manufacturer.
- Organization, private school, or church that owns and operates the school bus.
- Drivers of additional vehicles involved in the accident.
- Government or private entity that designed, built, or maintains the road where the accident occurred.
School bus accident litigation can be complicated and emotional, especially for the parents. There may be more than one bus accident lawyer Montgomery County MD families hire if there are multiple accident victims and lawsuits involved. This can further complicate the legal process as each attorney will want access to the same evidence and accident scene. But at Cohen & Cohen, we have dedicated our lives to taking on those complexities on your behalf, and fighting for the compensation you deserve.
When You Need a School Bus Accident Lawyer Montgomery County MD Recommends
Cohen & Cohen has a wealth of experience handling even the most difficult and complex personal injury cases. Our lawyers work hard to resolve cases quickly and to settle out of court whenever possible. A fair settlement is usually advantageous because court cases can drag on over a period of years and result in much higher costs for the plaintiff.
If your child was fatally injured, or suffered lifelong injuries, pursuing a lawsuit or negotiating a settlement may be best handled by an experienced attorney who has your best interests in mind. Cohen & Cohen has successfully represented thousands of personal injury victims of vehicle accidents. Our attorneys can negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf or take your case to trial if that becomes necessary.
Recover Compensation for Damages from a School Bus Accident
A bus accident lawyer Montgomery County MD families turn to for help can offer more information specific to your case, but you may be able to recover compensation for the following damages if they apply:
- Ambulance fees.
- Past and future medical expenses.
- Physical rehabilitation treatments.
- Home healthcare.
- Current and future lost income.
- Specialized health care equipment for the home.
- Home renovations to accommodate injuries or disabilities.
- Physical disability and disfigurement.
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Mental suffering.
- Loss or diminishment of quality of life.
When you meet with an attorney from Cohen & Cohen, bring your receipts and documentation of any accident-related costs that you have already paid, even if it was covered by your insurance company. If you have notes or documentation from your child’s physician or surgeon regarding a treatment plan, bring those as well. The more information you can provide, the better. It may help your attorney determine the amounts and kinds of damages that should be included for your claim.
It can be challenging to anticipate future medical costs and other damages, but the attorneys of Cohen & Cohen are highly experienced in personal injury cases. They will make every effort to recover the maximum amount for your damages.
Choosing a Montgomery County MD Bus Accident Lawyer
School bus accidents are different from other vehicular accidents. Maybe the biggest difference is that children are in school buses and the expectation is that they should be safe while riding them. Finding the right bus accident lawyer Montgomery County MD has to offer is important. Your medical and other costs resulting from the accident should be covered by those responsible. Cohen & Cohen can pursue justice for you and your child by recovering compensation. Call Cohen & Cohen today at (703) 548-4529 to speak with a bus accident lawyer Montgomery County MD is proud to call their own.
