Injured in a School Bus or Other Bus Accident?
Bus accidents can cause devastating injuries, particularly when children are involved.
For more than 25 years, Bates & Slone Attorneys at Law has handled cases involving survivors of school bus crashes. We understand the serious injuries these collisions can cause and the complicated legal issues that can arise when a bus, school system, transportation company, government entity, or insurance carrier is involved.
If you or your child has been injured in a school bus or other bus accident, getting answers quickly can be important.
Evidence needs to be preserved. Witnesses need to be identified. The bus and other vehicles may need to be inspected. Video and electronic information may exist. And the identity of every person or entity potentially responsible for the crash needs to be determined.
Call Bates & Slone at (606) 785-5581 for a free consultation. There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
School Bus Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Parents trust school buses to transport their children safely.
When a school bus is involved in a serious collision, that trust can be shattered in seconds.
Children can suffer head injuries, fractures, spinal injuries, internal injuries, cuts and scarring, and other serious or permanent injuries.
A school bus crash also presents legal questions that may not arise in an ordinary car wreck.
Who owned the bus?
Who employed the driver?
Was transportation provided directly by a school district or through another entity?
Was the driver properly qualified and trained?
Was the bus properly inspected and maintained?
Was another vehicle responsible for causing the collision?
What insurance coverage applies?
Those questions should be answered through an investigation—not assumptions.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Kentucky Bus Accident?
Responsibility for a bus crash depends upon what actually caused it.
Potentially responsible parties may include:
- The bus driver
- The driver’s employer
- A bus or transportation company
- The owner of the bus
- A school district or other governmental entity
- Another negligent driver
- A company responsible for inspection or maintenance
- Other persons or businesses whose conduct contributed to the crash
Some cases involve more than one responsible party.
At Bates & Slone, we investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision to determine what happened, why it happened, and who should be held responsible.
Why Bus Accident Cases Can Be Different From Ordinary Car Wrecks
A serious bus accident may involve evidence and legal issues that are very different from those involved in an ordinary two-car collision.
Depending upon the type of bus and circumstances of the accident, important evidence may include:
- Onboard surveillance video
- Exterior camera footage
- Electronic vehicle information
- GPS and location information
- Driver qualification records
- Driver training records
- Personnel records
- Inspection records
- Maintenance and repair records
- Bus route information
- Dispatch communications
- Cell-phone records
- Photographs of the vehicles and scene
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- School or transportation records
- Insurance policies
Some electronic information and video may not be preserved indefinitely.
Prompt action can therefore be important after a serious bus accident.
Injuries to Children Require Special Attention
When a child is injured in a school bus accident, the legal case needs to account for more than the child’s immediate medical bills.
A serious childhood injury can have consequences that last for years or even a lifetime.
Depending upon the injury, it may be necessary to evaluate future medical treatment, rehabilitation, permanent impairment, scarring, physical limitations, and the effect the injury may have as the child grows.
A quick settlement offered shortly after an accident may not account for those long-term consequences.
Before resolving a child’s serious injury claim, the full extent of the injury should be understood.
Bus Driver Negligence
Like every driver on Kentucky’s roads, a bus driver has an obligation to operate the vehicle safely.
Bus accidents may result from conduct such as:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper turns
- Driver fatigue
- Driving too fast for road or weather conditions
- Failure to maintain control
- Inadequate training
But driver error is only one potential cause.
A complete investigation should also consider the actions of the organization responsible for operating the bus.
Negligent Hiring, Training and Supervision
A bus company or other employer may have responsibilities that are separate from those of the individual driver.
Depending upon the facts, an investigation may examine whether the organization properly investigated the driver’s qualifications and driving history, provided adequate training, enforced appropriate safety policies, and properly supervised its drivers.
When the evidence warrants it, claims may extend beyond the conduct of the person behind the wheel.
Bus Maintenance and Mechanical Problems
A bus is a large commercial or passenger-carrying vehicle that must be maintained in safe operating condition.
Depending upon the circumstances, an investigation may examine the condition of the brakes, tires, steering system, lights, safety equipment, and other components.
Maintenance and inspection records can help determine whether a mechanical problem contributed to the crash and who was responsible for maintaining the vehicle.
What If Another Driver Caused the School Bus Crash?
The bus driver or bus operator is not automatically responsible simply because a bus was involved.
Another motorist may cause a collision with a school bus.
A driver may cross the center line, run a red light, fail to yield, speed, drive while distracted, or otherwise cause a crash involving a bus.
