Earlier this month, a tragic school bus accident in Chattanooga, Tennessee claimed the lives of six children and injured many others. According to a local news report covering the tragic accident, the driver of the bus has been arrested on vehicular homicide charges.
The accident occurred after school on the students’ ride home. Evidently, the bus driver was operating the vehicle at a high rate of speed on a road that was not a part of the driver’s route when he lost control of the bus and struck a tree. The force from the collision was so great that it bent the bus in half upon impact.
The Bus Driver Had a Checkered Driving History
According to the most recent news report covering the accident, the school bus driver had been the subject of several student and parent complaints in the past. In fact, there were reports that the driver had been driving too fast, had become agitated and aggressive with students, and had even intentionally come to a quick stop to make the students fall out of their seats. The driver had also been involved in another school bus accident just two months before.
Two students actually wrote letters to school administrators fearing for their safety, claiming that they thought the bus was going to “flip over” at times due to the driver’s reckless driving. The bus driver had also filed complaints against the students, stating that they did not respect him and that they failed to listen to his commands while on the bus.
The school bus driver is currently behind bars awaiting a criminal trial. In addition, the family of at least one of the students injured in the accident has filed a civil lawsuit against the driver and other related parties.
Liability in School Bus Accidents
There may be several liable parties following a school bus accident. The driver of the bus is an obvious party and may be held responsible for the negligent operation of the bus. However, depending on the circumstances of the accident, school administrators and the company that owned and operated the bus may also be held liable. Generally, in order for one of these third parties to be found liable, there would have to be some showing that the party knew the driver posed a risk but failed to do anything about it.
Has Your Child Been Involved in a School Bus Accident?
If you have a child who was recently injured in a bus accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation from one or more liable parties. The skilled personal injury attorneys at the Maryland law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience representing injured clients in cases against those responsible for their injuries. Call 410-6554-3600 today to set up a free consultation to discuss your case with an experienced and dedicated personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Plaintiff Alleging Shuttle Bus Injury Allowed to Proceed Toward Trial Against Owner Based on Actions of Third Parties, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 3, 2016.
Liability in Maryland Truck Accidents May Extend Beyond the Truck Driver, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 28, 2016.