Uninsured Car In Philadelphia Runs A Red Light Striking A School Bus Causing Traumatic Brain Injury To Child On Bus - Improvements Called For On School Bus Design And Safety
Almost a year ago, my client’s daughter was sitting on a school bus mid-week on her way to school when the school bus was broadsided by an uninsured vehicle that ran a red light. At 8:30 a.m. on this school morning, the child’s life was altered forever. She sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of being thrown into the window which cracked upon the impact of her head. There were no injuries to the driver of the uninsured vehicle. Yet, all of the students on the school bus had to be transported to a local hospital.
Unfortunately despite the fact that the National PTA and multiple physician groups and other safety groups are demanding improvements on school bus design, including but not limited to seat belts on school buses, the basic design of the large yellow school bus has not been changed since 1977. The simple fact of the matter is that seat belts would save lives if installed on school buses as a school bus is no different than any other motor vehicle yet carries our most precious cargo.
In America, there is in excess of one half million public school buses traveling more than 4.2 billion miles every year transporting 23.5 million children to and from school and school related activities. The National Transportation Safety Board insists that school buses are designed with a clever occupant protection system that fits both a kindergarten student and high school senior without the need for seat belts. They refer to this occupant protection system as compartmentalization stating that the seats are strong, closely spaced together, high backed and well padded and designed to absorb energy during a crash. In fact, the NSTB has even gone so far as to state that seat belts do not prevent injuries in all crash situations and can actually increase injuries with the current school bus design. The incident in question here calls to attention that seat belt design requires an occupant crash protection system that will protect all school bus passengers in most accident scenarios.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a school bus accident, please contact one of our experienced personal injury lawyers at Reiff & Bily for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
