Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Robert Chaiken, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Texas and other States, schools, day care centers, and / or bus companies transport children to and from programs and activities. Whether it is the regular morning pick up or a field trip, it is vital that the drivers, attendants, and all others involved with transportation follow safety regulations, school / day care policies and procedures, and just some basic common sense as well. Transporation laws, regulations, and policies all serve an important purpose of providing for the safety and well being of children being transported by day care centers, schools, and bus companies. Occupancy limits should be followed and seat belts should be worn when available on the school bus van or bus.
In many homes, day care centers, schools, and other locations, there is a danger present for children. Simply enough, the danger presents itself in the form of an open window or a window that can be opened by a child. Whether the child crawls out a first story window or higher window, the danger is present. A child can suffer fractures, lacerations, and head injuries from a fall out of a window. Because of the risks and dangers of windows, it is vital that all child care providers including babysitters, relatives, parents, neighbors, coaches, day care centers, and schools properly secure windows accessible to children. A safety check should be performed and recommendations should be made as to all windows and doors in the building, facility, or home.
In homes, schools, and day care centers, children are at risk for serious personal injuries from an object present in every building – the door or door way. The National Safety Council estimates that there are 300,000 finger injuries from doors every year. Of these incidents, there are 26,000 finger amputations or fractures. Many of these injury victims are children. A serious finger injury can be permanent in nature and affect the injured person for a lifetime.
In California and other States, school yard fights are still waged out there. The participants coul be from any grade and include boys and / or girls. It is interesting that some fights or brawls in o near schools are well known to many children during the day and prior to the fight. Unfortunately, in many instances, nobody steps forward to report the planned fight to school officials. Furtheremore, when the fight starts, many students prevent others from breaking up and / or ending the fight. A tragic death was recently reported in Long Beach, California. It was reported that a 10 year old girl – Joanna Ramos – died from a head injury that she sustained in a fight with a classmate who was 11 years old. Joanna suffered a blood clot as a result of the fight which in turn caused her death. It is most unfortunate that the death occured and that medical care was not provided in a timely manner. See 
What are the rights of children injured during transportation on a school bus? Millions of children are transported every year on public and private school buses. Yellow school buses are common fixtures in every community. Because of their size and color, school buses are easily seen. Unfortunately, there are many accidents every year involving school buses despite their size and obvious color. What are the legal rights of an injured child during transport on the school bus? The answer to this question depends on the facts and circumstances of the accident. Some school bus accidents are caused by the fault of the driver of the school bus. Some school bus accidents are caused by the fault of another driver. In some school bus accidents, the blame or fault can be placed on the school bus driver and other drivers under the theory of comparative negligence or comparative fault.
In North Carolina and other states, school boards of policies and procedures are often times available on the school Board’s website. Is it important to have these procedures in place? The answer is “Yes”. Is it important to follow these policies and procedures? The answer to this question is a resounding “Yes”. Emergency policies and procedures are an important part of every school Board’s procedure manual. For each and every school district, bus drivers and assistants should be aware of these policies and procedures. Training is vital for those who driver and / or supervise children being transported to and from school and / or field trip activities. At times, a school employee fails to follow a procedure or policy regarding transportation and supervision. In these instances, injuries can take place.
In Texas and other States, drivers should exercise the utmost of caution when driving in or near an area of school bus stops. School buses are typically large, yellow vehicles that are easily seen. When a school bus stops, it should be obvious to all drivers in the area. Unfortunately, some drivers ignore the obvious presence of a school bus and put children in danger by reckless and careless driving. As a result thereof, children suffer serious personal injuries when they are hit by a vehicle in or near a school bus stop zone. See 
In Whitehaven, Tennessee, a family and community are mourning the death of a 6 year old boy – Anthony Scott. It was reported that Anthony was hit and killed by a day care center van with Pee Wee Wisdom Child Care Center. The Tennessee Department of Human Resources is the governmental agency that licenses and regulations day care centers in the State of Tennessee. A full investigation will be conducted to determine the cause and preventability of this tragic day care center transportation pedestrian accident. See 