Joseph McKiernan, 29, was cited for careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) earlier this month after rear-ending a stopped school bus in Palm Coast. The bus that had 35 students on board had approximately $1,000 in damages, while McKiernan’s Mitsubishi sustained an estimated $4,000 worth of damage. Thankfully, none of the students on the bus sustained an injury, but the incident could have been much more tragic, which is why any time an injury-related accident occurs, a personal injury attorney in Palm Coast should be contacted.
The school bus was making its morning run when McKiernan struck it from behind. According to McKiernan, he was unable to gauge the distance properly because of the morning sun creating a glare on his fogged up windshield. The report from the FHP indicates that McKiernan swerved right and then broke abruptly, trying to avoid the accident, before he collided with the rear of the bus, which was stopped waiting to make a left hand turn.
The students, ranging from junior high to high school age, that were aboard the bus were evaluated by first responders and then transferred to an alternate bus. The new bus took them to Buddy Taylor Middle School and Flagler Palm Coast High School in Palm Coast.
Although school buses are brightly painted, have warning signs, and are equipped with flashing lights and beepers, they are routinely rear ended by drivers who are distracted, trying to get around them, or driving at excessive speeds. In the most recent Palm Coast incident, no injuries resulted for any student. However, it is not uncommon for a student to sustain injury either while riding the school bus or while entering or exiting the school bus. Because most accidents involving school buses occur while the bus is stopped, personal injury while entering or exiting is fairly common.
When a child suffers a serious personal injury, it is especially tragic since so much of their future is still in front of them and quality of life and potential vocational choices can be so severely compromised. If your child has sustained an injury in a school bus or other motor vehicle accident in the Palm Coast area, it is important that you contact a personal injury attorney in Palm Coast on your child’s behalf. It is probably unknown at the outset of many injuries the extent to which a child’s injury will carry into the future, but a personal injury attorney in Palm Coast will help to ensure that the child gets the care needed now to recover from the injury and also any compensation that will be necessary in the years to come. Look out for your child’s welfare by calling a personal injury attorney in Palm Coast.
