Bus Crash

Ten students were injured in an Oklahoma vehicle accident when their school bus crashed into a light pole. According to a News On 6 news report, the school bus carrying high school students crashed near Stillwater High School. The students were in Stillwater for a track meet. Several students complained of back and neck pain and were transported to a nearby hospital. Officials have not released information regarding why the accident occurred.

School buses are among the safest vehicles on the road because of their size. However, accidents can happen and children can get hurt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 1,236 fatal school transportation-related crashes between the years 2001 and 2010. In those accidents, 1,368 people were killed, which is an average of 137 fatalities per year. The majority of the fatally injured victims were occupants of other vehicles, but occupants of school transportation vehicles did account for 7 percent of the fatalities.

Oklahoma school bus accidents may not occur very often, but they do have the potential to result in devastating injuries. Children who are inside a bus during a collision may suffer a number of different injuries, including spinal cord trauma, brain injuries, concussions, bone fractures, lacerations, broken teeth and whiplash injuries. If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, it is crucial that you seek prompt medical attention.

Regardless of what caused the crash, victims of school bus accidents can pursue financial compensation for their losses. It is important to have an experienced Oklahoma City bus accident attorney on your side who will analyze all aspects of the incident and help determine fault and liability.

A bus carrying more than 40 people was on its way to Oklahoma when it went off the roadway and crashed, killing two people and injuring at least 36. The Associated Press reports that the fatal bus accident occurred on President George Bush Turnpike in Irving, Texas. Officials say the bus was weaving across the highway before striking two concrete barriers and toppling on to its side.

The passengers were thrown inside the bus and many landed on top of each other. Two people were killed in the crash and dozens of others were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to critical. A representative with the Texas Department of Public Safety says that many of the surviving victims suffered bone fractures. It is unclear what caused the Oklahoma-bound Cardinal Coach to crash or how the incident could have been prevented.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that there was a decrease in fatal bus accidents from 325 in the year 2000 to 249 in the year 2010. During that same decade, inter-city buses accounted for 12 percent, school buses for 40 percent and transit buses for 35 percent of all buses involved in fatal crashes.

Injured victims of Oklahoma bus accidents have the right to pursue financial compensation for their suffering by filing a claim against the bus driver and/or the bus company. The family of a deceased bus accident victim may pursue financial compensation for their losses by filing a wrongful death claim. An experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer will be able to help injured bus accident victims and their families better understand their legal rights and options.

A 19-year-old Sasakwa man was killed in a recent Oklahoma school bus accident. According to a report by The Oklahoman, the fatal car accident occurred on State Highway 56 south of Wewoka in Seminole County. Officials say the teenage driver struck a vehicle and then crashed into the rear of a school bus carrying 23 students.

The fatally injured victim was pinned inside his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. A number of students were treated for minor injuries and one of them was taken to a hospital by parents. It is unclear why the initial collision occurred or if anyone will be cited for the crash.

There are a number of reasons why school buses are often involved in serious injury accidents. Oklahoma school buses can be dangerous for their passengers because they rarely have seat belts or any other safety device found in passenger vehicles. During a collision, bags, books, and even children can get tossed around. The size and weight of school buses, however, makes them particularly dangerous to occupants of other vehicles.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,386 people were killed in school transportation-related crashes for an average of 139 fatalities each year between 2000 and 2009. Most of the people who were killed in those crashes (72 percent) were occupants of other vehicles. In the year 2009, for example, fatalities suffered in school bus-related accidents included:

• Two school transport drivers
• Three school transportation passengers
• 21 pedestrians
• 91 occupants of other vehicles

Fatal Oklahoma accidents involving school buses can result in complicated liability claims because the insurance companies for the driver, the bus company, and even the school district may get involved. A skilled Oklahoma City bus accident wrongful death attorney will be able to help families of deceased victims understand their legal rights and options in such cases.

A female motorist was injured in an Oklahoma traffic accident after the vehicle she was driving collided with a school bus. As reported by The Oklahoman, the school bus accident occurred near SW 129 and May Avenue in Oklahoma City. Officials have not released information regarding who was responsible for the crash. The mother of the car’s driver says that her daughter was injured in the Oklahoma City school bus crash. No children were injured in the collision.

