Who is Liable in a Georgia School Bus Accident?

Millions of children travel on school buses each day throughout the school year. Children and their caregivers trust that their children will safely arrive to and from school, but thousands of schoolchildren are injured every year in school bus accidents.

Determining liability can be complicated in these cases. Liability is assigned based on evidence (photographs, witness statements, etc.) and facts of the individual case, which can be viewed by experienced Georgia mass transit injury lawyers. Once the facts are clear, a determination of fault can be pursued. Common individuals and entities that are held liable in school bus crashes are:

• School bus driver and contracted companies. When a collision occurs due to driver negligence, such as disobeying traffic laws or texting while driving, the school bus driver or his/her employer may be held liable for resultant injuries. In such cases, the driver’s employer, which might be the school board or a contracted company responsible for transportation services, might also be held accountable.
• School board. Under respondeat superior, employers might be vicariously responsible for any negligence committed by their employees in the course and scope of their employment. Depending on the circumstances, the school board may be considered the employer of the contracted company and/or the bus driver.
• Other drivers involved in the crash. As in other car wreck cases, a driver who negligently or recklessly causes the accident may be liable.
• Bus manufacturers. When a school bus has a defect that is the primary cause of a crash, or contributed to exacerbating the crash, the bus and/or part manufacturer can be held liable.
• Entities responsible for bus maintenance. If maintenance issues are discovered during the investigative process, the person or entity responsible for the maintenance of the bus may be liable.

Victims of school bus collisions and their families have the right to pursue justice

In some cases, victims and their families can file liability claims against the government by suing the school district itself. In Georgia, depending on the circumstances, the city or county government might be liable for school bus accidents that cause injuries to children.

According to the Georgia School Bus Driver Training Manual:

“The various school boards of the counties, cities, and independent school systems employing school buses are authorized and required to carry policies of insurance to be issued covering the school children riding therein to and from school in the event of bodily injury or death at any time resulting from an accident or collision in which such buses are involved. The amount of such insurance shall be within the discretion of the respective boards.”

Victims and their families are entitled to compensation through a Georgia personal injury lawsuit. There are firm time limits and requirements on school bus injury claims that increase the complexities of such cases. The Savannah and Atlanta bus crash lawyers at Harris Lowry Manton LLP have the experience and skill to navigate these complex claims. Use our contact form to reach us, or call the firm’s Atlanta team at 404-961-7650, and our Savannah team at 912-651-9967.