School Bus Accidents

Any accident takes a toll—both mentally and physically—on accident victims and their loved ones, but school bus accidents are especially concerning given that, by definition, they involve young children. We trust school bus drivers with our most precious cargo, and when something goes wrong, the results are all too often devastating.

With over 45 years of experience handling all types of motor vehicle accident cases, the Miami school bus accident lawyers at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada are prepared to fight for your child’s rights. We’ve successfully resolved many cases involving school bus accidents in Miami and can use our knowledge and experience to create a compelling claim for compensation. Whether the accident occurred on the bus, on the street, or while your child was riding inside another vehicle, we can help.

School buses are involved in roughly 26,000 traffic accidents each year in the United States. On average, about 17,000 children are injured in school bus incidents annually. While most injuries are minor, that isn’t always the case, as there are unfortunately a significant number of bus accidents resulting in serious injury or death.

While most school bus accidents result in injuries to students as passengers, bus drivers also occasionally hit pedestrians. Children are more at risk in these situations, especially in the areas right around the bus; for example, bus drivers may not notice children who exited the bus and crossed the street in its path. School buses also can strike other pedestrians, usually as a result of distracted driving.

When it comes to school bus accidents, there are a few common reasons why they might happen.

Sometimes, accidents occur because the bus driver makes a mistake. This could be due to not paying enough attention, misjudging distances, or not following traffic rules. Bus drivers undergo specialized training and are subject to strict regulations, but nevertheless they can—and do—still make costly mistakes.

Sometimes, it's not the bus driver's fault at all. Other drivers on the road might drive recklessly or be distracted, leading to preventable collisions with a school bus.

Bad weather can make driving any vehicle more challenging. Rain or fog can lead to accidents if drivers aren’t extra cautious.

Although rare, thanks to strict maintenance schedules, mechanical problems like brake failure or tire issues can cause accidents. Schools must regularly check their buses to prevent these issues from occurring, but sometimes problems can be missed.

Your family has a right to seek compensation for your physical and emotional damages, regardless of how large or small the sustained injuries are. As with any government-run system, the Miami School Bus transportation system is heavily regulated and obligated to provide the highest possible care for its patrons. Whether government-run or privately operated, our law firm will closely scrutinize the circumstances in order to determine exactly what happened leading up to the accident and resulting injuries.

A key piece of evidence aside from eyewitness testimony is the video footage captured by the bus’s security cameras. Although these systems are installed to help document cases of abuse or misconduct, surveillance footage can also often help to demonstrate who was at fault in an accident.

At Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, ensuring you receive compensation for your personal loss or that of a family member is our utmost priority. Over the past 45 years, we have helped countless families obtain the compensation they deserve, and we look forward to discussing how we can do the same for your family. Simply give us a call at (877) 448-8585 or contact us online to schedule your free and confidential consultation for your school bus accident in Miami. We are here for you and ready to go over your options and offer our advice on the best way to proceed with your case. And because we handle bus accident claims on a contingency basis, that means you will not be responsible for the payment of any attorney’s fees unless we can secure compensation for your family.