What Should I Do if My Child is Injured While Riding a Florida School Bus?

What should I do if my child is injured while riding on a school bus? Every day, children are transported on school buses and day care center vans. Unfortunately, due to the number of these vehicles on the roadway and the number of bad drivers out there there, accidents involving school buses and day care center vans frequently happen that result in injuries children. As passengers on the school bus or day care center vans, the children obviously bear no fault or responsibility for the accident itself. Therefore it is typically the responsibility or fault of the school bus driver and or the another driver for the injuries caused by the accident. When a child is injured on a school bus or day care center van, there are various things that a parent can do in order to deal with the issues and challenges presented with these type of child / accident related injuries.

Seek Medical Treatment and Evaluation. First and foremost, the parent should make sure that the child gets the appropriate medical care and treatment and / or address any problems that appear to be present following an accident caused by an accident. There are several options out there for initial medical care and treatment including emergency room visit, urgent care center, and pediatrician.
Seek Legal Advice. When a child is injured as a result of a school bus accident or day care center van accident, it is important for the parents to know the legal rights and options for the child relating to medical bills, medical treatment, compensation, and damages. While an attorney is not necessary in every case, it makes sense for the parent to get this information to understand the legal and insurance options following a school bus or van accident.
Take Photographs. When a child is injured, it is important that the visible injuries are documented by photograph to show the existence and severity of the injury. If possible, take photos of the school bus and other vehicles involved in the accident. It may also be helpful to take photos of the street, speed limit signs, and traffic control devices.
Obtain and Review Insurance Information. Following an accident, there maybe several types of insurance that may apply to the injuries or compensation for the injuries. These include school insurance, student accident insurance, health insurance, automobile insurance, and medical payment insurance. Because there is a wide variety of insurance policy and benefits and may apply, it is important to consult with a Florida Personal Injury Attorney on these and other issues as well.
Follow Up Medical Treatment. If the child continues to have signs and symptoms following initial visit to the doctor or medical provider, it may be appropriate to have the child seen on a regular basis by a specialist. Medical providers following an accident may include the following: therapists, chiropractors, neurologists, orthopedists, and physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation). Please report in investigation. It is often helpful to have a copy of the police report and
Obtain and Review Police and Incident Reports. Any police or incident reports regarding the school bus or day care center van will help provide information as to the possible cause and preventability of the accident. These reports should be obtained whether the bus or van driver is at fault, another driver is at fault, or if the fault is a combination of more than one driver.

The issues involved with a school bus or day care center van accident may be complex and confusing. Because of this, it is important for a parent to consult with a Florida Personal Injury Attorney or Florida Child Injury Attorney for consultation, advice, and legal representation. The book titled - The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know - has chapters on Automobile Accidents, School Injuries, Day Care Center Injuries, Medical Treatment / Medical Bills, and other topics. You can get this book for free at The ABCs of Child Injury.