Student Injured At Bus Stop

What Can I Do if My Child Was Injured at a Bus Stop?

If you are a parent, it might be one of your worst fears: your child is injured or killed at a bus stop.

Such accidents can happen to students who are attempting to cross a street or who are simply waiting on a street corner or at an intersection. It only takes an act of carelessness by a distracted or drunk driver to cause a tragic accident.

Even the school bus driver may be at fault for an accident if he or she was texting while driving. It’s natural to feel frightened, afraid and even angry when a bus stop accident occurs. But no matter the cause of an accident, it’s important to know what you can do to make things right for you and your child. You may need to contact an Orange County personal injury lawyer to protect your rights.

Accidents at bus stops happen through no fault of the child

Unfortunately, accidents can – and do – happen at bus stops every day across the United States. It goes without saying that an accident between a moving vehicle and a child can lead to catastrophic injuries. To make matters worse, oftentimes the child may have done nothing wrong to cause the accident. But insurance companies and other parties with financial interests often do whatever it takes to make the accident itself the least of your concerns. Chances are you simply want to focus on your child’s recovery – and rightfully so. But careless drivers might try to say they’ve done nothing wrong. Their insurance companies might try to pin the blame of the accident on your child.

Steps to take after a bus stop accident

When an accident occurs at a bus stop, your first concern is your child’s safety. It’s getting your child out of harm’s way and to the hospital as soon as possible. However, when a child is injured or killed in a bus stop accident, knowing what to do in the days, weeks and months after an accident can become critical in obtaining the compensation you deserve.

  • Take as many photos as possible at the accident scene.
  • Record as many details from the accident scene as possible, including traffic signals, road conditions and the behavior of the at-fault driver.
  • Collect contact information for all witnesses.
  • Keep records of your child’s injury and treatment options.
  • Collect police records from the accident scene.
  • Make copies of hospital bills and estimated costs of future care.
  • Do not admit fault for an accident.
  • Do not accept a settlement offer from the insurance company.
  • Keep an “injury log” detailing how the injury has affected your child’s life.
  • Contact an attorney immediately.

How an attorney can help you after a bus stop accident

Dealing with the aftermath of a bus stop accident can be overwhelming on your own. Insurance companies may try to pressure you into accepting a fast settlement. Just because they’ve made an offer doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Just because they’ve offered you compensation doesn’t mean it’ll cover the true cost of your child’s injuries.

With the help of an attorney, you may be eligible to receive compensation that’s necessary to cover your child’s medical bills, cost of future care, and other damages for long-term injuries that could leave your child disabled. If your child was killed in an accident, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the person or company whose negligence contributed to the accident. Child injury cases are more than about money. They’re about protecting our children. Contact an attorney today to learn more.

 

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Information for Students and Parents about Accidents