The American School Bus Council (ASBC) reports that approximately 25 million children are transported daily on over 480,000 school buses. Of those that get into accidents, the occupants suffer injuries about a third of the time, per the National Safety Council (NSC). If your child has been injured, you may feel like you have nowhere to turn, but you do. Let us guide your next steps to secure medical compensation for your child.
If your child was on a school bus involved in an accident in Tampa, FL, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine are ready to help. We can uncover the root cause of the accident, discover the liable party, and pursue them for the compensation your family needs. Our priority is the health of your child, so we will do everything that is legally in our power to help them recover from their injuries.
Where To Turn After A Tampa School Bus Accident
According to the NHTSA, it is more dangerous for children to be transported to school in passenger vehicles than on school buses. Fatality records reflect this also, with only four to six deaths in school bus accidents yearly. While school buses are much safer in general, that doesn’t mean they are exempt from accidents.
Our Tampa school bus accident team can help your case and your family. However, there are a few things you may be able to do to help your case:
- Ensure that your child receives medical attention, if not at the scene, then as soon as possible afterward
- Speak with other people at the scene to get information about the accident
- Record contact information for the driver and any witnesses if you can
- Take photos or video of the vehicles involved, including as much of the surrounding scene as possible
- Record a brief statement from your child about the accident
Even if your child does not appear injured at the scene, they may have bruising or other injuries that aren’t immediately evident. If you can’t be at the scene, pick your child up from school immediately to ensure they receive medical attention.
Seeking the advice of a Tampa school bus accident attorney can be beneficial. Our team can offer guidance on your next steps. We’ll fight to ensure your child’s medical expenses and other costs associated with the accident are taken care of.
Other Injured Victims Of School Bus Accidents Can Also Turn To Us
The vast majority of accident victims who are injured in school bus collisions are pedestrians, passengers of passenger vehicles, and bicyclists. If you were one of these people, we can build your case against the liable party, too.
Fighting For Recoverable Damages For Your Child
As parents, when our children hurt, we hurt. We do everything we can to ensure they don’t suffer. Our school bus accident team understands – we’re parents too. That’s why we fight to get your child compensation for their injuries after an accident.
We review the accident and may file for reimbursement for medical care. We also fight for other economic losses and compensation for non-economic losses to cover the things that don’t have a monetary equivalency, such as mental anguish.
You Can Receive Economic And Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages are recoverable expenses. They can include the following:
- Medical bills, both current and expected future costs
- Medications and medical devices, such as crutches
- X-rays, diagnostic scans, and additional testing
- Surgical procedures, including follow-up care
- Home modification, if necessary
- Home medical assistance
- Physical therapy to assist your child in returning to school
- Lost wages for parents missing work to attend to a child
In addition, our team will seek non-economic compensation for the continuing care of non-medical and adaptive therapy necessary to assist your child in recovering after a school bus accident. Damages in this category can include the following:
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional therapy to aid with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Scarring, disfigurement, or other permanent conditions
We understand that money cannot remove your child’s suffering after a school bus accident. Our goal is to provide the resources your family needs to help as much as possible.
Determining How Much Your Tampa School Bus Accident Case Is Worth
Bus accidents tend to result in severe injuries, especially for non-passengers. Getting compensation following a school bus accident can be complex. Our team will evaluate your case and be able to offer a clearer idea of the level of compensation you might expect. Once we understand the facts of the accident, we can better estimate your case value.
The Benefits Of Working With A Tampa Firm Experienced in Personal Injury Law
We will attend to all the details when you work with our Tampa school bus accident attorney. That leaves you free to take care of your child’s needs. During your free initial evaluation, we can discuss your options for moving forward. If you decide to partner with us, we will perform the following tasks:
- Conduct a complete investigation of the accident
- Determine the responsible party (or parties)
- Interview witnesses
- Obtain the police report
- Negotiate with the liable parties or their representatives
- Prepare your case for a civil lawsuit
- Represent your family in court
We will keep you in the loop at all times to ensure you have the latest updates on your case. As a responsive law firm, you will have your attorney’s phone number, and they will be available to answer your questions. We handle all the details.
Finding The Liable Parties After A Tampa School Bus Accident
Our investigation will uncover the liable party in your child’s bus accident. Some of the main causes of accidents can be attributed to the following:
- Driver error or inexperience
- Inclement weather
- Poor road conditions
- Poorly maintained vehicles
We may discover that more than one party is accountable, including:
- Bus driver
- Manufacturer
- Maintenance personnel or facility
- School system
- Local government agencies
Whoever is responsible for your accident, we will assess the legal options available to you to hold them responsible.
You Have A Limited Time To Take Action
Per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), you may have up to four years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, Florida Statutes § 768.28 contains additional stipulations that might apply to school bus accidents and could limit the filing deadline to six months.
If the cost of legal representation is causing you to hesitate, you don’t need to worry. We start with a free, no-risk consultation. If you decide to partner with us, our team works on a contingency-fee basis. We don’t ask for any upfront fees from you and only get paid when we win.
A Tampa School Bus Accident Lawyer Works For You
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine have experience working with Tampa school bus accidents. Your child deserves compensation for their injuries; we will fight for your family. Contact our school bus accident team for your free case evaluation.
We Can Help.
