Chicago Area School Bus Accident Leads to Injuries

On a recent Saturday morning in the Lake County area a school bus and a pick-up truck collided at a traffic light controlled intersection. Almost every high school volleyball player on board the bus sustained injury. The freshman girls were traveling to a tournament when the motor vehicle accidents occurred.

The school bus was headed north on a local highway and had a green light. However, while making a left turn the driver of the school bus failed to yield to a southbound truck. The pick-up truck crashed into the school bus. The force of the collision flipped the school bus on its side.

Two students were seriously injured and one student possibly broke her arm. Other students received only minor cuts and bruises. The bus driver was ticketed for failure to yield.

School Bus Accidents More Common

With school bus accidents like this occurring more frequently, parents rightfully worry about the safety risks. No federal law requires school bus drivers to have background checks, but many school districts and states have licensing requirements.

In Illinois, school bus drivers must be licensed through the Illinois Secretary of State. New applicants for a school bus license must pass written and behind-the-wheel examinations, as well as a physical examination that includes drug testing. A driver cannot have serious traffic violations and Illinois regularly monitors the driving records of school bus drivers. In this instance it is unclear whether the bus driver might lose his license.

If a child is injured in a school bus accident, parents should first take their child to a local hospital or to their primary care physician for a thorough exam as soon as possible. Parents should also contact a Lake County personal injury attorney if they suspect the injury was caused by driver negligence.