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What is the School Bus Danger Zone?

North County Injury Lawyers — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:52:00 GMT

Whether your child attends a school in San Marcos or a nearby area in San Diego County, you may already be aware of various safety risks that often impact kids who ride or are waiting for school buses, as well as those who are regular pedestrians in areas where school buses drive. While school-age pedestrians are at greater risk of injury around school bus pick-up areas and in school zones than other pedestrians, it is also important to know about specific risks associated with the area immediately around a school bus itself. Researchers often point to the hazards children face while waiting for a school bus, but there is also something known as a “danger zone” around the school bus where collisions are most likely to occur.

What do you need to know about the danger zone? And what should you do if your child is injured in a school bus accident?

The School Bus “Danger Zone”

The school bus “danger zone” is a more commonly and widely understood phrase than you might think. It is used across states, cities, and towns in relation to school bus hazards and areas where injuries are common. So, what is it?

According to the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the school bus danger zone “is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of being hit, either by another vehicle or their own bus.” The DMV clarifies that this zone is relatively large, often extending out by 30 feet from the school bus front bumper (although the initial 12-foot area extending from the bumper is the most dangerous), 12 feet on either side, and another 12 feet from the rear bumper. In terms of sides, the left side is more dangerous than the right side.

Who is Liable for a School Bus Injury?

Liability in a school bus accident is not always straightforward. Even in cases where a bus driver’s negligence causes an injury, not only can the bus driver be liable, but the school district will likely be liable, as well. Parties who are commonly liable in school bus accidents include but are not limited to:

School bus drivers;
School district;
Mechanic who worked on the school bus;
Motorist driving near the school bus; and/or
Designer or manufacturer of the school bus or one of its components.

As the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles underscores, the school bus danger zone is not only defined as such because a child can be struck and injured by a school bus. These are also areas where other motorists driving nearby or passing a bus can be involved in a collision. Thus, while the school district may be liable for a range of injuries that occur on or around a school bus, other parties may also bear responsibility. It is important to have a lawyer assess your case to determine which party or parties you could be eligible to name in a civil lawsuit.

Contact a San Marcos Personal Injury Lawyer for Assistance

Nobody expects their child to be seriously injured in an accident involving a school bus. And while these types of collisions are certainly less common than other kinds of motor vehicle crashes and pedestrian accidents, they do happen. The best way to avoid injuries is to ensure that you understand the hazards and help your child to understand them, as well. If a collision does occur, it is important to work with an experienced San Marcos school bus accident attorney to identify the liable party or parties and to begin working on a claim for compensation. Contact the Walton Law Firm to find out more about filing a bus accident claim.

See Related Blog Posts:

Common Causes of Pedestrian Fatalities in Oceanside

School Bus Accident Lawyer in Vista

Who is Responsible for a School Bus Accident in Oceanside?

North County Injury Lawyers — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 14:53:06 GMT

When your child rides a bus to school, or when your child walks or cycles to school and is around buses, it is essential that those school buses take necessary precautions to avoid a serious or fatal school bus accident. Although severe school bus accidents are relatively rare, they can happen. If your child sustains serious injuries in a school bus accident, it will be important to speak with an Oceanside bus accident lawyer to determine who may be liable for your child’s injuries, and accordingly, who you might be able to sue in a school bus accident lawsuit.

Since every case has its own set of facts, there is no constant answer when it comes to school bus accident liability, but the following parties could be at fault for your child’s injuries depending upon the specific facts surrounding the collision.

School Bus Driver

Driver error is a major cause of traffic collisions, including school bus accidents. There are many ways in which a school bus driver’s error can cause a wreck, including, for example, distracted driving, aggressive driving, drowsy driving, or drunk driving. If a school bus driver is negligent and causes a crash, that school bus driver may be responsible for injuries.

School District That Employs the Bus Driver

When a bus driver’s negligence causes a school bus accident, not only can that driver be liable, but the school or school district that employs the bus driver may also be responsible for any resulting injuries.

Motorist Who Did Not Stop for the Bus

Another driver on the road—other than the school bus driver—can behave in a negligent manner and cause a collision with a school bus or a collision with a child who is getting onto or off a school bus.

Cyclist or Pedestrian Crossing in Front of the Bus

Sometimes a cyclist or a pedestrian can cross in front of a bus unexpectedly and at an area where crossing is inappropriate. If this happens, the school bus driver may attempt to come to a very quick stop to avoid a collision with the cyclist or pedestrian, and children on the school bus could suffer injuries as a result of the unexpected and fast braking.

Designer or Manufacturer of the Bus

Sometimes serious bus accidents happen because of a design or manufacturing defect in the bus or one of its parts. For example, if X. Under California law, designers, manufacturers, and marketers of defective products can be strictly liable for injuries, making it easier for injury victims to obtain the financial compensation they need and deserve.

Seek Advice From an Oceanside Bus Accident Lawyer

School bus crashes can be truly devastating, especially when the collision results from another party’s negligence. We know how important it is to hold an at-fault driver accountable for the serious injuries they have caused. If your child was injured in a bus collision, one of our experienced Oceanside bus accident attorneys can speak with you today about your options for filing a claim for financial compensation. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about how we can help you.

California Jury Rules on Fatal Bus Crash

North County Injury Lawyers — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 22:24:13 GMT

Back in 2010, a deadly bus accident in Fresno resulted in the death of six people, including the bus driver and two passengers. According to a recent article in the Fresno Bee, a jury just decided in favor of Greyhound Lines, Inc. in a lawsuit related to the case, prompting the newspaper to report that, “this time, Goliath won.”

