Bus accidents and school bus safety: tips for parents

OTTAWA ACCIDENT LAWYER – With summer long gone and school underway, it’s always nerve-wracking for parents to watch their children board that yellow bus in the morning. To help ease that anxiety, we’ve put together a helpful new article: School Bus and Transit Bus Accidents: Who’s at Fault?

Every fall, 800 000 Ontario students once again start taking the bus to school every day, and many others take public transit.That’s a lot of buses, and in a typical school year, injuries do happen.

Here are some smart tips for parents who are worried about their children’s safety on the bus:

  • Remember that school bus safety extends to everyone on the road. When a school bus has stopped, do not try to pass it – always stop at least ten meters behind, so that kids can cross the road to board. It’s the law!
  • The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (ottawaschoolbus.ca) offers free information about school bus safety. It’s designed to be helpful for both you and your child. From time to time, they even offer free interactive safety courses for all members of the family.
  • Know your legal rights if your child is injured on the bus. School boards, bus companies, and even individual drivers could be held responsible for negligence. Contact a qualified and reputable personal injury lawyer for information on how to proceed.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish your family a safe and happy 2009-10 school year. Staying informed, and knowing your options should an injury occur, is a great way to start.

About the Author: Brenda Hollingsworth

Brenda Hollingsworth co-founded Ottawa’s Auger Hollingsworth in 2005 with her husband Richard Auger. Together, their mission was to create a personal injury law firm for Eastern Ontario that is unrivalled in the province for customer service and legal expertise. Brenda was named an Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 award recipient and took home the Women’s Business Network’s Businesswoman of the Year award in the Professional category. She was also recognized as one of Ottawa Life Magazine’s “Top 50 People in the Capital.” She is often quoted as an expert and has appeared in media outlets such as CTV, The Globe and Mail, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Sun Media, CBC, Toronto Star, Montreal Gazette, CFRA and many legal publications.

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