When we send our children off to school in the morning, we assume that they will be safe. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. This is a lesson that parents of St. Ignatius students learned the hard way when a school bus was struck by a drunk driver, causing the vehicle to roll with children inside. Their lawsuit shows us how dangerous school buses have become in the state of Illinois, and this story is anything but rare in the United States today. But what can you do if your student was injured at school or in a school bus? Who can you hold accountable?
St. Ignatius Parents Decide to Sue
On November 29th of 2022, it was reported that the parents of injured St. Ignatius students had decided to sue two trucking companies. The lawsuit stems from an incident that saw a school bus knocked over on its side by a semi-truck traveling at high speed through a red light. The school bus proceeded to roll, leaving several of the students with severe injuries. All of the students were part of the school hockey team, and they were traveling home from Indiana after playing a game. One student suffered two facial fractures and went into a seizure after the crash. Another boy suffered a fractured skull, several fractured ribs, and a pelvic injury.
The trucker was extremely intoxicated, later blowing a 0.13% BAC level. This means that he was almost twice the legal limit in Indiana. But while the trucker is obviously to blame, the parents are also trying to hold two trucking companies accountable – arguing that he should have never been on the road because of his previous criminal convictions. One of the trucking companies is already trying to distance themselves from the drunk driver, while the other has admitted that it sold him a trailer. The parents are also pushing for a long criminal sentence, arguing that the driver should be “put away for a long time.” The police report states that the drunk driver was swerving in an erratic manner before the crash. St. Ignatius is located in Illinois.
More School Bus Accidents Raise Concerns
Illinois isn’t the only state suffering from shocking school bus accidents. On December 1st, it was reported that a mother and her four children had been run over just after getting off a school bus. The incident occurred in Brooklyn, New York, and it involved a woman escaping from the police in a Mercedes. The woman drove straight through several bus stops at high speed before hitting the family. The mother was waiting at the bus stop for her children to get off the bus. Although the mother was sent flying, all five individuals were later reported to be in stable condition. The authorities state that they are expected to survive. This story shows us how dangerous school buses can be – not just when they’re moving but even when they’re stopped.
Also on December 1st, it was reported that a school bus had crashed straight into someone’s house in the NYC suburb of Ramapo. The school bus ended up half-inside the home, with an entire section of wall destroyed. Several injuries were reported, including the children and the bus driver. It is not clear whether anyone was inside at the time of the crash. This goes to show that bus drivers themselves are capable of driving negligently and putting innocent children at risk.
Why Are School Buses So Prone to Crashes?
It’s not exactly clear why school buses crash so frequently across the United States. One theory is that the trucker shortage is causing more school bus drivers to abandon their jobs in order to take more lucrative jobs in the trucking industry. This leaves school boards left with no choice but to “scrape the bottom of the barrel,” so to speak.
Where Can I Find a Qualified Car Accident Attorney in Illinois?
If you’ve been searching for a qualified, experienced car accident attorney in Illinois, look no further than Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. Over the years, we have helped numerous injured plaintiffs strive for justice and fair compensation. With our help, you can get the settlement you need to pay for medical expenses, missed wages, emotional distress, and any other damages you might have incurred. The statute of limitations can prevent you from suing if you wait too long, so book your consultation today to get started with an effective action plan.
Sources
- https://dinizululawgroup.com/chicago-car-accident-lawyers
- https://dinizululawgroup.com/chicago-personal-injury-lawyers
- https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2022/11/29/23483992/st-ignatius-hockey-bus-lawsuit-truck-driver-warsaw-indiana
- https://abc7chicago.com/mom-4-kids-run-over-at-school-bus-stop-by-driver-running-from-police/12514173/
- https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/school-bus-crashes-into-new-york-house-car-injuries-reported/
Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd.
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