Children Injured In Millstadt Illinois Bus Crash
I first saw the headline on Facebook – “Two students taken to hospital after Millstadt bus crash.” My heart jumped into my throat, because this bus accident hit very close to home. I grew up in Millstadt and went to Millstadt Consolidated School, just like the children on this bus. I’ve driven on Imbs Station Road thousands of times, and I immediately began worrying about friends and their kids. Needless to say, my thoughts and prayers go out to these families who have been impacted by this crash.
School Bus Crash and Safety
As a personal injury lawyer that practices in Illinois, my mind eventually starts asking questions like “Whose fault was this bus crash?” School buses require special attention because they transport our children to and from school. Not only are school bus drivers held to higher standards than other drivers on the road, school districts must take special care to plan out bus stops – all to ensure that our children are safe on the way to and from school.
Commercial Motor Vehicle Standards
Also crucial to this accident are commercial motor vehicle regulations. From the initial report, a box truck hit the school bus. Vehicles of a certain size or over a specific weight (like this box truck) are subject to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations. People often think of semi-trucks when talking about commercial motor vehicles, but other vehicles also fall under this category. Basically, since these vehicles are so much bigger than other vehicles on the road, they pose significant danger to other motorists. Accordingly, they are held to a higher safety standard than other cars, falling under Federal Law rather than Illinois Law.
If the parents of these injured children pursue damages, whether through a settlement demand or a lawsuit, they should select a personal injury lawyer that has experience both with school bus accidents and commercial motor vehicle accidents. It is crucial that discovery starts right away, as vital information about the box truck and the school bus could be lost if not investigated soon.
You Read the article from the Belleville News Democrat Website. Here is the video:
