Putting your kids on the school bus in the morning can be one of the most anxiety-ridden parts of a parent’s day. Your little ones are at the mercy of a bus driver who’s likely to be distracted by unruly kids. Many buses don’t have seat belts. Of course, there are other drivers on the road who may not exercise proper caution. These and other dangers face them on their return home as well.
A school bus crash earlier this month in Boonton Township sent six kids as well as their driver to the hospital. Although the driver was reported to be in critical condition, the students suffered only minor injuries.
The crash occurred shortly after the bus left Rockaway Valley School on Friday, March 8, to take the kids home. The driver reportedly suffered some type of medical episode. She crashed into a utility pole and a fence on Valley Road near a church cemetery. The driver was found slumped on the floor of the bus. First responders from multiple agencies responded to the crash.
Eighteen other students were taken off the bus and returned to the school, which teaches children from kindergarten to eighth grade. There, they were assessed on a mobile ambulance bus. All children were then released to parents or guardians.
If your child is involved in a school bus crash, the physical injuries, as well as the emotional trauma, can stay with them long afterward. It may be wise to determine what legal options you have to get the compensation you need and deserve to deal with medical treatment, psychological care and other expenses and damages.
