Pickford school bus crash leaves three students unhurt
Three students were unharmed after being in a school bus that crashed into a a ditch during a three-vehicle crash Tuesday, DeTour Area Schools said.
The crash was reported around 8:15 a.m. Oct. 27 on M-129 in front of Dollar General. The bus carried three students, including two who used wheelchairs, along with a driver and an aide.
The pickup driver said he was waiting to turn left into the store when an SUV hit his truck from behind and moved into the path of the oncoming bus. DeTour Area Schools said the bus reportedly swerved to avoid a vehicle that crossed into its lane before entering the ditch.
“I thought our firefighters did a fantastic job today of keeping the kids calm while removing them from there,” Pickford Fire Chief Jim Miller said.
Miller said everyone was assessed at the scene and no one was transported to a hospital. The SUV and pickup drivers later went to a hospital on their own and were released.
Parts of M-129 were closed intermittently while deputies investigated and crews removed the vehicles. The scene was cleared shortly before 10:30 a.m.
Which insurance covers a child's injuries on a Michigan school bus?
The bus's insurer isn't automatically responsible for an injured student. Under MCL 500.3114, passengers on school buses providing transportation generally use available personal or household no-fault coverage first. That can include a parent's policy when the child lives in the same household. If the child isn't entitled to benefits under any other policy, the bus's insurer may become responsible.
Personal injury protection benefits help pay eligible medical expenses, subject to applicable coverage limits. Parents can give their auto insurer the bus information and household policy details and ask which insurer must handle the claim. Michigan Legal Center's explanation of bus accident claims in Michigan discusses how a passenger's coverage and the bus's operator can affect a claim.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles bus accident injury claims and related no-fault insurance disputes.
If your child was injured in a school bus crash, contact Michigan Legal Center to ask about the insurance and injury issues involved.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.
Learn more about Michigan Legal Center's help with bus accidents.