With the New Jersey school year getting underway, parents will be placing their kids on a school bus with the expectation that they will be transported back and forth safely. Accidents are often unavoidable on Garden State roads. However, there are fundamentals that must be adhered to. Unfortunately, a state investigation found that a worrisome number of bus companies are not following the rules.
If there is a school bus crash, it is imperative to have a full investigation to determine its cause. In addition, people who are facing medical costs and long-term challenges because their children were hurt should know whether the company itself had ignored the law and placed their kids in jeopardy.
Safety concerns abound with New Jersey school bus companies
The New Jersey State Comptroller issued a report saying that 109 school bus companies across the state did not submit the necessary documentation to show they were following safety protocols. That includes making sure the people hired to drive the buses were subjected to criminal background checks and had valid commercial drivers’ licenses.
The report found that the information was supposed to have been submitted by Aug. 31, 2024, but it had not been. Sixteen companies did not file the information in either 2023 or 2024. The investigation extended to third-party bus companies. Twenty-eight were found to have failed to provide the required information.
It is important to note that the companies not providing this information does not mean the drivers had criminal backgrounds or were lacking valid commercial drivers’ licenses. Still, the state requires this paperwork be completed.
School bus safety has long been a concern. In one incident in 2018, a driver whose license had been suspended 14 times caused an accident with an illegal U-turn. A teacher and a child were killed.
School bus companies should be held accountable after a crash
This report should be concerning for parents. They place their trust in schools and the bus companies that are contracted to pick up and drop off their kids. If the company has hired unqualified drivers, unsafe drivers, or drivers who have a criminal history, it could be a safety issue. When there is an accident, these facts must be known.
With injuries, the possibility of fatalities, medical expenses, the long-term costs, the emotional impact, and more, it is imperative that the family understand their rights and know how to pursue compensation for all that was lost from those experienced in personal injury and auto accidents.
