School Bus Flips Over in Spokane County—Thankfully No Children Inside

According to a report from KREM 2, a school bus turned over after a multi-vehicle collision in Spokane County. The school bus accident occurred on a stretch of road within the Otis Orchards area of Spokane Valley. A BMW—which authorities believe was stolen—collided with the bus at an intersection. The driver of the school bus was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

The accident happened shortly after the driver had finished dropping off children for the day. While it is thankful that no kids were on the bus at the time of the accident, these types of incidents can still be frightening for parents. Here, our Spokane car accident lawyers take a comprehensive look at the most recent school bus accident data.

NSC: School Bus Accidents Cause 13,000 Injuries Nationwide Each Year

The National Safety Council (NSC) publishes an annual report on school bus safety in the United States. The report paints a somewhat mixed picture of school bus accidents. While school buses are actually safer for children than many other forms of transportation, there are still far too many crashes in a year. The NSC estimates that 13,000 people and 109 people were killed in school bus accidents in 2019 alone. To be clear, not all of the victims are schoolchildren. The statistics also included occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians. The NSC estimates that 5,000 school bus passengers are injured and 5 to 10 are killed in motor vehicle collisions each year.

Other School Bus Safety Issues Parents Should Know

Being hurt in a collision as a passenger is not the only way for a child to be seriously injured while riding a school bus. There are two other key safety issues that parents in Eastern Washington should be aware of:

1. Pedestrian: Children have to get themselves to the bus stop, get on the bus, get off of the bus, and return home. Other drivers pose a potential safety risk to children who are getting on and getting off of a school bus. Not only do these drivers owe a duty of care to young kids, but the school system should also put the proper protocols in place to avoid pedestrian accidents.
2. Student Conduct: Students require supervision. Unfortunately, there are reports of children and teenagers being harmed in fights and assaults on school buses. Once again, the school system has a legal responsibility to ensure that transportation is reasonably safe for children. They should take proactive steps to make sure that students are well supervised and kept safe from each other while riding the bus to and from school each day.

Get Help From a Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney in Spokane, Washington

At‌ ‌Albrecht‌ Law ‌ ‌PLLC, our Washington motor vehicle accident attorneys are committed to helping people and families maximize their compensation after a crash. If your child was hurt in a bus accident, we can help. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation. Our firm serves communities throughout Spokane County, including Spokane, Spokane Valley, Cheney, Deer Park, and Millwood.