School is back in session, which means thousands of children across Florida will be boarding buses every day to get to and from school. In fact, in Manatee County alone, an estimated 16,000 students take the bus daily, accounting for more than 3 million miles’ worth of commutes.
That’s a whole lot of mileage on these buses — considering the stress they’ll go through during the school year, it’s important for bus drivers and companies to make sure the vehicles are in good condition, or else they could become a safety hazard.
All school buses should be put through rigorous inspections before the school year begins, including:
- Oil changes: Now’s as good a time as any to change the oil in a school bus to make sure the engine is properly lubricated for the new school year.
- Brakes: Make sure all the brake pads are in good, functional condition.
- Fluids: Check windshield wiper fluid, coolants/antifreeze, transmission fluid and anything else that might need to be refilled or restocked.
- Lights: Check to make sure all lights and blinkers work appropriately.
- Windshield wipers: It’s important to have wipers that are in good condition when the weather gets bad, so bus companies should replace any wipers that are starting to degrade.
A failure to properly maintain school buses could be considered negligence on the part of a bus company, which could in turn make it liable for injuries in the event of an accident related to that poor maintenance.
To learn more about how to proceed with a lawsuit against a school bus company if your child suffers an injury on the bus, consult a knowledgeable Bradenton personal injury attorney with Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.