Child was struck by car after rear-end crash on U.S. 62
FAYETTE, OH, (May 03, 2024) - A 12-year-old was injured on Friday after being struck by a car while exiting a school bus in Fayette County.
A 12-year-old was injured on Friday after being struck by a car while exiting a school bus in Fayette County.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the accident occurred at about 3 p.m. on U.S. 62 when a Dodge Ram operated by Austin Rideout failed to observe the cars stopped in the southbound lanes yielding to the school bus. Rideout, 28, allegedly struck the rear of a Ford Fusion, pushing it forward and causing it to hit a Honda Civic.
The Fusion bounced off of the Civic, traveled across the yellow center line into the northbound lane, and struck a 12-year-old student as the child exited a Miami Trace Local School District school bus. The 12-year-old was taken via helicopter to a Columbus-area trauma center. Rideout was charged with failing to maintain an assured clear distance ahead
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
The rear-end crash set off the incident that left the 12-year-old hospitalized and 90 percent of the accidents are caused by distracted driving.
Distractions that lead to rear-end accidents can include texting, adjusting the vehicle’s radio, rubbernecking at accidents, and interacting with passengers. Rear-end accidents can also be caused by driving under the influence, tailgating, speeding, and aggressive driving. Candice Bond, an experienced auto accident attorney, said in cases such as this that it is imperative to have an independent probe conducted as soon as possible to preserve evidence for an injured victim.
“In addition to the diligent work of law enforcement, an attorney can collect the proper evidence to help prove that a driver’s actions were reckless, which requires a variety of resources,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal. “Your lawyer can re-interview important witnesses, analyze any surveillance video from the scene of the crash, and obtain phone and texting records of the liable party. Serving as an advocate, an attorney will help compassionately guide a victim during this difficult time, while vigorously protecting their legal rights and best interests.”
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
Pending the results of the investigation, the 12-year-old injured in this accident may have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Stefano Formica, Of Counsel with Bond Legal, noted that the stress and worry following a serious injury can be overwhelming, disrupting all aspects of life, including family, work, finances, and overall quality of life.
“It is vital for victims to hire an attorney when filing a personal injury claim, which allows them to negotiate with an insurance company on the behalf of a client,” Formica added. “Insurance companies often try to pressure victims to settle for a quick payout for far less than the case is worth. However, an attorney will vigorously advocate for their client to ensure that they are treated with respect and compensated fairly.”
The Legal Advocate's national legal analysts Candice Bond and Stefano Formica are experienced in serious injury pedestrian accidents, and if you or a family member need help they are available for a free consultation to guide you
(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for The Legal Advocate. The Legal Advocate can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-599-0297 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).