School bus accidents often result in injuries because of the size and weight of the vehicle, but it is often occupants of other vehicles who suffer the majority of the injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,564 people were killed in school transportation-related crashes between the years 1998 and 2008. The majority of those fatalities (72 percent) involved occupants of other vehicles.

Because of the potential injuries involving children, all school bus accidents must be carefully investigated. Who was responsible for the crash? Was the bus driver properly licensed? Should the school bus driver face a suspension or termination for driving carelessly or recklessly? Was either motorist driving while distracted or intoxicated?

Accidents involving school buses can result in complicated injury claims. Victims may be able to file a claim against the school bus driver, bus owner, bus company, or even the school district. This is why anyone injured in an Oklahoma bus accident would be well advised to discuss his or her legal rights and options with an experienced car accident attorney. Financial support may be available for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages.

The experienced Oklahoma traffic accident attorneys at Maples Law Firm have a long history of handling school bus accident claims. If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, please contact us at (888) 226-6159 for a free and comprehensive consultation.

A school bus driver and seven students were injured in an Oklahoma City intersection car accident involving a hit-and-run driver. According to The Oklahoman, the school bus accident occurred at Classen Boulevard and NW 89 in Oklahoma City. Officials say a four-door Chrysler Sebring ran the stop sign and struck the bus, forcing it to tip over to its side. The driver and students in the North Highland Elementary bus were hospitalized following the crash. The severity of their injuries is not known. The female driver of the car fled the scene of the crash on foot.

It is illegal under Oklahoma law to leave the scene of an accident when someone has been injured. According to Oklahoma Statute 10-102, any driver who has caused a crash that causes injury or death must stop as soon as possible, return to the scene of the accident, exchange contact information with all other parties involved, and provide reasonable aid to those who have been involved in the crash.

Victims of bus accidents may pursue financial compensation for their losses from the bus company, the at-fault driver, or both. Other parties may also be involved. This process becomes potentially more complicated when the at-fault driver flees the scene of the crash. In such cases, a skilled car accident attorney will be needed to stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the victims’ legal rights and best interests are protected.

The experienced Oklahoma City bus accident injury lawyers at Maples Law Firm have a long history of protecting the best interests of accident victims and their families. Please contact us at (888) 226-6159 for a no-cost consultation and case evaluation.

At least one person was injured in an Oklahoma City car accident involving a collision between a school bus containing 10 children and a car. According to a KOCO news report, the school bus accident occurred near Southeast 15th Street and Choctaw Road in Oklahoma City. Officials say the school bus was about to turn left when a car rear-ended it. None of the children were injured, but the driver of the car was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It is not clear if the bus was using a signal or why the collision occurred.

According to accident statistics gathered by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,564 people were killed in school transportation-related crashes between the years 1998 and 2008. Most of the people who lost their lives in those crashes (72 percent) were occupants of other vehicles involved. That does not mean, however, that passengers on school buses cannot or did not suffer fatal injuries. There were 96 crashes over a 10-year period that resulted in the death of at least one school transportation occupant.

Injured victims of school bus accidents, whether they were on the bus or in another vehicle, should contact an attorney right away. There is a short statute of limitations on bus accidents, and once that time has passed, it will not be possible to file a claim. When a claim is filed in time, the at-fault parties – be it the bus driver, bus company, or governmental entity – can be held accountable for damages such as medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other related damages.

The skilled Oklahoma City bus crash injury attorneys at the Maples Law Firm help victims of Oklahoma traffic accidents pursue fair compensation for their losses. We provide free consultations at (888) 226-6159 to anyone who has been injured in an accident.

Six students, a baby, and the driver of an SUV were injured in an Oklahoma car accident involving a school bus. According to a KOCO news report, the school bus accident occurred near NE 39th Street and Anderson Road in Oklahoma City. Officials say the bus was transporting students from Roger Middle School when it collided with the black SUV. The driver of the SUV and an infant were transported to the hospital. Of the occupants on the bus, six students were transported to a local hospital for observation. It is unclear what caused the crash or if either driver will face citations for the collision.

In general, school buses are a safe way to travel. Approximately 24 million students travel by school bus each year. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses have a rate of .2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The rate of deaths for cars is eight times higher. Between the years 1994 and 2004, 71 school bus passengers were killed while 31,593 people were killed in car accidents in the year 2004 alone.

