Tips for Avoiding School Bus Accidents

/by

School bus accidents are one of the greatest tragedies of a school year. No matter how many public service announcements are made or how many adjustments are made to bus design and safety features, each year still sees some children lose their lives to a preventable bus accident.

As a motorist, you have an obligation to do everything you can to avoid school bus accidents and keep the children aboard those buses safe. If you or your child has been injured in a bus accident, call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151.

Leave a Larger Following Distance

Leaving sufficient stopping distance is always a good idea when driving, but it is absolutely critical when you are behind a school bus. School buses start and stop frequently, and if you aren’t leaving enough space, you could hit the bus or a child getting on or off of it. Driving close to the back of the bus won’t make it go any faster, so stay back.

Watch for Flashing Stop Signs

Most school buses have extendable arms with flashing stop signs that alert drivers to the fact that children are getting on or off the bus. Be especially watchful for these signs and be ready to stop. Not only does blowing past one of these signs get you a hefty ticket, it could also lead to an injured child.

Do Not Pass a Bus on the Side

Even if a school bus does not have an extendable arm with a stop sign, you should not pass a bus on the side when it is stopped to allow children on or off. If a bus is stopped ahead of you, leave a healthy following distance and stop.

Be Alert

Perhaps the best thing you can do when you are following a school bus is to be as alert and attentive as possible. Children are unpredictable. Even if you wait until it is safe to go, it is possible that a young child will dart out in front of you or try to run across the street.

This isn’t even necessarily a matter of fault and liability—it’s a matter of not wanting a young child’s injury or death on your conscience. Be careful when driving and always keep an eye out for little ones.

As the school year gets going, you will notice when the busiest times are for school buses. This allows you to plan your trips accordingly or know when you should be extra careful.

Watch for Railroad Crossings

School buses are legally obligated to stop at railroad crossings. They stop at the crossing, open their door to check for trains, and then continue on their way. Be prepared to stop before you reach a railroad crossing. This might mean waiting to enter an intersection if there is a railroad crossing immediately after the light.

Slow Down and Be Patient

All of these tips boil down to one basic tip: slow down and be careful. Everyone is in a rush to get wherever they are going, but it isn’t worth putting others at risk—especially children. If you give yourself a few extra minutes to leave for work, you can have a less stressful drive and protect the children boarding the bus when you are on the road.

School buses generally travel at much lower speeds than other vehicles, so giving them extra space and being ready to brake makes life easier for everyone. Not only does this keep the road safer, it also allows the bus driver to feel less stressed while driving. As a result, they are less likely to be involved in an accident.

If you follow the rules of the road, consider how unpredictable children can be and drive as safely as you can. You can do your part to avoid school bus accidents and make your community a safer place to live.

Contact Us After Your Bus Accident

Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, accidents do happen. If you get hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. To learn more about your options and discuss your case with an attorney, call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151 or contact us online.

Can Victims Sue the Government Over a Car Accident Injury?

/by

Car accidents are complicated enough, but when you get the government involved, the complexity of your case increases tenfold. It should come as no surprise that any personal injury case involving a local or federal government entity requires careful handling and legal expertise, given the variety of laws put in place to protect government entities from unnecessary lawsuits.

If you have been injured in a car accident and you believe the government is liable for your injuries, there is no time to waste. Contact Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151 to discuss your options and set up a consultation.

Liability in a Car Accident

When you seek compensation after a car accident, you must be able to prove that the other party was liable for the accident. Your attorney will use a range of tools to gather evidence, then use that evidence to support your claim. When the liable party is a regular person—rather than a government entity—the process is fairly straightforward and simple.

The attorney connects with the insurance company and asks for an appropriate settlement amount. From there, the two parties negotiate and provide evidence supporting their side until they agree on a settlement amount. If no settlement can be reached, the case proceeds to court.

The process is not quite as simple when a government entity or someone representing a government entity is liable for your injuries.

When a Government Entity is Liable

Consider this scenario. You’re driving and you approach an intersection where you have a green light. You check as you approach the intersection, and it seems safe to go. As you cross the intersection, a driver coming the opposite direction flies through on a left turn, not slowing down at all or checking if the intersection is clear. They hit you on your side and the car rolls over.

After the accident, you find out that the person driving was on government business in a government vehicle. Now, not only do you have injuries and property damage to take care of, you have to do so while going up against a government agency and all the legal hurdles that involves.

When a government agency is liable for your accident, it is important to know exactly who holds liability. This may mean having your attorney conduct extensive research to figure out all the liable parties. Statute of limitation laws vary, so failing to do your research can quite literally cost you your entire case.

Generally, if you suffer an injury caused by someone else’s negligence in Mississippi, you have three years to bring a personal injury claim against them. This is not the case if the government is involved. If the liable party is a Mississippi governmental entity, you have just one year. On a federal level, you have two years.

The Importance of Hiring an Attorney

The issues with a claim against the government extend beyond the statute of limitations. In many cases, there are laws prohibiting certain types of claims or limiting the payout you can receive. That’s why it’s crucial to work with a Mississippi personal injury attorney who knows how to handle claims against government agencies. Your attorney will understand how much time you have to move forward and act accordingly to gather evidence and build a solid case against the appropriate parties.

Your attorney will also know which limitations affect your case and avoid missteps that could cause delays or dismissals. Claims against the government usually work under a different set of rules than claims against private parties, and without an attorney who understands these rules, your claim could be over before it is even considered.

So yes, you may be able to seek compensation from the government if they are responsible for the injuries you suffered in a car accident. However, whether or not you actually get compensation depends largely on the circumstances of your case and how skilled your attorney is with these types of claims.

Find Out How Reeves & Mestayer Can Help

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident, hiring a personal injury attorney should be your top priority. The team at Reeves & Mestayer is here to support you every step of the way and fight for the compensation you deserve. Set up a consultation now by calling us at 228-374-5151 or contacting us online.