Muryl Slaydon Jr., of Kountze, Injured In Lumberton Bicycle Accident With Kountze Independent School District School Bus On U.S. Highway 69 By Paula Drive
LUMBERTON, TEXAS (October 8, 2022) – A 60-year-old bicyclist identified as Muryl Slaydon Jr was injured in a Lumberton school bus accident on U.S. Highway 69.
Kountze County officials are saying that the accident took place around 6:30 a.m. on Friday. Muryl Slaydon Jr was riding a bicycle when he was hit by a school bus driver that failed to yield at a stop sign.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Muryl Slaydon Jr was transported to the Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont in order to receive treatment.
It remains unclear if the school bus driver will receive any citations for the crash. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Lumberton School Bus Accidents
School buses are among the safest forms of transportation for children. But they pose a number of unique hazards for pedestrians, bicyclists and those in passenger vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “From 2011 to 2020, about 70% of the deaths in school bus-related crashes were occupants of vehicles other than the school bus, and 16% were pedestrians. About 5% were school bus passengers, 5% were school bus drivers, and 3% were pedalcyclists.” There are a number of factors that could potentially contribute to a school bus accident.
- School buses have large blind spots that can easily obscure the presence of smaller vehicles.
- School buses weigh 20 – 30 times more than passenger vehicles and are much more difficult to stop.
- School buses have a wide turning radius and are much more susceptible to side-impact collisions.
School bus drivers must get a commercial driver’s license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must do everything in their power to avoid hitting bicyclists and pedestrians. Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code 544.010, the driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection with a stop sign shall stop their vehicle and yield the right of way to all vehicles and bicyclists close enough to pose a hazard. If a school bus driver fails to reduce their speed and hits a bicyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
If a school bus driver was working at the time of a crash, the company or school district that they worked for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a school bus driver may have been transporting children when they crashed. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The FMCSA requires commercial buses that can carry 16 or more passengers 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 in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, school districts will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any accident. 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 Lumberton School Bus Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Muryl Slaydon Jr as he continues to recover. 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 the victim. It is our sincere hope that steps will be taken to prevent other collisions like this.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Lumberton school bus accident? Our team of bicycle safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. 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 any type of support after an accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
