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School bus accidents are common

Approximately 1.4 million children ride school buses every day in Texas, one of the busiest states in America. Every year in the U.S., an average of 131 people are killed in school bus accidents, and about 19,000 people are injured. Because school buses are primarily used to carry children, it is our youth who pay the price.

With their size, stability, and slow speeds, school buses are actually rated as one of the safest vehicles on the road. But avoidable accidents still occur, and the impact on the people involved – including the parents and families of children on board – is devastating. One case in Crockett, Texas in May 2005 involved a bus driver who was found to be legally intoxicated after causing a minor accident.

Although there were no injuries in this case, the same was not true of an Alton, Texas accident when 21 students died and 49 were injured. The accident was actually caused by an oncoming truck, but the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that “contributing to the severity of the accident was the lack of a sufficient number of emergency exits on the school bus to accommodate the rapid egress of all 81 students.”

Accidents involving school buses can injury passengers as well as drivers and passengers in other vehicles. Driver error is the most common cause, usually with contributing causes such as fatigue, distraction by passengers, and level of training and experience. Other factors can increase the risk of catastrophic injury and death including flammable seat cushions, lack of working emergency exits, faulty stop sign mechanisms and lights, and most notably lack of seatbelts. Many accidents occur while the bus is loading or unloading, and in fact children are three times more likely to be killed getting on or off the bus than when the bus is in motion.

If you, your child, or a loved one has been injured in a school bus accident, you may have the legal right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost work, and pain and suffering. The personal injury lawyers at Jim S. Adler & Associates can help. We have over 30 years of experience securing large settlements for victims of all types of accidents across Texas. Our attention to detail and our hard line against those people whose negligence has caused you injury will ensure that you get the largest financial support you deserve in this, the time of your most dire need. You can rely on our skill and experience to make sure that your rights are protected.

Contact us right now for a free case review. We'll let you know what your rights are in your case, and how we can help you get full compensation.

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