School Bus & Driver Neglect

[littlebillsm]

What is the name of your state? Oklahoma

I know this may sound lame, and may even be posted in the wrong area, but I am new to the site...so please forgive me. This morning, the school bus picked my son up at the bottom of our driveway, which is roughly 200 yards long. We live right on Hwy 77. As the driver left the drive, she ran over one of our dogs. Now, first let me say that we have had to break the dog of "chasing" cars, and she has done quite well. The dog always escorts our son to the end of the drive and waits with him for the bus to arrive, and yes...still nips at the tires from time to time, but no longer LEAVES the driveway. Anyway, this afternoon, as she was dropping our son off, she told him to "check on your dog, because I think I ran over him this morning". The boy goes directly to find that our dog has in fact been run over and is very serious condition. (both hind legs broken and torn as well as other injuries) I was called away from work by my wife, drove 20 miles to the house to find my dog in this condition...then, I find out that the bus driver NEVER STOPPED to check on the dog, NEVER NOTIFIED US about the incident, and in fact my wife had to call her to ask her about it, and all she had to say was "I thought i had hit her because i felt a ""bump"", but wasn't sure...plus I was busy and had to get back to my route. Maybe you should take the dog to a vet". Hmmm, felt a "bump" in a school bus??? Pretty good indication that you ran over something...and to not notify us immediately???? I cannot afford the costs that are going to rack up quickly for the care of the dog. Wouldn't you think that the school should be responsible for any costs incurred? Shouldn't the driver be held liable for the fact that she knew she ran over the dog, but did't say anything...not even to our son who was on the bus when it happened, until over eight hours later when she is dropping him off??? I refuse to have the dog "put down" if she can be saved and lead a normal life, but cannot afford the costs of the medical care that a school bus driver caused, not to mention the fact that if she had stopped and told us, the dogs injuries might have been less exagerated. the vet did say that if he could have gotten to her earlier, the flesh wounds would not have been as bad....PLEASE ADVISE!!!

thanks,
Billy

 

[Ohiogal]

There are leash laws for dogs. Was your dog on the leash? Was your dog in your yard? If not then YOU are liable for the injuries to the dog. Nice of the bus driver? No. But your dog should have been tied.

 

[littlebillsm]

Leash law....not here

I live in the middle of nowhere...there isn't a "city limits" within 15 miles. And yes, the dog was on the proerty, not in the highway. The driver ran over the dog in my driveway. There is no Leash Law that would apply to me or my property, although, if the dog ahd been in the highway and gotten hit, then yes it would be my responsibility, but as i said...she ran over the dog ON MY PROPERTY and didn't even consider telling us or at least stop to check on the dog!!!

 

[littlebillsm]

...Just on more FYI

By the way, my "yard" is about 320 acres. I guess I should have specified that I live in the country...not in a city, or town, that has the leash laws. Sorry about that!

 

[Ohiogal]

That information is important. Did you file a complaint with the school district? And the school may not necessarily be responsible for such a thing as it is not within the scope of her employment necessarily.

 

[Zigner]

So, a vehicle was in your driveway, legally, when your (uncontrolled) dog, with a history of running in front of vehicles AND a history of "nipping at the tires", was hit.
I'm sorry, and with all due respect to OG, I don't see this as the driver's "fault".
Additionally, you have so little contact with the dog that you didn't notice it had two broken back legs?

 

[Ohiogal]

So, a vehicle was in your driveway, legally, when your (uncontrolled) dog, with a history of running in front of vehicles AND a history of "nipping at the tires", was hit.
I'm sorry, and with all due respect to OG, I don't see this as the driver's "fault".
Additionally, you have so little contact with the dog that you didn't notice it had two broken back legs?

Where Z did I say it was the driver's fault? I still did not say that. I asked a few more questions. It is important what he added however that does not relieve the owner of responsibility for the animal. And I would add -- why didn't they notice the dog was missing if they hadn't seen it all day?

 

[Zigner]

Where Z did I say it was the driver's fault? I still did not say that. I asked a few more questions. It is important what he added however that does not relieve the owner of responsibility for the animal. And I would add -- why didn't they notice the dog was missing if they hadn't seen it all day?

I guess you didn't - I guess I took the wrong inference from your post - oops!

 

[Ohiogal]

I guess you didn't - I guess I took the wrong inference from your post - oops!

NOpe. I asked them what they did. There are so many factors that bear weight. If the driver was negligent there may be a case however I am not sure that the driver was negligent at this point.

