Hundreds of thousands of Americans rely on school bus drivers to get their kids to school safely. Unfortunately, not every driver is as careful as they should be, and this negligence can result in bus accidents. Today, we will determine if parents can sue school bus drivers for causing accidents that injure their children.
Drivers & Duty of Care
Legally a duty of care means a requirement that a person act toward others and the public with the watchfulness, attention, caution, and prudence that a reasonable person in the same circumstances would use. Teachers have a duty of care to students, parents have a duty of care to their kids, and drivers have a duty of care to passengers.
Therefore, school bus drivers have a legal obligation to keep students safe by paying attention to and following the rules of the road.
This duty of care means that when school bus drivers breach their duty, parents have the right to take legal action if their children are injured as a direct result of the breach.
When Can Parents Sue?
Parents can only make lawsuits against school bus drivers when the driver is at fault for the accident. Assuming another driver ran a red light and hit the school bus, the parents of injured children would have to pursue legal action against the driver who ran the red light rather than the school bus driver.
However, when liability for the accident is ambiguous or split between two parties, parents may have to pursue lawsuits against both parties. Thankfully, Suzuki Law Offices works on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win!
Need Experienced Representation?
If your child is injured in a school bus accident caused by the school bus driver or another party, Suzuki Law Offices can help you fight for just compensation. Our award-winning law firm has experience representing families against government entities, and we aren’t afraid to seek justice on your behalf.
Call (602) 842-6762 now for a free consultation for your case.