Seventeen children from Massachusetts were taken to a hospital after a dump truck slammed into a pickup truck, which then hit the school bus they were riding in on Thursday, August 1, 2019. The accident happened on Route 28 near Lake Street in Salem, New Hampshire.
The school bus was carrying 43 people at the time of the crash, including elementary-aged children and adult chaperones. The school bus was transporting the passengers on a field trip to a bowling alley.
Jeremy McNally, from Concord, was the driver of the dump truck. He was not injured in the accident, but the driver of the Nissan pickup truck McNally slammed into was also taken to the hospital. Police charged McNally with negligent driving. McNally tried to brake a little too late behind the pickup truck and school bus, which were stopped at a red light. The Salem Fire Department activated a level-two mass casualty event and brought in multiple resources to assist after the crash.
NEW HAMPSHIRE NEGLIGENT DRIVING LAW
According to New Hampshire state law RSA 626:2, a charge of first-offense negligent driving means a driver drove in a way that endangered people and/or property and was not aware–but should have been aware–of that danger. A first-offense negligent driving conviction means a fine from $250 to $500 and adds four points to a driver’s record.
Anyone injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver may file a negligence lawsuit. To win, plaintiffs will have to prove:
- The other driver (the defendant) owed a duty of care to the plaintiff;
- The defendant breached that duty; and
- The driver’s breach was the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries, which are monetarily quantifiable.
In New Hampshire, accident victims have a three-year window to file a lawsuit against a negligent driver. It is important for accident victims to retain an attorney immediately after an accident so the attorney can gather the necessary evidence to prove negligent driving and recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Parents of children who were injured in an accident (such as the ones in the school bus) can seek immediate compensation for medical expenses as well as long-term compensation if the child’s injuries require ongoing medical treatment. Long-term compensation might also include future income loss if the child is injured to the point that they will not be able to attend college or secure a steady job when they grow up. Parents can also seek compensation for their child’s mental and physical suffering.
TENN AND TENN, P.A., ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
If you were the victim of someone else’s negligent driving, you need a trusted team of attorneys beside you to fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Call Tenn And Tenn today at (603) 614-5055 to get a free consultation of your case started, or simply fill out our contact form.