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed By Victims’ Families

Sylvia Garay, Vanessa Gonzalez, and Stephanie Cordoba were among the victims killed in the deadly bus crash on Highway 99. The victims sustained fatal injuries “when a streaking bus plowed into” their SUV. Their families filed a wrongful death claim in Fresno County Superior Court, but the jury voted 10-2 in favor of Greyhound Lines, Inc. Reports indicate that the jury deliberated “less than three hours after a six-week trial, then left without speaking to attorneys in the case.”

The families had sought at least $6 million from Greyhound, but given that the jury found in favor of the bus company, the families of the deceased victims will not receive any financial compensation. Prior to the outcome of this case, Greyhound reportedly “spent more than $3 million to settle with the two dozen injured bus passengers,” as well as the families of two of the bus passengers who sustained fatal injuries. However, Greyhound didn’t offer any compensation to the families of the young women who had been passengers in the SUV that was struck by the bus.

What evidence existed in favor of the plaintiffs? According to the article in the Fresno Bee, the bus driver, James Jewett, caused the accident by driving aggressively. Indeed, the plaintiffs’ attorney argued that “the evidence clearly showed he was speeding in the fast lane and wasn’t wearing his eyeglasses when he slammed into the overturned SUV.” In other words, the SUV had already overturned when the bus crashed into it. The plaintiffs also presented evidence that “Greyhound’s own mechanics said Jewett’s bus had bad brakes, but supervisors wanted the bus on the road.”

Contradictory Evidence from the Defense

Why would the jury decide in favor of the defense if Greyhound didn’t properly maintain its bus and if the Greyhound driver hadn’t been obeying the rules of the road when the accident took place? The defense relied on information supplied by the California Highway Patrol, which “blamed the deadly crash on Garay, saying she was drunk when she overturned the SUV.”

In addition, the California Highway Patrol indicated that Jewett had in fact been wearing his glasses and, even with them on, he “couldn’t see the dark undercarriage of the SUV.” The defense also presented evidence showing that Jewett had been driving Greyhound buses for 32 years and maintained a clean driving record.

While it can be difficult to prove that a big company is liable for injuries in an accident, it is important to seek compensation when you have been injured because of another person’s negligence. Bus accidents often result in serious and fatal injuries. If you or someone you love has recently been injured in a bus crash, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced San Diego bus accident lawyer at the Walton Law Firm today to learn more about how we can assist with your case.

Photo Credit: Jasperdo via Compfight cc See Related Blog Posts: School Bus Safety in California California Bus Crash Report

School Bus Safety in California

North County Injury Lawyers — Fri, 02 May 2014 16:00:06 GMT

School Bus Accident in Anaheim Hills Increases Safety Concerns

Are children safe when they board a school bus headed toward home after a long day in the classroom? With news of the deadly school bus crash involving a FedEx truck, it’s not surprising that parents would be more concerned about school bus safety. But a recent bus accident in the Anaheim Hills isn’t doing much to allay concerns.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the bus accident in the Anaheim Hills left six people injured. The school bus had been carrying a total of 12 people, including the driver and 11 middle-school students, from an after-school activity at El Rancho Charter School. Residents of the Anaheim Hills could hear students screaming for help just moments after the accident, and according to the news story, many “Good Samaritans rushed to free them from the wrecked vehicle.”

One witness, who had been driving in the opposite direction of the school bus, saw it “drive up and fly up and crash” as students inside screamed, “help me!” Of the injured students, two suffered critical injuries, although officials indicated that none of the injuries looked to be life-threatening. The driver also sustained critical injuries. The California Highway Patrol indicated that three other students suffered minor injuries. A report from ABC News indicated that “part of a tree went into the bus and cut a girl’s leg,” and witnesses observed “gas pouring out the back.”

The California Highway Patrol is looking into the cause of the crash. According to ABC News, investigators have interviewed the driver but “still don’t know what caused the bus to veer out of its lane, over a curb and into trees and a lamp post.” Authorities haven’t determined how many of the students had been wearing seat belts.

School Bus Safety Statistics

A recent article in WebMD emphasized that, despite the intense news coverage of school bus accidents, “taking a bus to school is the safest way to go.” According to Eric Bolton, a spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school transportation has some of the best statistics in terms of the total number of injuries and number of passengers. Specifically, school buses carry about 24 million students each year and travel “more than 4 billion miles,” and these vehicles only have a death rate of .2 per 100 million miles traveled.

However, the article in WebMD emphasized that statistics aren’t always so comforting. When we think about the likelihood of an accident on a school bus compared to other modes of transportation, the numbers might look good. However, there’s another way to think about school bus accidents: “over a span of 11 years, from 1994-2004, a total of 71 passengers on school buses died in crashes.” And nearly all of these deaths were preventable.

Has your child been injured or killed in a serious bus crash? In many school bus accident cases, it may be possible to file a claim for financial compensation. When bus drivers or school districts behave negligently, children can suffer severe and sometimes fatal injuries. At the Walton Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping California residents who have been injured in school bus crashes. Contact one of our experienced San Diego bus accident attorneys to discuss your case.

See Related Blog Posts:

School Bus Accident Cases

California Bus Crash Report

Photo Credit: drp via Compfight cc