The Atlanta Metro Area Saw More than 700 School Bus Accidents in 2016

The Chattanooga school bus accident last year has raised awareness about school bus safety and whether our children are safe when riding on a school bus. While the Atlanta area has not seen any school bus accident as serious as the one in Chattanooga, the Atlanta metro area did see more than 700 (approximately two per day) school bus accidents in 2016, which may come as a surprise to many people. The Georgia Department of Education reports that this number is only based on reported accidents and that the number of school bus accidents could be higher.

More Than 300 Students and Drivers Were Injured in School Bus Accidents in 2016

From January through November of 2016, more than 300 students and drivers were injured from being involved in school bus accidents in Georgia. The most common types of school bus accidents that occurred during this timeframe were because of drivers misjudging clearances, drivers backing up improperly, and drivers following vehicles too closely.

Most reported injuries were minor, but as we have seen in recent months, the outcome has the potential to be much worse with some victims suffering fatal injuries. Additionally, Georgia state data indicates that school bus drivers were criminally charged in one out of every three school bus accidents during this eleven-month timeframe.

Why So Many School Bus Accidents?

While the Atlanta metro area is large, school bus accidents should not be occurring two or more times each day on average. What's even more concerning is that the Georgia Department of Education believes that a significant number of school bus accidents go unreported. Under-reporting of school bus accidents in Georgia makes it extremely difficult to pinpoint why accidents are occurring and what steps should be taken to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Even though all school districts are required to report accidents to the Georgia Department of Education, there is no penalty for failing to report a school bus accident in Georgia. Therefore, the Department of Education is not able to get an overall picture of bus safety and whether children are at risk every time they are taken to and from school. The Georgia Department of Education has indicated that school districts must release more frequent reports, even on a weekly basis, to ensure all data is up to date. This action a good first step to learning why so many school bus accidents happen in Georgia, and what additional steps need to be taken to address the problem of child safety on school buses.

Contact Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries following a bus accident, you should speak with a Georgia Bus Accident and Personal Injury Attorney at Montlick & Associates. With more than 39 years of experience, Montlick & Associates provides legal representation to injured individuals from all across the state.

If you would like to speak with one of our Georgia Bus Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys, contact Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, today by calling (800) LAW-NEED (529-6333) to schedule your free consultation. You may also visit us online at www.montlick.com to complete a Free Case Evaluation Form, and you may also participate in a 24-hour Live Online Chat.

Source: http://www.myajc.com/news/local-education/metro-atlanta-school-buses-crash-daily-student-safety-stake/OQEGMcFlzoVPTaFzbRFlbM/