6-Year-Old Child Riding Go-Kart Identified As Courtney Calvert Injured In River Island School Bus Collision During Student Drop Off At Grande Park
RIVER ISLAND, GEORGIA (January 12, 2022) – A 6-year-old child riding a go-kart identified as Courtney Calvert was injured in a River Island school bus accident during a student drop off at Grande Park.
Columbia County officials are saying that the accident took place around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9. Courtney Calvert was riding a go-kart near his father.
The young child was hit by a school bus as it pulled forward. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
Courtney Calvert was taken to the hospital and an investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For River Island School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically extremely safe for their passengers. But they can be especially dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. According to the National Safety Council, “From 2011 to 2020, about 70% of the deaths in school bus-related crashes were occupants of vehicles other than the school bus, and 16% were pedestrians. About 5% were school bus passengers, 5% were school bus drivers, and 3% were pedalcyclists.” There are a number of factors that make school buses particularly dangerous.
- School buses can weigh 20 – 30 times more than passenger vehicles.
- School buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians.
- School buses have a large turning radius that can increase the likelihood of side impact collisions.
School buses are considered common carriers and are held to a high standard in terms of safety under GA Code § 46-9-132 (2020). Consider, for example, Hames v. Old S. Lines, 52 Ga. App. 420, 183 S.E. 503 (1935). The court held that, “A common carrier of passengers is bound to exercise extraordinary diligence to prevent insult, injury, or harm to a passenger transported by it.” Many pedestrian accidents involve some amount of human error.
If a school bus driver fails to check their blind spots and hits a child, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Moreover, the bus driver’s employer could also be liable for the collision. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. Victims of bus accidents tent to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured due to the negligent actions of a school bus driver may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Sadly, it is common for bus companies to do everything that they can to deny all responsibility for a collision. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Georgia School Bus Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Courtney Calvert and his family. It is our sincere hope that he is able to make a full recovery. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim and his family. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators.
Do you need more information about a River Island school bus accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
