What you need to know:

1. A mother of a 7-year-old student is suing the Horry County School District and an unnamed bus driver after her child fell out of the bus on her way to school last year.

2. The lawsuit claims that the student was thrown from the bus after the emergency exit door unexpectedly opened, and that the bus was allegedly traveling over 20 mph at the time.

3. The Horry County School District has declined to comment on the pending litigation or whether the driver is still employed.

4. This is the second case in the past two months where the Horry County School District has been sued in a bus-related incident.

5. The lawsuit alleges that the driver and the school district failed in their "duty to supervise, protect and ensure that K.D. was safe while riding the school bus."

Lawsuit Filed Against SC School District for Negligence in Student Bus Fall Incident

January 13, 2023

A recent lawsuit filed in South Carolina highlights the importance of proper supervision and safety measures on school buses. The mother of a 7-year-old student is suing the Horry County School District and an unnamed bus driver after her child fell out of the bus last February. The incident occurred when the bus' emergency exit door unexpectedly popped open while the vehicle was traveling over 20 mph. This is the second case in the past two months where the Horry County School District has been sued in a bus-related incident.

The Incident

The student, identified as “K.D.”, was sitting in the emergency exit row due to another student sitting in her assigned seat. According to the lawsuit, the bus driver did not enforce the bus seating chart and did not prevent K.D. from sitting in the emergency row despite it being unsafe. During the ride, several students also hit and teased K.D., and there was a lot of “rowdy behavior” on the bus, which the driver allegedly did not acknowledge or stop.

When K.D. fell out of the bus, she struck her head on the ground and sustained road rash on her hands and body. The driver allegedly did not stop immediately and continued driving for approximately 30 seconds after K.D. fell out of the bus. He only stopped the bus after another student informed him that K.D. had fallen out.

The Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed by Jamie Sharpe, K.D.'s mother, claims the driver and the school district failed in their “duty to supervise, protect and ensure that K.D. was safe while riding the school bus.” Sharpe alleges that the defendants acted in a negligent, grossly negligent, willful, wanton and reckless manner. She claims that the driver failed to perform a proper pre-trip bus inspection and failed to adequately protect students from injury. Additionally, she claims he failed to properly supervise the students and failed to enforce adequate rules and procedures to protect them on the bus.

The Importance of Safety Measures on School Buses

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper supervision and safety measures on school buses. It is crucial for bus drivers to enforce seating charts, prevent students from sitting in unsafe areas, and supervise students to ensure their safety. Furthermore, school districts must properly train and supervise their bus drivers and enforce rules and procedures to protect students while they are on the bus.

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At EducationLawyers.com, we believe that the safety and well-being of students should always be a top priority. The recent incident in Horry County, South Carolina, where a 7-year-old student fell out of a school bus after the emergency exit door unexpectedly opened, is deeply concerning and raises important questions about the safety protocols and procedures in place to protect students while on school buses.

From our perspective, there are several key takeaways from this incident that highlight the need for better oversight and accountability in ensuring the safety of students on school buses.

First and foremost, it is crucial that school districts and bus drivers properly supervise and protect students while they are on the bus. This includes enforcing seating charts and rules to prevent students from sitting in emergency rows or other unsafe areas, as well as monitoring student behavior to prevent bullying or other disruptive actions.

Second, it is important that school districts provide adequate training and resources to bus drivers to ensure they are able to perform their duties safely and effectively. This includes proper pre-trip inspections, as well as the necessary equipment and procedures to respond to emergency situations.

Third, in situations where students are injured or put at risk due to the actions of a bus driver or school district, it is crucial that families have access to legal recourse to hold those responsible accountable. This includes the ability to seek damages to cover medical expenses and other costs, as well as the ability to demand changes to policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

At EducationLawyers.com, we are committed to standing up for the rights of students and families and fighting for the necessary changes to ensure their safety and well-being in school. If you or a loved one has been affected by an incident like this one, please don't hesitate to contact us for a consultation. We are here to help and advocate for you.