Tragic Tennessee School Bus Crash Revives Debate Over Seatbelts

 A horrific school bus accident in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Nov. 21, which killed six children, has reignited a debate over whether school buses, normally considered among the safest vehicles due to their height and weight, should also be equipped with seatbelts. According to an ABC news report, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree, slicing the bus. Several children suffered major spinal and head injuries. Six of them died from their injuries. The driver, who officials say, was speeding along a narrow winding road when he crashed, is facing vehicular homicide charges.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are looking into what caused this tragic accident. Officials say the bus did not have seatbelts. Seatbelt legislation that was introduced after two students and an aide died in a 2014 school bus crash in Knoxville, has not yet passed. Legislators acknowledge that having seatbelts on school buses is a no-brainer. However, some of the reluctance to equip school buses with seatbelts may be attributed to the costs involved.
Seatbelt Legislation
Federal agencies have estimated the price of lap and shoulder belts at $7,000 to $10,000 per bus. But opponents of school bus seatbelts say the design and conspicuous color of the buses keep children safe enough, with fatalities averaging five per year nationwide. According to the NTSB, nearly 500,000 buses carry more than 25 million students daily. The American School Bus Council says on its website that school buses protect children “like eggs in an egg carton.”
Bus drivers themselves have raised concerns that seatbelts may trap panicked or disoriented students in an emergency such as a fire and that it may also be a challenge to ensure that students keep their belts properly fastened. In November 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator (NHTSA) called for a three-point seatbelt on every bus.
The NTSB made the same recommendation for newly purchased buses after investigating crashes in which children were injured or killed. Typically, these were side-impact or high-speed rollovers. Only six states – New York, California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey and Texas have seatbelt laws for large buses. Ten states considered similar legislation in 2016, but so far, none has enacted the laws.
Strong Argument for Seatbelts
There are a number of myths out there about seatbelts in school buses. First of all, seatbelts do not slow down evacuations. When students are buckled up, they are far less likely to be seriously injured and can evacuate easily at the click of a button, even if they are facing upside down due to the crash. On the other hand, we have seen numerous incidents as personal injury lawyers where children who were not buckled up get tossed around the inside of the bus, which often results in many more serious injuries. So, actually, seatbelts can facilitate a more orderly evacuation in the event of a crash.
Many argue that the design of school buses secures children in their seats like eggs in a carton. The concept of compartmentalization is to place children between two high-backed, energy-absorbing seats. In a frontal or rear collision, children can be thrown into the seat in front of them. They would still suffer a variety of injuries from concussions to spinal cord damage. Seatbelts may prevent a number of these injuries.
Compensation for Injured Victims
Injured victims of school bus accidents can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, lost earnings, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased victims can also seek compensation by filing what is known as a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a reckless driver or due to someone else’s negligence, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van.
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Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tennessee-crash-revives-debate-school-bus-seat-belts-43731635