When that happens, the claim may be against the negligent driver and that driver’s insurance company.
Our objective is to determine who actually caused the collision and pursue the appropriate claims.
Governmental Entities and School Bus Claims
Some school bus cases can involve public school districts or other governmental entities.
Those cases may raise legal issues that do not exist in an ordinary personal injury claim, including questions concerning governmental immunity, the legal status of the individuals and entities involved, and applicable insurance coverage.
The fact that a government-related entity is involved does not mean a family should simply assume there is no claim.
The particular facts and applicable Kentucky law need to be examined carefully.
Commercial and Private Bus Accidents
Not every serious bus accident involves a school bus.
Bates & Slone can evaluate accidents involving other passenger-carrying vehicles as well, including commercial buses, charter buses, shuttle buses, church buses, and similar vehicles.
The investigation should identify the driver, owner, operator, employer, applicable insurance policies, and any other parties whose conduct contributed to the accident.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Bus Accident?
The damages available depend upon the circumstances of the particular case and Kentucky law.
A person seriously injured in a bus accident may potentially have claims involving:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Lost income
- Impairment of the ability to earn money
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent injury or impairment
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Other damages recoverable under Kentucky law
When a bus accident results in death, the family may also have claims under Kentucky’s wrongful death laws.
Every serious injury case should be evaluated individually.
Fatal School Bus and Bus Accidents
Few cases are more devastating than an accident involving the death of a child or another passenger.
When a bus accident results in a fatality, our investigation focuses on determining exactly what caused the collision, identifying everyone legally responsible, preserving the available evidence, and locating all potentially applicable insurance coverage.
Kentucky has specific laws governing wrongful death claims, including who brings the claim and how a recovery is distributed.
Families facing such a loss deserve careful legal guidance rather than a rushed insurance settlement.
Insurance Coverage in Bus Accident Cases
Kentucky Bus Accident Lawyers
Experienced Representation After School Bus and Commercial Bus Accidents
When a school bus or other passenger bus is involved in a serious crash, the consequences can be devastating—especially when children are injured.
Bates & Slone Attorneys at Law has handled cases involving survivors of school bus crashes for more than 25 years.
We understand that a serious bus accident case can be very different from an ordinary car wreck. Questions can arise about the bus driver, the driver’s employer, the owner or operator of the bus, a school district, another negligent driver, vehicle maintenance, insurance coverage, and other potentially responsible parties.
Important evidence may also need to be preserved quickly.
If you or your child has been seriously injured in a school bus or other bus accident, Bates & Slone can investigate what happened and explain your legal options under Kentucky law.
Call Bates & Slone at (606) 785-5581 for a free consultation.
No attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
More Than 25 Years of Experience With School Bus Crash Cases
School bus cases deserve particular attention because the passengers are often children.
For more than 25 years, Bates & Slone has handled cases involving survivors of school bus crashes.
We understand what is at stake for parents when their child has been seriously injured.
A child’s injury may affect much more than the weeks immediately following an accident. Serious injuries can require surgery, rehabilitation, future medical treatment, and years of follow-up care. Some injuries can result in permanent impairment, scarring, or limitations that continue into adulthood.
That is why a child’s serious injury claim should not be evaluated solely on the medical bills that have accumulated immediately after the accident.
The child’s future matters too.
School Bus Accidents Require a Thorough Investigation
A school bus accident should not be treated as simply another automobile insurance claim.
Depending upon the circumstances, important evidence may include:
- Onboard surveillance video
- Exterior bus-camera footage
- Electronic vehicle information
- GPS and location information
- Driver qualification records
- Driver training records
- Personnel and employment records
- Bus inspection records
- Maintenance and repair records
- Bus route information
- Dispatch communications
- Cell-phone records
- Photographs and video from the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- School and transportation records
- Insurance policies
Some electronic information and video may not be retained indefinitely.
Prompt investigation can therefore be extremely important after a serious school bus or commercial bus accident.
Who Is Responsible for a Kentucky Bus Accident?
There is no automatic answer.
The bus driver is not necessarily responsible simply because a bus was involved in the accident.
Determining liability requires investigating what actually caused the crash.
Depending upon the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include:
- The bus driver
- The driver’s employer
- A private bus or transportation company
- The owner of the bus
- A school district or other governmental entity
- Another negligent motorist
- A maintenance or repair company
- Another person or business whose conduct contributed to the collision
Some crashes may involve the negligence of more than one person or company.
