You sent your child off to school expecting a normal day. Instead, a phone call shattered that routine—there was a school bus crash, and your child got hurt. Panic, questions, and fear quickly took over.
In the wake of that chaos, you need more than answers. You need clarity, support, and a plan. The car accident attorneys at Hupy and Abraham, S.C. have spent over five decades helping families like yours navigate these traumatic events. We fight for accountability and pursue full compensation for children when adults fail to protect them.
Why School Bus Accidents Still Happen
While school buses often rank among the safest vehicles on the road, serious accidents still occur. When they do, children face significant risks because many buses lack seat belts, and young passengers often have little protection during a crash.
What Causes School Bus Crashes?
Most school bus accidents stem from preventable mistakes or oversight. These events usually happen because someone failed to follow safety rules or acted recklessly. Common causes include:
- Distracted driving. Texting, eating, or adjusting a radio can pull bus drivers’ attention away from the road.
- Faulty or missed maintenance. Worn tires or malfunctioning brakes often lead to avoidable breakdowns or collisions.
- Poor driver training. Inexperienced drivers may panic in emergencies or overlook child safety.
- Other motorists’ reckless driving. Speeding or running stop signs near school buses frequently causes accidents.
- Hazardous road conditions. Unmarked intersections or damaged roads create dangerous conditions.
These crashes rarely happen by random accident. In most cases, someone made a decision—or failed to make one—that put your child in harm’s way.
Who Can You Hold Accountable for Your Child’s Injuries?
When a school bus crash injures your child, multiple parties may share responsibility. Identifying everyone involved helps ensure your family receives full and fair compensation.
Unlike standard car crashes, school bus incidents often involve school districts, private contractors, and government entities. Each of them plays a role in keeping children safe, and each must answer for any failure. Here are a few ways multiple entities may bear responsibility for a school bus accident:
- School districts: You may be able to hold them accountable for approving unfit drivers or inadequate training programs.
- Private transportation companies: They may be liable for poor bus maintenance or negligent driver monitoring.
- Bus drivers: They are responsible for operating the vehicle safely and following all traffic laws.
- Other drivers: They can be responsible if their reckless driving caused a multi-vehicle collision.
- Manufacturers: They may share legal blame if a defective part contributed to the crash.
Hupy and Abraham, S.C. investigates every angle of a crash to uncover who contributed to your child’s injuries.
What Injuries Do Children Often Suffer in Bus Crashes?
Children riding buses face unique risks during collisions. Without seat belts, the force of the accident may throw them against seats, windows, or even into the aisles. Even low-speed crashes can cause lasting harm.
Common injuries include both physical trauma and emotional distress, and both deserve equal attention in legal claims. Here are a few of the most common injuries and how they might manifest:
- Head injuries often go unnoticed at first. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries may emerge hours or days later.
- Broken bones frequently occur in rollovers or side-impact crashes. Wrists, arms, and ribs often take the brunt of the impact.
- Spinal damage can limit mobility. Even minor spinal injuries can create long-term complications for growing children.
- Soft tissue damage causes lingering pain. Torn ligaments, bruised muscles, and internal injuries often require extended care.
- Psychological trauma affects school, sleep, and relationships. Children may develop fears, nightmares, or behavioral changes after a crash.
Don’t assume a child’s silence means everything is fine. Always seek a full medical evaluation, even when you see no obvious injuries.
What Should You Do After the Crash?
Parents often feel paralyzed after a school bus crash. But acting quickly and documenting everything helps protect your child’s recovery and your family’s future.
Start by getting your child emergency medical care. Follow every recommended test and treatment, even if the symptoms seem mild.
Next, gather as much evidence and information as possible. Doing this early makes it easier to hold negligent parties accountable later. Keep careful track of all the following:
- Keep all medical records and documents. These papers show how the crash affected your child physically and emotionally.
- Request the official crash report. This report often contains important details about how the crash occurred.
- Take photographs. Capture injuries, damaged personal belongings, or even clothing from the day of the crash.
- Get names and contact information from witnesses. Adults at the scene or children on the bus may recall details others missed.
- Avoid speaking to insurance companies alone. They may try to twist your words or pressure you into an early settlement.
A car accident lawyer from Hupy and Abraham, S.C. can take over these conversations and preserve your rights from the start.
What Compensation Can Your Child Receive?
When negligence causes a school bus accident, Wisconsin law allows families to seek compensation. These funds can’t undo the pain, but they can help cover medical bills, therapy, and any long-term needs your child may face.
Our legal team fights for more than just the basics. We build cases that reflect the full scope of your child’s losses—today and years into the future.
You can seek compensation for:
- Emergency care and hospitalization. Ambulance rides, ER visits, and overnight stays add up quickly.
- Follow-up treatment. Children often need physical therapy, mental health support, or specialist visits.
- Pain and suffering. These damages recognize how your child’s daily life has changed.
- Loss of enjoyment. When injuries prevent your child from playing, learning, or growing as before, they deserve compensation.
- Parental expenses. Missed work, travel to doctor appointments, and other costs can overwhelm families.
Every case differs, but our goal remains the same: fight or every dollar your child deserves.
Why Hupy and Abraham, S.C. Handles These Cases Differently
When a child suffers harm because adults didn’t do their jobs, families deserve more than just sympathy—they deserve action. At Hupy and Abraham, S.C., our team focuses on results and accountability.
We bring:
- Over five decades of courtroom experience. Since 1969, we’ve recovered over $2 billion for more than 80,000 injured clients.
- A reputation for relentless advocacy. We stand up to powerful school districts, insurance companies, and government agencies.
- A deep commitment to children’s safety. We support educational programs, injury prevention initiatives, and community causes that help kids thrive.
Our Wisconsin car accident lawyers take pride in helping families move forward after unthinkable events. Your child’s future matters, and we don’t let anyone cut corners when that future is on the line.
Moving Forward After the Crash
You trusted others to keep your child safe. They broke that trust, and now your family must pick up the pieces. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Understanding what happened and demanding accountability can bring a sense of justice. And when you fight for your child’s rights today, you also safeguard their recovery tomorrow.
