Steps to Take When Your Child is Injured in a Bus Accident
When your child is hurt in a bus accident in Southern California, panic is a normal reaction. So are fear, anger, and anxiety. But no matter how terrified you are, you must stay present at the moment so you can protect your child and advocate for them. Knowing the appropriate steps to take after a bus accident can help you get the medical care your little one needs and fight for the compensation they are owed after such an accident. That’s where we step in. At DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, we fight aggressively for our clients’ right to full and fair compensation. Learn more about what you should do after a bus collision, and when you’re ready to start your claim, call us at 855-946-6464 to set up a consultation.
Despite significant efforts to prevent bus accidents and keep children safe, it’s been a major struggle to bring accident rates down. A significant part of this is the fact that school buses have massive blind spots, and small children can easily disappear in these areas. A bus’s danger zone is ten feet around it on all four sides. Children in this area may not be visible to the driver, which is why school bus safety is such an important topic to address.
Keep Your Child Safe and Seek Medical Care
Immediately after an accident, your top priority must be getting to your child and making sure they are safe. Get them out of further danger and onto a safe surface, such as a nearby yard or sidewalk. Give them a quick checkover for injuries and take note of anything you want checked out.
After you leave the scene of the accident, head to a nearby urgent care clinic or emergency room—your choice depends on the severity of your child’s injuries. Explain in detail what happened, what you observed, and any injuries you identified at the scene of the crash. Keep copies of all records and correspondence you receive.
Document the Accident and Your Child’s Injuries
At the scene, take a few moments to document everything. Take photos of where the collision occurred, the state of the bus, and any identifying markers. These may include road signs, nearby homes, and businesses. Your photos should show the road and weather conditions. If anyone else witnessed the collision, get their name and contact information so your bus accident attorney can contact them. While getting to a nearby medical facility is incredibly important at this stage, you should also take a few photos of your child’s injuries so you can document their progress over time.
Notify All Necessary Parties
Depending on where the accident occurred and who was involved, there are likely multiple parties you’ll need to notify. Before you leave the scene, call the police. You need a police report to document what happened. While bus drivers have strict protocols they are supposed to follow in these situations, you’d be surprised how some panic and disregard those protocols when their jobs are on the line. Even if the bus driver asks you to handle it with them directly, you must go through the appropriate channels. In addition to the local police department, report the accident to the transportation company, the school, and the school district. School districts take these situations very seriously and will likely conduct their own investigation.
Keep Accurate Records and Preserve Your Evidence
Even when a child is involved, insurance companies will still do what they can to avoid paying out damages. Documenting everything and making copies of your evidence is important to avoid degradation or loss. In addition, provide all of the evidence you have to your bus accident attorney for safekeeping.
Talk to a Southern California Bus Accident Lawyer
The earlier you talk to a bus accident lawyer after an accident, the better off you are. This is especially true in this situation, where your claim may be against a school district or other public entity. Claims against the government follow a separate set of rules from other types of personal injury claims, and if you don’t act quickly, you may lose your chance to seek compensation.
Call DeWitt Algorri & Algorri Today
If your child has been injured in a bus accident, you must be their advocate and demand the compensation they are owed. We’re here to hold the negligent party accountable and fight for you both. Give us a call at 855-WINNING (946-6464) or reach out online to schedule a consultation.
Mark Algorri has successfully represented individuals and their families in matters involving serious and catastrophic injuries, insurance claims denials, and wrongful deaths, achieving a success rate of 99 percent for our clients.