 

[littlebillsm]

the driver failed to notify anyone of the accident...that is my biggest complaint! i was at work, and my wife stays home with the baby. the bus driver HAS our contact info...in fact she calls if she is running late! my problem is that the dog's injuries(she is back home from the vet now)were much worse because she was left to suffer for better than nine hours!! and as to why we didn't notice the dog being gone...i guess most don't understand the fact that i have pointed out we live in the country. during the day, she spends a lot of time roaming the plot. as evening nears, she heads home.

 

[littlebillsm]

So, a vehicle was in your driveway, legally, when your (uncontrolled) dog, with a history of running in front of vehicles AND a history of "nipping at the tires", was hit.
I'm sorry, and with all due respect to OG, I don't see this as the driver's "fault".
Additionally, you have so little contact with the dog that you didn't notice it had two broken back legs?

...so little contact with the dog??? that's infuriating!!! the incident happened after i left for work, you know some of us still do that as apposed to staying home with the dog...that doesn't quite cover the bills. we were told by our son that the driver said to check on the dog because she ran over her that morning. he was told this as she was dropping off our son AFTER SCHOOL!!! I came here seeking solid advice, how dare you judge me, or even pretend to understand what relationship i have with the dog!!! for your informatin, the dog sleeps inside every night, is pampered like a baby, but not until i arrive home from work. i have fouled you in no manner, but the best you can do is judge me??? is that considered advice here? or are you just so arrogant that you have to throw in your two cents of blatent disregard for the facts so that you may have the pleasure of belittleing another person during a time of crisis? the fact is the driver knew she hit the dog and chose not to say anything until nine hours later, thus allowing the dog to suffer for those nine hours...and no i didn't notice the injured dog because i DO have to go to work every morning!!! thank you for your "genuine" attempt at comforting and advising me in this situation. perhaps if the world had more people like you, we wouldn't be such a judgmental and self-centered society. to the others that posted, thank you...i am not the kind of person just looking for a lawsuit...in fact, i've known the driver for more than 15 years, i attended even the same school. i don't want anyone's job, or to file a lawsuit, but am not finacially capable of taking on the burden of the vet bills that have amounted to almost $300. turns out the legs aren't broken, but she got a terrible infection from lying there in the mud so long. she spent 2 days at the vet with an i.v. drip of anti-biotics and ofcourse something for the pain. she is home now, but i am still at a loss over the cost of services provided by the vet. and once more, i don't feel the driver hitting the dog was the neglect...it was the choice to not notify anyone. again, thank you

 

[littlebillsm]

That information is important. Did you file a complaint with the school district? And the school may not necessarily be responsible for such a thing as it is not within the scope of her employment necessarily.

i did contact the school the next day, but have yet to hear back. i will call again tomorrow. i am trying to give them time to voluntarily make ammends. as i stated in a post just a few moments ago, i do not want to have to file a suit. i attended this school and support the school system still today, but that doesn't mean that i feel the driver wasn't neglegent in the decision of NOT notiying us about the accident. the fact that my dog suffered for all those hours, and the fact that the vet himself told me that if he'd gotten to her earlier, the cost would not have been so high...you see??? she KNEW she hit the dog, she CHOSE not to report it, my dog DID suffer needlessly for 9 hours, and in the end it cost more at the vet clinic. is that not neglegence??

 

[Zigner]

i did contact the school the next day, but have yet to hear back. i will call again tomorrow. i am trying to give them time to voluntarily make ammends. as i stated in a post just a few moments ago, i do not want to have to file a suit. i attended this school and support the school system still today, but that doesn't mean that i feel the driver wasn't neglegent in the decision of NOT notiying us about the accident. the fact that my dog suffered for all those hours, and the fact that the vet himself told me that if he'd gotten to her earlier, the cost would not have been so high...you see??? she KNEW she hit the dog, she CHOSE not to report it, my dog DID suffer needlessly for 9 hours, and in the end it cost more at the vet clinic. is that not neglegence??

What is negligent is allowing your animal to run up and "nip" at the tires of moving vehicles.

 

[CJane]

The school may have no liability at all wrt to this anyway - often bus drivers are actually employees of a company that contracts with the school, not the school itself. So bear that in mind.

Further, it's entirely possible that there's a... disclaimer... absolving the bus of any damages to property while picking up/dropping off your child/ren. And, distasteful as the thought might be to you, a dog is 'only' property.

You might get lucky and the school or contract company will volunteer to pay for a portion of the vet bills just out of the goodness of their collective hearts... but that's what it would be... luck.

 

[acmb05]

By the way, my "yard" is about 320 acres. I guess I should have specified that I live in the country...not in a city, or town, that has the leash laws. Sorry about that!

Maybe you should read the leash laws a little better because some counties in Oklahoma also have leash and restraint laws. If your county has a population of 200,000 or more they would fall under this section of the law.

Also is your dog caught up on all its shots and licensed(tagged)?