What Should I Do If My Child is Injured in a School Bus Accident?

If your child is injured in a school bus accident, you may feel as though your world is coming to an end. Though this is certainly a tragic event, you should know help is available.

Our Fort Worth bus accident lawyers are here to fiercely advocate for your right to pursue compensation. We will handle the legal aspects of your claim so that you focus on helping your child recover from his or her injuries.

Below, we discuss the steps you should take after your child has suffered an injury in a school bus accident. Do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a free, no obligation consultation to find out if you have legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis so you do not have to worry about legal fees unless we help you obtain compensation.

1. Seek Medical Attention

Your first step should be seeking medical attention for your child’s injury. If the injuries did not require emergency medical attention, do not assume that a medical problem will not arise in the future.

Bring your child to a doctor where he or she can undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation. This evaluation is extremely important because it ensures your child’s injuries will be documented with official medical records.

Even if there are no explicit injuries that your child is aware of, the doctor’s analysis might reveal undiagnosed injuries related to the school bus accident. These medical records will describe your child’s injuries, the severity of his or her pain, and state that his or her injuries are related to the school bus accident.

2. Preserve Information About the Accident

A representative of the school district will likely reach out to you after the accident and provide you with specific facts about the accident.

This representative will likely outline the steps the school district plans to take in response to the accident. Keep all information relevant to the school bus accident. Store such materials in a safe place for easy access and make a copy of each document.

If other children were involved in the school bus accident, speak with their parents or anyone who may have witnessed the accident. Eyewitnesses might significantly improve your case for compensation as they can provide unique insight into the events that occurred.

3. Be Careful About What You Say

Discussion of the accident should be limited to your child’s doctor and your attorney.

Keep in mind anything you say in the aftermath of the accident has the potential to be used against you. The school district and school board are likely nervous about a potential lawsuit and might request that you sign a document, provide a statement, or absolve them or the school bus driver of guilt.

Do not comply with these requests and try to avoid interactions with these parties altogether. Even stating something as seemingly innocent as the fact that your child’s health is improving can be used to discredit your claim.

4. Document Your Child’s Healing Process

The way the accident affects your child is essential to proving the legitimacy of your claim. Document all the ways in which the accident has injured your child or caused him or her to suffer emotional distress.

During the course of your child’s treatment and recovery, carefully document if he or she suffers any of the following conditions:

You should also write down all the activities your child is no longer able to participate in as a result of the accident. Furthermore, take pictures of your child’s injuries in the days following the accident and throughout the healing process.

5. Contact a School Bus Accident Lawyer in Fort Worth

The final step is to contact a qualified personal injury lawyer to discuss your child’s bus accident as soon as possible.

A personal injury attorney in Fort Worth, TX from our law firm can provide you with a free, no obligation consultation to determine if you are entitled to compensation for your child’s medical bills and pain and suffering.

We will work diligently to build a case that supports your claim by gathering evidence, interviewing eyewitnesses, filing all the necessary legal paperwork and determining which party is liable for your child’s injuries. Our dedicated legal team will work to help you recover maximum compensation for your claim and protect your interest every step of the way.

Call (817) 920-9000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.