Receiving the news that your child has been injured in a school bus accident is every parent’s worst nightmare. Unfortunately, your child may sustain serious injuries in a school bus accident due to negligence. If this is the case, you need a determined Essex County Auto Accident Attorney who can help you seek reasonable compensation for your damages. Keep reading to discover who can be held liable for a school bus accident in New Jersey.
Who can be held liable for a school bus accident in New Jersey?
Collecting compensation for any injuries your child may have sustained in a school bus accident may be more difficult than expected as several parties’ negligent actions may have contributed to the cause of the collision. Unfortunately, school bus accidents are a common occurrence. Following this type of accident, you probably will be quick to assume the school bus driver is liable for the collision as they were behind the wheel. However, in some cases, the bus driver is not at fault, and accidents may occur due to other motorists on the road. The following parties can be held liable for this type of accident in New Jersey:
- The school district. In most cases, the school district can be held accountable for a school bus accident as they are responsible for ensuring the buses are in good condition and that they hire bus drivers with the proper training. The school district can even be held liable if the bus driver is negligent.
- The bus driver. Similarly, under most circumstances, the school bus driver will be held liable for a collision. If a school bus driver does not abide by the rules of the road or is negligent in any way in the cause of the accident, they can be held accountable.
- The owner of the school bus. Sometimes, government entities or private companies outsource school buses to school districts to transport students to and from school. When this is the case, the owner of the school bus is responsible for regularly conducting maintenance checks to ensure there are no issues. If they fail to ensure the bus is in good condition or fail to remedy any issues, they can be held accountable for a collision.
- The manufacturer of the bus. In other cases, the manufacturer may also be liable for an accident if the cause of the collision was a malfunction or defective part.
Further, a negligent third party may be liable for a collision. If another motorist on the road strikes the school bus, causing injuries, they can be held accountable for the collision. Ultimately, several parties may be liable for this type of accident. With that being said, you will need help establishing liability to recover monetary compensation for your damages. It is in your best interest to retain the legal services of one of our skilled team members. Our firm is committed to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome and get the justice they deserve.
