75-Year-Old Driver From Voorhees Killed In Cherry Hill School Bus Accident on Springdale Road near Dorset Road
CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY (November 27, 2019) – A 75-year-old driver has tragically died in a school bus accident that took place along Springdale Road near Dorset Road.
Cherry Hill police are saying that the accident took place around 3:50 p.m. For reasons that remain under investigation a school bus and car collided.
The bus driver was treated for minor injuries at the hospital before being released. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the 75-year-old driver of the car from Voorhees.
A bus aid and student were also on the bus, but police have said that they didn’t sustain injuries. An investigation into the Cherry Hill school bus accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Cherry Hill School Bus Accidents
School buses are considered “common carriers” under the law and are held to a very high standard in terms of safety. According to Squaw Valley Ski Corporation v. Superior Court, “The elevated standard of care for common carriers is “based on a recognition that the privilege of serving the public as a common carrier necessarily entails great responsibility, requiring common carriers to exercise a high duty of care towards their customers.” There are a number of factors commonly associated with school bus accidents including:
- Unsafe turns
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
In particular, school buses have very large blind spots that can contribute to accidents. If a driver is not careful they can turn into the path of another motorist. Generally speaking, drivers that make left turns will be held at fault in the event of an accident. According to New York Vehicle & Traffic Law (Sec. 1411), “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.”
It’s important that evidence is properly collected and preserved after an accident. Many intersections are covered by surveillance cameras. Witnesses should be interviewed. Even when there are no direct witnesses to a collision, accident reconstruction can help piece together what happened. The impact of a collision can tell a story and help investigators determine liability.
The family of any victim that died in a school bus accident may have the ability to seek justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. The statute covers a victim’s spouse, children, parents and siblings. Unfortunately, school districts will often fight vehemently to deny liability for an accident. A school bus accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Cherry Hill School Bus Accident
We at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson extend our deepest condolences to the family of the driver that died in this collision. Any person that may have seen what happened should reach out to authorities as they continue their investigation. As consumer safety advocates and personal injury attorneys it is our sincere hope that measures are put in place to help prevent additional accidents like this.
