Jackson, MS School Bus Accidents

In Jackson, Mississippi, public school students are transported to and from school by the Jackson Public Schools (JPS) Transportation Department. They have over 300 buses that transport more than 23,000 students each day. The Transportation Department is located at 101 Dr. Dennis Holloway Drive, Jackson, MS 39203.

The first step towards obtaining recovery for a child injured in a school bus accident is identifying the party who was responsible for the accident. Bus accidents are usually caused by the negligence of either the bus driver or the driver of another vehicle involved in the accident. A successful negligence claim requires the plaintiff to establish the legal elements of duty, breach, causation, and damages. Depending on the facts of a particular case, evidence necessary to support a negligence claim may be found in police reports, witness statements, cell phone records, video recordings from the bus or nearby stores, and more. If an injured child (through their parents/guardians or legal representative) is able to prove that his or her injuries were caused by another party’s negligence, the child can potentially recover damages such as medical bills and pain and suffering.

If the bus driver’s negligence caused the accident, an injured child likely has a claim against both the driver of the bus, the driver’s employer, and possibly the school system. In Mississippi, special considerations apply when pursuing claims against government entities. Thus, parents should consult with an experienced school bus accident attorney in the Jackson area before pursuing their child’s claims in order to ensure all statutory requirements are met and that their child does not receive less than they deserve.

If the driver of another vehicle is at fault for the accident, an injured child will first be looking to obtain compensation from the at-fault driver’s automobile insurance carrier. A problem that often arises in these situations is that the driver will either be uninsured – meaning they have no automobile insurance – or underinsured – meaning their insurance policy is not sufficient to fully compensate all of the injured parties for their losses. If this is the case, an injured child may still be able to obtain recovery for their damages if the owner of the defendant vehicle has liability insurance coverage or if the child is covered by the uninsured or underinsured portion of their parents’ insurance policy. Navigating the policies involved and identifying the coverage that applies to a child’s injuries can be difficult in a bus accident case, which is why it is important that parents discuss their child’s case with an attorney knowledgeable in school bus accident cases.