Thousands of students in Georgia ride school buses each day. In addition to transporting students to and from school, students also ride buses for field trips and other school activities. Sadly, many drivers do not follow traffic rules for sharing the road with school buses. As a result, school buses are often involved in accidents.
What Are the Rules for Stopping for School Buses in Georgia?
Georgia enacted strict laws requiring drivers to stop for school buses. The laws are intended to protect children from being injured while boarding and leaving buses. Passing buses when children are entering and exiting the bus could result in a deadly accident.
Generally, you must stop when approaching a school bus loading or unloading passengers. The school bus will have its light flashing, indicating that drivers must stop and remain stopped until the bus deactivates its lights or begins moving.
Operation Stop Arm explains the Georgia school bus stop laws.
The law has differing rules depending on the type of road and the direction of traffic:
- Two Lane Roads: Traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus.
- Two Lane Roads with Center Turning Lane: Traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus.
- Divided Highway of Four or More Lanes with a Median Separation: The traffic following in the same direction as the bus must stop for a school bus.
- Four Lane Roads without a Median Separation: Traffic in all directions must stop for a school bus.
- Four Lanes or More with a Center Turning Lane: Traffic in all directions must stop for a school bus.
Very few instances exist when a driver can pass a stopped school bus. The purpose of requiring traffic to stop is to protect children from being hit by cars as they exit the bus and cross streets or move away from the street.
What Is the Penalty for Passing a Stopped School Bus in Georgia?
Unlawfully passing a school bus was elevated to a high and aggravated misdemeanor as of July 1, 2024, according to Addy’s Law. Addy’s Law is named after Adalynn Pierce, an 8-year-old who was hit and killed while trying to board a school bus. The law increased the penalties for unlawfully passing a school bus in Georgia.
The penalties for unlawfully passing a school bus include:
- A fine of up to $1,000.
- Community service.
- Up to 12 months in county jail.
- Mandatory defensive driving school.
- Six points are added to your driver’s license.
- License suspension for six months for drivers under 21 years old.
In addition to criminal penalties, if a driver causes an accident when passing a stopped school bus, they could face civil penalties. The driver may be personally responsible for any damages caused by the accident.
Who is Responsible for a School Bus Accident in Savannah, GA?
School bus accidents occur for many reasons. Negligence of one or more parties is a common cause of school bus accidents. In addition to crashes, children may be injured boarding or exiting a bus or while on the bus. For instance, improper maintenance could result in a trip and fall hazard or other dangerous situation on the bus.
Parties that could be liable for a school bus accident include, but are not limited to:
- School bus drivers.
- Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
- School districts and governing bodies.
- Repair and maintenance facilities.
- Private schools and companies that operate buses.
- The owner of the school bus.
- Government entities and companies responsible for road maintenance.
A personal injury lawyer investigates a school bus accident to determine the cause of a child’s injuries. The attorney identifies all responsible parties to pursue claims for damages.
What Damages Are Available for a School Bus Accident in Georgia?
Accident victims can recover economic and non-economic damages for a school bus accident.
Examples of the damages you could receive include:
- The cost of medical treatment, including future medical bills for permanent impairments.
- Loss of income, including benefits, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity.
- Out-of-pocket expenses.
- Scarring, disfigurement, impairment, and disability.
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of enjoyment of life and quality of life.
- Emotional distress and mental anguish.
Parents and legal guardians can file claims on behalf of a child. If your child is injured in a school bus accident, seek immediate medical treatment. Then, talk with an attorney to learn about your child’s legal options and how to protect their right to fair compensation for their injuries.
Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm of Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers in Savannah for Help Today
School bus accidents can cause devastating injuries for children and other victims. Luckily, there are Georgia personal injury lawyers willing to help accident victims and their families seek justice by holding the party who caused their injuries accountable.
For more information, please contact our experienced Savannah personal injury lawyer at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have a convenient location in Savannah, GA.
We proudly serve Chatham County, Georgia, and its surrounding areas.
Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers
308 Commercial Drive, Suite 100, Savannah, GA 31406
(912) 335-1909
Open 24/7