Two charter buses taking students to Orlando on a field trip collided with each other injuring 34 of the 91 occupants of the buses. The Florida Highway Patrol says the buses were following a truck that was pulling a trailer that had no operating brake lights, and when the trailer slowed to turn into a driveway, the driver of the closest bus didn’t notice the turn and slammed on brakes.
The second bus driver was unable to slow in time and hit the bus in front of it. In all, 34 occupants from both buses went to the hospital. The rest were taken to a fire station to wait for another bus to take them on their way.
The accident happened around 10:15 a.m., Friday, May 17, 2019, in the area of Rockridge Road and Dean Still Road north of Polk City. The Port Richey Pepin Academies Pasco Campus students were going to the medieval festival in Kissimmee for a field trip. Most of the injuries were minor with a few being moderate. Of the 34 injured, three were adults who were chaperoning the trip. Police cited the driver of the pickup with defective equipment. And, charged one of the bus drivers with careless driving.
Charter Bus Accidents
Each year around 137,000 people injured and 135 people die in school bus-related incidents. Only 6 or 7 of those fatalities being students who were riding on the bus. Others include hitting kids outside the bus and occupants of other vehicles that collide with a bus.
Statistically, students are rarely killed while riding the bus. The reason is the size and weight of the bus. A bus weighs around 30,000 lbs which outweighs the average passenger car by a factor of 10. Thus, when a car hits a school bus, most of the damage is to the car. The students are usually protected by the bulk of the bus.
Bus Accident Injuries
The vast majority of the 137,000 injuries for bus occupants each year are minor, but some can be moderate to serious. Most school buses and private charter buses don’t have seatbelts. As a result, people get tossed around during an accident causing many of the injuries. These are some common injuries in a school bus crash:
- Head Trauma: From hitting the seat in front of the person.
- Broken limbs: Broken arms and legs happen when a person hits the seat or bulwark in front of them.
- Deep Contusion: The impact can cause deep bruising which can be painful and take time to heal.
- Lacerations: Broken glass, twisted metal can cause deep cuts and serious injury when a school bus crashes.
Do I need an Attorney?
If you’ve been injured in a school bus, charter bus or HART bus accident, then you should talk to an attorney about your case before you speak to anyone from the insurance company. Call RHINO Lawyers today to talk to our personal injury team in a free consultation where you can have your case evaluated by an expert.
RHINO Lawyers is the powerful, results-driven law firm, that takes Insurance Companies and Bullies “head-on!” We describe our bold modern approach to “Accident & Personal Injury Law” and “Our Personal Mission” to empower Florida’s families to “Take Charge!”
