School Bus Accident Attorneys in Westbrook, CT

At Buckley Wynne & Parese, we know what it means to be a part of a family and the importance of keeping our children safe. We trust that our children will be secure and well cared for while they are not in our care, but that is not always the case. Children are injured in Westbrook school bus-related incidents every day. If your child was injured while riding the school bus, getting on or off the bus, or while crossing the street, contact Buckley Wynne & Parese immediately.

Am I putting my children in harm’s way by allowing them to take the school bus? No.

According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, nearly 330,000 Connecticut children are transported to and from school by bus each day. Fortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that students are roughly 70x more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car.

Source: NHTSA

School Bus Safety Features

Seatbelts on School Buses in Connecticut

While the U.S. government requires buses weighing less than 10,000 pounds to have seatbelts, individual states are left to decide whether larger buses require them. In Connecticut, buses weighing over 10,000 pounds are not mandated to be equipped with seatbelts. 

         
    Bus Weighing > 10,000 Pounds                              Bus Weighing < 10,000 Pounds             

Are bus stops and school crossings dangerous? Yes. 

Vehicle-to-vehicle school bus incidents only account for a portion of school bus-related injuries. Statistics show that our children are at the greatest risk when approaching and leaving school buses. Like most states, Connecticut requires drivers to stop, at least ten feet away, for a school bus displaying flashing red lights and a raised stop arm.

Source: SchoolBusFacts.com

• Passing vehicles cause an estimated two-thirds of school bus loading and unloading fatalities.
• One-third of children who are killed outside of the school bus are between five and seven years old.
• Nearly two-thirds of school bus-related fatalities of school-age children occur outside of the school bus. 

What should I do if my child is injured while on the school bus, at the bus stop or at a school crossing?

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

It is important to take your child to the doctor regardless of the severity of your child’s injuries. Keep in mind that it may take a couple days for your child’s injuries to surface. 

2. Document

Be sure to take photographs and/or videos of every single cut or bruise. Keep all paperwork you receive from hospital/doctors and the responding police officer(s).

3. Contact Buckley Wynne & Parese

Contact Buckley Wynne & Parese

If your child has suffered an injury in a school bus-related incident in Westbrook, we encourage you to call us today. Here at BWP, we realize the traumatic and profound effects these incidents can have on children and their loved ones. For over 140 years, families across Connecticut have trusted BWP to find answers, seek justice and get them back on their feet. By contacting us, your only focus will be helping your child heal. We will handle the rest!

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with either John Buckley, John Wynne or John Parese.