Tag Archive for: rideshare accident

Important Tips for Avoiding School Bus Accidents

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Each day, millions of students rely on school buses for transportation to and from their educational institutions. To ensure their safety and well-being, it is important to implement preventive measures that minimize the risk of school bus accidents. If your child was injured in a school bus accident, you should not delay in speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney to pursue the rightful financial damages.

Helpful Tips for Avoiding School Bus Accidents in Alabama

Preventing school bus accidents requires a collective effort involving school administrations, bus drivers, students, parents, and the wider community. By following these tips and fostering a safety-conscious environment, everyone can significantly reduce the risk of school bus accidents and ensure the well-being of children during their daily commute.

  • Strict Adherence to Traffic Rules: School bus drivers should adhere to all traffic rules and regulations, especially speed limits and stop sign rules. Stopping for school buses that have their stop signs extended and red lights flashing is mandatory in most places to allow children to safely board or disembark from the bus.
  • Adequate Training for Drivers: School bus drivers should receive comprehensive training that covers safe driving practices, handling emergencies, and dealing with challenging situations. Regular refresher courses can help drivers stay updated on the latest safety protocols.
  • Routine Maintenance: Regular maintenance and thorough inspections of school buses are essential to ensure that they are in optimal working condition. Brakes, tires, signals, and other components must be regularly checked to minimize the risk of accidents caused by mechanical failures.
  • Distraction-Free Driving: Bus drivers must remain focused on the road and their surroundings at all times. The use of mobile phones or engaging in other distracting activities while driving should be strictly prohibited.
  • Clear Communication: Drivers should establish clear guidelines for safe boarding and disembarking, and students should be educated about proper behavior on the bus to prevent any disturbances that could lead to accidents.
  • Designated Zones: Schools should establish designated zones for getting in the buses that are clearly marked and free from obstructions. This helps ensure that students can safely enter or exit the bus without the risk of accidents due to traffic congestion or blind spots.
  • Traffic Awareness Campaigns: Educational campaigns aimed at raising awareness among drivers about the importance of following school bus safety rules can significantly reduce the risk of accidents. These campaigns can include information about the consequences of not stopping for school buses and the penalties for violating these rules.
  • Supervision for Younger Students: Younger students may require additional supervision while boarding and disembarking from the bus. School staff or older students can assist them to ensure their safety during these critical moments.
  • Emergency Evacuation Drills: Regular practice of emergency evacuation drills can prepare both students and drivers for quick and safe evacuation in case of an emergency. These drills can help reduce panic and confusion during unforeseen situations.
  • Parental Involvement: Parents can play a vital role by educating their children about school bus safety and reinforcing good behavior. Encouraging open communication between parents, students, and school authorities can create a collaborative approach to safety.

Seeking Justice for a Child Injured in an Alabama School Bus Accident

In Alabama, there are several legal avenues through which a parent can seek compensation for a school bus accident involving their child. These avenues may include:

  • Personal Injury Lawsuit: If the accident was caused by negligence or recklessness, the parent can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party, which could include the school district, bus driver, or other responsible parties.
  • Negligence Claims: If negligence played a role in the accident (such as inadequate training of the bus driver or failure to maintain the bus), the parent can pursue a claim based on the other party’s negligence.
  • Vicarious Liability: If the accident was caused by the bus driver while on duty, the school district might be held vicariously liable for the actions of its employees.
  • Premises Liability: If the accident occurred due to hazardous conditions on school property (such as poorly maintained bus stops or school grounds), a premises liability claim could be pursued.
  • Product Liability: If a defect in the school bus or its components contributed to the accident, a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or seller could be pursued.
  • Wrongful Death Claims: If the accident tragically resulted in the death of the child, the parents may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for their loss.
  • Municipal Liability: If the school district is a municipal entity, there are specific rules and procedures for filing claims against government entities for injuries caused by their employees.

An experienced personal injury attorney can provide legal help for filing a claim after identifying all potential defendants.

Why Should You Pursue Civil Action Following a School Bus Accident?

