Multiple People Injured In Santa Paula School Bus Accident By The Intersection of Mountain Road and Balcom Canyon Road
SANTA PAULA, CALIFORNIA (April 23, 2022) – Multiple student athletes were injured when a Santa Paula school bus overturned by the intersection of Mountain Road and Balcom Canyon Road.
Ventura County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 2:00 p.m. on Friday. A school bus with 11 people onboard overturned in the roadway under unclear conditions.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. The bus drivers and two students were taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment.
A full investigation into what may have caused the bus to overturn remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Santa Paula School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically one of the safest forms of transportation for children. Still, accidents happen and they can be devastating. According to the National Safety Council, there were 54 fatalities that involved school buses in 2020. Pedestrians and bicyclists tend to be at the greatest risk of being seriously injured or killed. There are a number of factors that could contribute to school bus accidents.
- School buses have high centers of gravity and are more prone to tipping over.
- School buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of other vehicles.
- Inexperienced school bus drivers are more likely to crash.
School buses are considered common carriers and their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. According to the Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instructions, “Common carriers must carry passengers [or property] safely. Common carriers must use the highest care and the vigilance of a very cautious person. They must do all that human care, vigilance, and foresight reasonably can do under the circumstances to avoid harm to passengers[or property].” If a school bus driver is negligent and causes an accident, they can be held at fault through a civil claim.
The company or municipality that employed a school bus driver could also be held at fault for a crash. In general, employers are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. Many school bus accidents are due to drivers that allow their vehicle to travel off of the roadway. Victims of school bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- PTSD
The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more people to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a school bus accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A school bus accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Ventura County School Bus Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Santa Paula school bus accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all of the victims.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Santa Paula school bus accident? You may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need help after an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
