State law determines when you are allowed to pass a school bus. Typically, you are allowed to pass a school bus while it is in motion and while the lights are not blinking. When a reckless driver tries to pass a school bus when it has stopped, they can potentially place children at risk and can also cause an accident with another vehicle.
School Bus Incidators
A school bus might have flashing red lights and a stop sign might extend when the bus has come to a stop. Under these circumstances, you will need to stop as well and wait until the children have passed by. The bus can also have flashing yellow lights. While you are allowed to pass the bus under these circumstances, you should be prepared to stop at any point.
In some cases, a school bus does not come with indicators or the driver fails to activate them. In this case, you are still expected to stop and wait until the bus is in motion again and you must watch out for any children.
Accidents Involving School Buses
Because of the size of the bus, it might be difficult for other drivers to notice you. A driver might try to pass a bus on a two-lane road and might then collide with you. This can lead to a catastrophic head-on collision. This type of accident can lead to very serious injuries and the driver will probably be considered at fault since they will be in a different lane.
After the accident, if it is safe to do so, you will want to take photographs of the scene and write down contact information for all of the other witnesses. You should also write down everything you remember from the scene. For example, you will want to record the state of the bus at the time of the accident because this could be used as evidence for negligence.
The Next Steps
With proof that the driver was negligent, your car accident lawyer might then assist you in filing a claim with the auto insurance provider. This can be a difficult process because the insurance provider will do everything possible to downplay the liability of their policyholder and the injuries you suffered as a result of the accident. However, an experienced attorney will negotiate for you while you are focused on recovering from your injuries so you can maximize your settlement. Reach out to a car accident lawyer for more information.