The scene was filled with carnage as the mangled bus was lying on its side with the undercarriage and front end completely torn off leaving the steering wheel exposed. Officials report the bus driver made an illegal U-turn before colliding with the dump truck. Emergency responders arrived to find some of the injured passengers outside of the bus. Canine units were dispatched into the woods near the scene to find anyone who was possibly ejected out of the bus during the accident.
Those who were injured, some of which are in critical condition, are currently being treated for their injuries.
Bus Accidents in New Jersey
This horrific incident reminds us of how dangerous bus accidents can be. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 118 people were killed on school buses that were involved in an accident between 2007 to 2016. 58 of the victims were students. During that same span of time, school bus accidents have killed 902 people in totality.
Bus accidents occur with more frequency than you think. According to a 2014 report from the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation, 69,000 bus accidents occurred throughout the entire United States. Some of the most common causes of bus accidents include:
- Distracted, intoxicated, or fatigued driving
- Improper training of bus drivers
- Overloading the bus
- Poor upkeep of the vehicle
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Faulty road signs or traffic lights
If you or your child is the victim of a bus accident, you are going to need an experienced bus accident attorney to help find all the facts that caused your crash. Having an accurate portrayal of all the facts can get you the compensation you need for your injury or your child’s injury.
Pursuing an Injury Claim
You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries if you or a loved one was injured in a bus accident. It doesn’t matter if you were the passenger, driver, pedestrian, or driver of another vehicle. Any person involved in a bus accident can be eligible to recover the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property loss
- Related damages
File your injury claim as soon as possible so you don’t miss any deadline to file in case your claim is against any public agency like the New Jersey Transit.
Contact Us Today
If you were a victim of the school bus tragedy that occurred in Mount Olive township or the victim of any type of bus injury, the time to act is now. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone today so we can help you recover the compensation you deserve. You can reach our law offices through our website’s contact form, social media, or phone via call or text.