Parents should consider pursuing a civil claim for a school bus accident if their child has been injured or suffered damages as a result of the accident. Pursuing a civil claim serves several important purposes:

  • Compensation for Damages
  • Holding Responsible Parties Accountable
  • Encouraging Safer Practices

Seeking compensation through a civil claim can provide a sense of closure and justice for both the child and the parents. Consulting with legal professionals who are experienced in personal injury cases can help parents navigate the legal process and make informed decisions about their child’s well-being and future.

Get an Experienced School Bus Accident Lawyer on Your Side to Maximize Compensation for Your Child’s Injuries

If your child has been involved in a school bus accident and has suffered injuries or damages, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Wilkins, Bankester, Biles & Wynne, P.A. can help you take legal action to protect your child’s rights and seek the justice and compensation your child deserves. Our attorneys are dedicated to holding all the negligent parties accountable and helping secure your child’s future with the rightful compensation.

Our lawyers are here to provide you with a free case evaluation. Call us at 251-928-1915 or contact us online.

 

Liability for Ridesharing Accidents: What You Need to Know

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Ridesharing has made so many aspects of life easier. If you want to have a few drinks while you’re out, you can turn to Uber or Lyft instead of trying to schedule a taxi in advance. Have a work meeting in an unfamiliar part of the city? Entrust the task to a rideshare driver. However, anything that makes life easier also comes with its downsides. The same is true with ridesharing and an uptick in accidents across the country.

Not sure what happens after a rideshare accident? We’re here to help. Call Wilkins, Bankester, Biles & Wynne at 251-937-7024 to set up a consultation now.

The Basics of Liability Are the Same

The basic principles of liability are the same, whether or not a rideshare driver is involved in a crash. Either driver could be liable, but so could the vehicle manufacturer, the municipality that maintains the roads, or the repair shop that last took care of either vehicle. If either driver was working at the time of the collision, their employer could even have some liability.

However, rideshare accidents start to split apart from the rest when you look at the insurance coverage they have at different steps of a ride. since insurance coverage is often a limiting factor when it comes to getting full and fair compensation, it’s important to know how protected you are when you choose to ride with a rideshare company.

Insurance Coverage is Different for Rideshare Drivers

The rideshare industry grew so quickly that legislation struggled to keep up. Now that ridesharing is a regular and accepted part of American life, there is a lot more protection available to drivers and riders alike.

Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage for accidents caused by their drivers. The coverage varies, depending on where they are in the process:

  • App turned on, but no ride is accepted: The driver has $25,000 of coverage for property damage, $50,000 of coverage per person, and a total of $100,000 per accident.
  • On the way to pick up a rider or driving with a rider in the vehicle: The rider has up to $1 million of liability coverage.

If the app is off, the rideshare company’s insurance does not apply at all. In this situation, you would seek compensation through the driver’s personal vehicle insurance.

Protecting Yourself After a Crash

Whether you are injured as a rider in an Uber or Lyft driver’s vehicle or you hit an Uber or Lyft car with your vehicle, it’s important to protect yourself after a collision. Yes, rideshare drivers have plenty of insurance coverage to pay for the property damage and injuries they cause. However, that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to get them to pay out.

Uber and Lyft drivers know that serious accidents or a track record of minor accidents make it more likely that they will be deactivated on the platform and lose a source of income. Because of this, some drivers are unwilling to hand out insurance information or even report the crash. This makes it very hard for you to get your expenses paid for.

Even once your crash reaches the insurance company, there’s no guarantee that they will pay you what your injury is worth. Providing that level of coverage to the thousands and thousands of rideshare drivers in the United States is incredibly expensive, and one of the ways they protect their profit margins is to deny injury claims whenever possible.

To keep yourself safe after a crash, immediately report it to the police. You want documentation of the accident and evidence you can give to your attorney. Get insurance information from the Uber or Lyft driver. From there, you’ll need to reach out to a rideshare accident attorney in Baldwin County. We can help you fight for what you deserve.

Reach Out to Wilkins, Bankester, Biles & Wynne Today

If a rideshare accident has left you injured and unsure of what you should do next, the team at Wilkins, Bankester, Biles & Wynne is here to help. Set up an appointment now. You can reach us online or give us a call at our Fairhope office at 251-928-1915.