When school bus accidents do occur, it is important to properly assess why they occurred and how they could have been prevented. Was the bus driver properly trained and licensed? Was the bus properly maintained? Does the bus have seatbelts? Was the bus driver distracted or otherwise careless? Victims of school bus accidents can pursue compensation for their losses with the help of an experienced lawyer. It is the responsibility of bus companies and of school districts to ensure the safety of their young passengers as well as others on the roadway.

The skilled Oklahoma City bus accident injury attorneys at the Maples Law Firm offer free consultations at (888) 226-6159 to anyone injured in an Oklahoma auto accident. We strive to ensure that our clients receive fair compensation for all injuries and losses they have suffered.

At least one child was injured in an Oklahoma crash involving a school bus carrying 25 students. According to News OK, the bus accident occurred near Hefner Road and Rockwell Avenue in Oklahoma City. Officials say the bus collided with a car but no other details were provided. One student complained of an injury and was transported to a nearby hospital. The injuries did not appear to be serious.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between the year 2000 and 2009, there were 371,104 fatal crashes in the United States. Of those accidents, only .34 percent was classified as school transportation accidents. During that same time period, 85 crashes occurred that involved at least one occupant of a school transportation vehicle suffering a fatal injury. An average of 19 school-age occupants of school vehicles are killed in traffic accidents each year.

Bus companies and school districts are legally required to provide the utmost level of care to students. When a child is injured, they must act swiftly to provide compensation for his or her medical bills. Unfortunately, it is common for valid claims to be denied and for families to struggle with unexpected and expensive medical bills.

The experienced bus accident attorneys in Oklahoma at Maples Law Firm have a long history of helping victims of bus accidents get fair compensation for their losses. If you or a loved one has been hurt in an auto accident in Oklahoma, please call our offices today at (888) 226-6159 for a no-cost consultation.

Two children were hospitalized with injuries after a traffic accident involving a Tulsa Public Schools bus. According to a KTUL news report, the injury crash occurred in the southbound lanes of Highway 75 near the on-ramp to the Interstate 44. The bus carrying 16 children and four adults from Anderson Elementary School was on its way to the Jewish Holocaust Museum when their bus rear-ended a semi truck. Two children were transported to an area hospital and three others were treated at the scene. It is not clear if the bus driver will be cited for the collision.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 96 crashes occurred in which at least one occupant of a school transportation vehicle died between 1996 and 2008. More than half of those crashes, about 59 percent, involved at least one other vehicle. In the 57 multi-vehicle crashes, 32 drivers and 40 passengers died. In 51 percent of all fatal school bus crashes, the principal point of impact was the front of the vehicle.

When a school bus crash occurs, it is important to determine which one of the parties was at fault. If the driver of the other vehicle was at-fault, he or she can be held liable for the injuries. If the school bus driver was at fault, then the driver, his or her employer, the bus company, and even the school district may be held liable.

If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, an experienced personal injury attorney in Oklahoma City at the Maples Law Firm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. If you wish to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights, please contact us at (888) 226-6159 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

Ten people on an Oklahoma City bus and two occupants of an SUV were injured in an Oklahoma traffic accident when the two vehicles collided. According to a news report in NewsOK, the bus accident occurred at the intersection of Linwood Avenue and North Indiana Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City. Officials say the driver of the SUV ran a red light before crashing into the bus. The bus then hit a light pole and a tree in the median before striking a business on Linwood Boulevard. The passengers on the bus were thrown around and 10 sustained non-life-threatening injuries, as did the two occupants of the SUV.

Under Oklahoma Statute Title 47, Chapter 11, Article 2, Section 11-201 (a): “The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this act, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this act.” Drivers who run through red lights or stop signs may be held liable for the damages they cause.

Victims of Oklahoma car or bus accidents would be well advised to discuss their legal rights and options with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Financial compensation may be available for their medical bills, suffering, lost wages, and other related damages. Victims would also be well advised to get their name in the police report, to collect the contact information from the bus driver and any other drivers involved, and to seek immediate medical attention.

The skilled Oklahoma City traffic accident attorneys at The Maples Law Firm have a long and successful track record of helping auto accident victims obtain fair compensation for their injuries, damages, and losses. To discuss your case, please call our offices at (888) 226-6159 today. We always offer free case evaluations to injured victims and their families.