At Bates & Slone, our objective is to determine what happened, why it happened, and who should be held legally responsible.
When a Bus Driver Causes the Accident
Bus drivers have a responsibility to safely operate vehicles carrying passengers.
A collision may result from:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper turns
- Driver fatigue
- Driving too fast for road or weather conditions
- Failure to maintain control
- Inadequate training
- Other unsafe driving
When driver error causes a serious accident, we investigate not only what the driver did but also the relationship between the driver and the organization responsible for operating the bus.
Negligent Hiring, Training, Supervision or Retention
Sometimes the investigation should go beyond the actions of the driver.
Depending upon the evidence and Kentucky law, questions may arise concerning whether an employer properly investigated a driver’s qualifications, driving history, training, and fitness to operate the vehicle.
A serious investigation may examine whether the organization:
- Properly screened the driver
- Verified required qualifications
- Provided appropriate training
- Enforced safety policies
- Responded appropriately to prior problems
- Properly supervised the driver
- Continued to employ a driver despite known safety concerns
When the evidence supports it, responsibility may extend beyond the person sitting behind the wheel.
What If Another Driver Caused the Bus Crash?
Not every bus accident is the fault of the bus driver.
Another motorist may cross the center line, run a traffic light, fail to yield, speed, drive while distracted, or otherwise cause a collision with a school bus.
When another driver causes the crash, the injured passengers may have claims against that driver and the applicable insurance carrier.
We investigate the evidence rather than assuming who was at fault.
Bus Maintenance and Mechanical Failures
Safe operation of a bus requires more than a careful driver.
The vehicle itself must be properly inspected and maintained.
Depending upon the circumstances of the crash, an investigation may include the condition and maintenance of the:
- Brakes
- Tires
- Steering system
- Lights
- Safety equipment
- Suspension
- Other mechanical components
Maintenance, inspection, and repair records can help determine whether a mechanical problem contributed to the accident and who was responsible for maintaining the vehicle.
Claims Involving School Districts and Governmental Entities
Some Kentucky school bus accidents involve public school districts or other governmental entities.
Those cases can present legal issues that do not ordinarily arise in a car accident case.
Questions may involve governmental immunity, the legal status of the individuals and entities involved, insurance coverage, and the particular facts surrounding the operation of the bus.
A family should not simply assume that a school district is automatically responsible—or that there can be no claim because a governmental entity is involved.
These cases require careful analysis under Kentucky law.
Injuries to Children Deserve Special Attention
When a child is seriously injured, determining the full extent of the damages can take time.
The immediate medical bills tell only part of the story.
A serious injury may affect a child’s development, mobility, education, activities, future medical needs, and eventually the child’s ability to work and live independently.
Depending upon the injury, properly evaluating the case may require consideration of:
- Future medical treatment
- Additional surgery
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Permanent impairment
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Long-term physical limitations
- Future consequences of the injury
An early settlement cannot be reopened simply because an injury later proves more serious than originally believed.
That is one reason parents should be cautious about resolving a child’s serious injury claim before the nature and long-term consequences of the injury are understood.
Commercial, Charter, Shuttle and Other Bus Accidents
Our investigation is not limited to traditional school buses.
Serious passenger injuries can also occur in crashes involving:
- Commercial buses
- Charter buses
- Shuttle buses
- Church buses
- Private transportation vehicles
- Other passenger-carrying vehicles
These cases may involve a commercial transportation company, private business, employer, vehicle owner, or other organization.
We investigate the driver, owner, operator, employer, available insurance, and other parties whose conduct may have contributed to the accident.
What Compensation May Be Available?
The compensation available after a Kentucky bus accident depends upon the particular facts and applicable law.
Depending upon the circumstances, an injured person may have claims involving:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Impairment of the ability to earn money
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent injury and impairment
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Other damages allowed by Kentucky law
When a bus accident results in death, Kentucky’s wrongful death laws may provide additional claims.
Every serious injury case should be evaluated individually.
Fatal School Bus and Bus Accidents
A fatal bus accident is devastating under any circumstances. When a child is killed, the loss is almost impossible to put into words.
Kentucky has specific laws governing wrongful death claims, including who brings the action and what damages may be recovered.
Our job is to investigate how the death occurred, preserve the evidence, identify those legally responsible, determine the available insurance coverage, and pursue the claims allowed by Kentucky law.
