School buses seem to offer almost infinite protection for children. These yellow giants of the road seem to be benign protectors of their cargo, but occasionally, a tragic collision proves this assumption to be incorrect, as demonstrated by a recent accident in Kansas City.
The accident
According to Kansas City police, a Dodge Dakota pickup truck was west bound on 23rd Street and traveling at an excessive speed. A school bus ahead of the truck was making a left turn north onto Wheeling Avenue. The truck struck the right rear of the bus. The truck’s front wheels failed to support the truck, and its hood was forced underneath the bus. The rear wheels of the bus were forced into the air.
Police are still investigating whether the driver of the truck may have been impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of the collision.
The injuries
The truck driver was taken to a nearby hospital with what were described as serious injuries. Four children on the bus suffered non-acute injuries, with three of the four being taken to another local hospital by ambulance. The driver of the school bus and the remaining 11 children were not injured.
Analyzing the accident
The good news about this accident is, of course, the fact that none of the children on the bus was killed or suffered a serious injury. Preliminary media reports appear to indicate that the truck driver will be charged with the majority of the fault for the accident due to speeding and possible impairment.
The most troubling aspect of the case is the fact that the injured children may be young, and their injuries may not manifest their full extent until the children reach their teens. An injury that appears relatively minor at a young age may in fact prove to be significantly disabling for the rest of the person’s life.
Seeking legal advice from a personal injury lawyer
The families of the injured children may decide to commence personal injury lawsuits to recover damages for medical expenses, lost future income and any permanent disability. Anyone who suffered an injury under similar circumstances may wish to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for an evaluation of the evidence, potential legal strategies and an opinion on the likelihood of success.