Three School Buses Crash in Buck County Raises Immunity Questions
A school bus accident involving three school buses occurred yesterday in Bucks County, Pennsylvania today. The bus accident has resulted in several injuries and several students being brought to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment. The extent of these injuries is not yet known.
As a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer, I have represented individuals injured on school buses, exiting school buses and crossing to or away from school buses. When I receive a call from a parent, I always explain the law regarding a personal injury bus recovery. The first question I ask is whether the school bus is owned by the school district or is it a private bus company. This can make all the difference in the world. A school district is often afforded immunities under the law while a private bus company is not afforded any immunity.
In most situations, if your son or daughter is struck by a school district school bus, the applicable immunity statutes require, at the very least, your child to prove that he or she sustained a permanent loss of bodily function.
If the bus company is a private bus company, then there are no immunities attached and you simply must prove that the bus company was at fault (to some degree) and that your son or daughter was injured.
The laws involving school buses and immunities are very complicated. It would be wise to seek advice from an experienced personal injury lawyer before making a decision about your case.
