Jonesboro School Bus Accidents

School buses are considered common carriers, and drivers owe a duty to their passengers to use a high degree of care in the operation of their vehicles, and to protect their passengers from injury resulting from the conduct of other passengers or third parties. That being said, school bus drivers are required to operate their vehicles with extreme caution, abide by all traffic laws, and prevent others from harming children onboard when possible.

In Jonesboro, school buses are operated through Jonesboro Public Schools, and buses transport students throughout the district, including to and from schools like Jonesboro High School, Nettleton High School, Valley View High School, Douglas MacArthur Junior High School, and Annie Camp Junior High School.

School bus accidents occur for different reasons. For instance, the bus driver could be texting while driving, causing him to run a red light or drive erratically, throwing the children in the bus off of their seats in the process. While many school bus drivers exercise caution behind the wheel, a wreck may still occur if another driver acts negligently. In any event, injuries are likely to result from school bus accidents because buses lack safety features such as airbags and seatbelts.

In order to recover compensation after a school bus accident (either for yourself or an injured child), you will likely have to prove that the bus driver or another driver caused the collision by breaching a legal duty owed to you or your child. Many times, the liability theory of negligence per se can be used to determine negligence. Under the theory of negligence per se, negligence can be established as a matter of law if a safety law was violated, such as speeding, running a stop sign, failing to yield, or driving under the influence of alcohol.

If your child was riding on a school bus that crashed, he or she may require immediate medical treatment at a hospital in the Jonesboro area. Follow up treatment with a pediatrician or specialist may be needed too. By hiring a school bus accident lawyer in Jonesboro, you stand a better chance at establishing negligence against the responsible party (bus driver, bus company, another driver, etc.) and shifting the focus of the case to damages. In Arkansas, elements of damages can include medical bills, prescription expenses, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.