One person was injured in a Bakersfield car accident after officials say a school bus driver ran a red light and crashed into a pickup truck. According to an ABC 23 news report, the bus was going south on Monitor Street at Pacheco Road the afternoon of February 2, 2010, when the school bus driver ran the red light at the intersection and struck the pickup truck. One girl from the bus was transported to a local hospital. She apparently hit her head against the window. Another student on the bus was uninjured. The school bus driver sustained arm injuries. Thankfully, the driver of the pickup truck was also uninjured. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating the incident.

It is indeed fortunate that this school bus accident did not result in major injuries. I wish the injured student the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Red Light Running is Dangerous

Accidents involving red light runners cause numerous injuries and fatalities in the United States each year. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2006, as many as 171,000 car accidents and 144,000 injuries and 887 fatalities were attributed to red light running. Public costs exceed $14 billion per year and more than half of the deaths in red light running crashes are other motorists and pedestrians as opposed to the red light runners themselves.

Rules of the Road

In this particular case, officials are still investigating whether the school bus driver did in fact run the red light. If that was the case, the bus company or school district (whoever is the employer), could be held liable for injuries and damages caused. Running a red light is a serious traffic violation under California law. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a): "A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown."

Victims in such cases would be well-served to seek the legal counsel of a skilled Bakersfield personal injury lawyer who will keep abreast of the official investigation and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in the state of California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.