During the school year, people take many precautions to make sure that children are safe when getting on and off of school buses. They include warning signs on both ends of a bus (i.e. front and rear flashers) as well as laws that prohibit drivers from passing a school bus while children are getting on them. With all the safety measures provided to keep kids safe, it is unfortunately ironic when a parent is injured.
A 32-year-old woman from Guadalupe was seriously injured when she was run over by a Tempe area school bus. The accident occurred just after 3:00 p.m. yesterday. She was reportedly walking through a crosswalk when she was struck. The woman was taken from the scene to Maricopa Medical Center for treatment. She reportedly has a broken hip, but her injuries were deemed not to be life-threatening.
Although an investigation is ongoing, it is reported that the driver did not see the woman crossing the street. Authorities also indicated that the driver did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Nevertheless, the bus driver could face civil liability for his actions.
The injured woman would have to prove that the driver was negligent; meaning that he failed to use reasonable care while driving the bus, and that this failure resulted in the accident that caused her injuries. If she is successful in proving her case, she may be awarded money damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and emotional distress, among other things.
Source: AZCentral.com “Tempe school bus drives over woman,” Adrianna Torres and Diane Bonilla, Mar. 27, 2014