School Bus Accident Liability: Who Is at Fault?

Unfortunately, there are over 6 million car accidents in the United States each year. Although many of these involve conventional vehicles, you shouldn’t overlook the fact that school buses are also at risk while on the road.

It can also be difficult to determine liability and a school bus accident. Let’s explore what you should know.

So, Who Is Liable?

When it comes to a school bus accident claim, there are typically two types of liability: school district liability and driver liability. In most cases, the school district is liable for any injuries that occur on the bus. This is because they are responsible for ensuring that the bus remains in a safe condition and that all drivers are properly trained.

On the other hand, if you’re injured because of the negligence of an individual driver, that person will likely be held strictly liable for any damages and injuries that occur to individuals on the bus.

However, there are some exceptions when it comes to the driver’s liability, including if they are driving for a third-party employer.

Looking for a bus accident attorney? You can check out this resource to learn more.

What Nuances Are Associated With Determining Liability?

This can be a convoluted concept at first. However, understanding the details related to liability is relatively straightforward.

Listed below is key information you should consider.

Comparative Fault

This is the principle that an individual’s fault should be compared to their percentage of responsibility. For example, if there are multiple people involved in a car accident and they all share some degree of blame for what occurred, then the comparative fault will determine how much each party must pay.

Contributory Negligence

An individual can be found contributorily negligent if they contributed in any way to their own injury. This could mean that they were not paying attention, were driving recklessly, or did not take the necessary safety precautions.

If an individual is determined to be contributorily negligent, then they may not be able to recover any damages from the other party and may be held liable.

Negligent Hiring

This is the concept that an employer can be held liable for negligent hiring practices. If a driver was known to have dangerous driving habits, but hired by an employer anyway, then they may be found negligent in hiring.

This could allow other parties who are injured as a result of their negligence to receive compensation from the school district or bus company.

Liability in a School Bus Accident Might Be Difficult to Determine

With a clear understanding of the basics, you’ll be able to navigate this issue. So, be sure that you keep the above information in mind about liability in a school bus accident — it could prove to be highly useful in the future.

Looking for more tips that can help you out later on? Check out the rest of our blog for plenty of useful information.