School Principal Killed in Bus Accident Called a Hero

iStock_000005737062_LargeAn elementary school principal was recently killed in a bus accident, but is being called a hero. When an approaching school bus jumped the curb and accelerated, the victim managed to push several young students to safety before she was struck and killed.

Two students were also hit by the bus, and were transported to the hospital in serious, but not life-threatening, condition. Luckily, none of the 25 young passengers on the bus or the driver suffered injuries.

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the tragic bus accident, but have so far not reported any explanation. They did say that the bus involved only recently passed an inspection, less than a month prior to the accident.

Liability in School Bus Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are often very bad, since pedestrians have very little protection when it comes to large, speeding, metal bricks. Injuries are not uncommon at all in pedestrian accidents, especially when the vehicle involved is a bus.

When a school bus accident injures a student, or anyone else, there are a few factors that will help determine liability. If the bus is owned by the school or school district itself, then they will likely be found liable for any personal injury or wrongful death. If the school uses a third party transportation company, then they might be the ones in hot water.

Whoever owns the buses, either the school district or a third party, are required to meet certain standards of care, including:

  • Regular inspections of the buses
  • Maintaining the buses in safe working condition
  • Daily inspections from the drivers before they start driving

The bus owners and school typically create their own standards on top of those already mentioned. These additional policies are often found in the drivers’ manuals, and can be used in school bus accident lawsuits.



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