Families should be given the opportunity to understand their legal rights before being pressured to resolve a claim with an insurance company.
Finding All Available Insurance Coverage
A serious bus accident can involve multiple insurance policies.
Depending upon the circumstances, coverage may be associated with:
- The bus
- The bus owner
- The bus operator
- The driver’s employer
- A transportation company
- Another negligent driver
- Other responsible businesses
- Excess or umbrella policies
We investigate the available insurance rather than assuming the first policy identified is necessarily the only source of coverage.
In a catastrophic injury case, finding all available insurance can be extremely important.
The Other Side May Begin Investigating Immediately
After a serious bus crash, insurance companies, transportation organizations, and other parties may begin investigating immediately.
They may photograph the scene, inspect vehicles, interview witnesses, obtain video and electronic information, collect records, and begin developing potential defenses.
The injured person deserves someone investigating for them.
If you or your child has been seriously injured, consider talking with an attorney before providing a recorded statement, signing an authorization, or accepting a settlement from another party’s insurance company.
Why Choose Bates & Slone?
Bates & Slone has handled cases involving survivors of school bus crashes for more than 25 years.
We understand that a serious bus accident case can involve injured children, catastrophic injuries, complicated liability issues, multiple responsible parties, governmental entities, and multiple sources of insurance coverage.
We investigate the evidence.
We determine who was responsible.
We identify the available insurance coverage.
And we pursue the compensation Kentucky law allows.
When an insurance company will not resolve a case fairly, we are prepared to pursue the claim through litigation.
No attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Bus Accidents
What should I do if my child was injured in a school bus accident?
Make sure your child receives appropriate medical attention.
Keep records relating to the accident and treatment, and preserve any photographs, videos, communications, or other information you have concerning the accident.
In a serious case, contacting an attorney promptly can help with efforts to identify and preserve evidence.
Can I bring a claim if my child was injured on a school bus?
Possibly.
Whether a claim exists depends upon what caused the accident, who was responsible, who operated the bus, the nature of the child’s injuries, and applicable Kentucky law.
The facts should be investigated before reaching a conclusion.
Is the school district automatically responsible?
No.
Responsibility depends upon the facts and Kentucky law.
Cases involving public school districts may also raise governmental immunity and insurance issues that require separate legal analysis.
What if another car caused the bus accident?
If another driver’s negligence caused the collision, claims may exist against that driver and the applicable insurance carrier.
The bus driver or bus operator is not automatically responsible simply because passengers were injured while riding a bus.
Is there video from the school bus?
Possibly.
Some school buses have interior or exterior camera systems, but the equipment varies.
If video may exist, determining whether it has been preserved can be an important part of an early investigation.
What if my child appears okay immediately after the accident?
Some injuries are not immediately apparent.
If your child develops symptoms or you have concerns about an injury, obtain appropriate medical evaluation.
From a legal standpoint, medical records can also become important evidence concerning the nature and timing of an injury.
Should I accept an insurance company’s settlement for my child’s injury?
Be cautious about resolving a serious injury claim before you understand the nature and potential long-term consequences of the injury.
Once a claim has been fully and finally settled, later developments generally do not provide an opportunity to renegotiate simply because the injury turned out to be worse than expected.
How much is a school bus accident case worth?
There is no legitimate formula that determines the value of every case.
The value depends upon factors such as the severity and permanence of the injuries, medical treatment, future medical needs, available damages, responsibility for the accident, and available insurance coverage.
What if someone was killed in the bus accident?
Kentucky law provides wrongful death claims when a death results from another person’s negligence or wrongful conduct.
These cases have specific requirements concerning who brings the claim, the damages available, and distribution of any wrongful death recovery.
How much does Bates & Slone charge?
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis.
There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
We will explain the fee agreement and treatment of case expenses during your consultation.
Serving Bus Accident Victims Throughout Eastern Kentucky
Bates & Slone represents injured people and families in Hindman, Hazard, Pikeville, Prestonsburg, and communities throughout Eastern Kentucky and across Kentucky.
If you or your child has been seriously injured in a school bus, commercial bus, charter bus, shuttle bus, or other passenger vehicle accident, contact us to discuss what happened.
Injured in a Bus Accident? Talk to Bates & Slone.
More than 25 years of experience handling cases involving survivors of school bus crashes.
Let us investigate what happened and determine who was responsible.
Call Bates & Slone Attorneys at Law at (606) 785-5581 for a free consultation.
No attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.