School Bus involved in a five-vehicle collision
For parents, school buses are a wise option of sending their kids to school. The level of safety as well as convenience offered by school buses is the primary reason why parents favor them as compared to other means of transportation. Moreover, research has shown that American students are nearly eight times less likely to be involved in traffic accidents when riding a school bus (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2002). However, despite this impressive reputation, recent finds in 2008 revealed that there were 1,409 fatal accidents involving school buses and 1,564 people lost their lives (NHTSA).
School buses are still vulnerable to road crashes. Recently, a school bus was involved five-vehicle crash in Phoenix. The crash occurred on Friday morning and was caused by a hit-and-run by a semi-truck in Interstate 17 (AZ Central 02/18/11). According to reports, the semi-truck struck a Lincoln sedan near Glendale Avenue. The truck didn't stop and continued south of I-17 while the Lincoln sedan spun, hit the barrier and finally stopped in the HOV lane. The driver of the Lincoln was injured and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the authorities are still looking for the driver of the semi-truck.
The school bus on the other hand was unable to stop in time for the traffic caused by the Lincoln. It then hit another vehicle in a collision which involved five more vehicles. It was carrying 48 students and 10 adults when the collision happened.
Most if not all schools in the country have specific standards in hiring school bus drivers. This is to ensure the safety of the kids going to school. However, it is often other drivers on the road that cause worry. Unfortunately, the only preparedness for those unpredictable situations is to be 100% aware while on the road—whether as a driver or passenger.
If your child or someone you know has been a victim of a school bus accident, you can reach us at (602) 267-1280 for your free consultation. As Arizona bus accident attorneys, we understand how important it is for victims to receive rightful compensation in such an unfortunate event.
