School Bus Accidents

West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyers Skilled with Complexities of School Bus Accidents

Also serving Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Beyond

School bus accidents often bring to mind children who are passengers on the bus, but anyone can be the victim of a school bus accident. This includes other drivers who collide with a bus or adults being transported to events on a bus.

Regardless of your age or whether you were a bus passenger or not, school bus accidents are often more complex than other auto accident cases. The Ft. Myers injury attorneys at Wolf & Pravato have extensive experience with the legal complexities of school bus cases and can assist you in seeking justice.

Ft. Lauderdale School Bus Accident Cases

The reason school bus accident cases are often complicated is because of a legal doctrine called "sovereign immunity." This applies whenever the bus driver was a government employee, as those who work for the government are largely protected from being sued for acts they perform within the capacity of their official duties. This means even if you or someone you love is injured in a school bus accident as a result of negligence, making a Ft. Myers or Fort Lauderdale personal injury claim against the bus driver can be difficult. There are, however, some exceptions to sovereign immunity, which the West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys at Wolf & Pravato can help you to explore.

Injury Claims for School Bus Accidents

Although you may not be able to sue the bus driver, there are other potential defendants that can be held legally responsible for school bus accidents. The school board is one possible defendant, although school boards are also government entities, so there are strict procedural and notice rules that must be complied with when filing suit against school bus drivers.

Other drivers who may be responsible for the crash, such as a driver who collided with a school bus and caused an accident, are not given these types of protections and will be treated just as any other Ft. Myers or West Palm Beach drivers would.  Likewise, if the school bus driver or company is a private company and not one operated by the government, then the special governmental immunity rules do not apply.

Proving a Ft. Myers School Bus Accident Claim

At Wolf & Pravato, when we handle a school bus accident, we will help you to identify any possible defendants who can be held responsible for the losses you suffered. We will assist you in making a claim and in gathering the evidence you need to prove negligence and to prove your right to compensation. This will include evidence that:

• The potential defendant owed you a legal duty;
• The duty was breached, and;
• The breach led to compensable harm.

We will assist you every step of the way in using your evidence to either negotiate a settlement or to win a case in court to obtain damages.

Damages for School Bus Accidents

Damages for a school bus accident can be extensive, especially because school buses are not generally equipped with seatbelts and injuries can thus be more severe than in other types of accidents. These damages may include:

• Compensation for medical costs;
• Lost wages;
• Pain and suffering and emotional distress. 

Getting Help from West Palm Beach Injury Attorneys

To learn more about how to make a successful Ft. Myers or West Palm Beach school bus accident claim, schedule a consultation with the experienced Fort Lauderdale injury attorneys at Wolf & Pravato today.