Are Your Kids Safe on the School Bus?

As a parent, it’s your responsibility to keep your kids safe from harm. Most parents are aware of dangers around the house, but it’s difficult to know about all the dangers lurking outside. If your kids ride the bus to school, you may want to know about some hidden dangers kids may face on the school bus.

School bus drivers are considered drivers of commercial vehicles by the law. However, since school buses don’t cross state lines, federal safety regulations that apply to commercial vehicle drivers do not apply to school bus drivers. As a result, many less qualified or less experienced drivers who do not qualify as drivers for commercial transportation and trucking companies find it easy to get a job driving a school bus full of children.

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Commercial vehicle drivers must have a certain type of driver’s license called a CDL license. Although some school bus drivers do get these licenses, other regulations like company screenings and background checks are rare. In many cases, background checks are not even required. Unfortunately, the lack of background checks, lack of qualifications, and relaxed safety regulations contributes to many school bus accidents and injuries seen by an accident attorney in Portland, Oregon. Children put on school buses with inexperienced drivers are at a much higher risk of harm.

School bus drivers are employed by school bus companies. Your child’s school does hire the school bus company, but they have nothing to do with hiring individual drivers. Since school bus companies are eager to get lucrative contracts with local school districts, many don’t do background checks that slow down the hiring process. As a result, many school bus companies hire inexperienced and unqualified drivers. Many school bus drivers even have criminal records for DUI offenses, physical and sexual assaults, and child pornography. Without a background check, arrests for criminal offenses and extensive vehicle accidents are never discovered.

There are 21 million children riding on school buses every day in the U.S. To protect your child from unnecessary school bus accidents and injuries often seen by an accident attorney in Portland, Oregon, investigate your child’s school district’s requirements for school bus drivers.

Seeking Child Support

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If you have children with someone else and you choose not to be in a relationship with that person, there are a few options that you have regarding child support so that you’re not paying for everything for your children. Consult with child support lawyers Pasco County offers to find out how to begin the process of seeking child support and the statements that you need to show how much money you make and how much the other parent makes.

Applications and petitions for child support can be filed by either parent, grandparents who have custody of the children, or other caretakers who have custody including aunts and uncles. Once all of the information about the children and the people involved in the case is gathered, attorneys for both sides and the judge will work together to determine an amount that is fair for the absent parent and one that will provide for the needs of the children.

Keep in mind that child support payments won’t start right away after a claim is filed or even after the final order is put in place. The absent parent will have to send in payments if there is no order in place for the payments to be deducted from the person’s paycheck. If there is an order for the payments to be taken from a paycheck, then you should receive child support on a regular schedule depending on when the absent parent is paid. Any kind of separation or divorce papers are beneficial to have when you meet with an attorney to talk about child custody. You should also have copies of your tax returns or pay stubs as well as information about the other person’s income and place of employment. Most courts have at least 30 days to locate the individual who is ordered to pay for child support before resolving the case.

How to Find the Right Family Attorney

Many people don’t think that they’ll ever have to head to court, but different accidents and circumstances can occur over the years. When you want to understand your rights and have representation, it’s important to hire an attorney that is professional and experienced. If you’re looking to find a professional attorney, there are a few steps to take to find someone that you can trust.Interview the Attorneys
You’ll want to meet each attorney in person after making an initial phone call to ask about their rates and services. Most lawyers will offer a free consultation for your first meeting to discuss your case and review the facts. The attorney should be affordable for your budget and have experience working with your type of situation.

Look for Red Flags
One of the most common red flags are attorneys that give you confidential information about other types of cases that they’re working on, which they’ll likely do with your own case. Avoid hiring an attorney that isn’t respectful of their other clients or talks negatively about certain individuals. Lawyers that are unprofessional or use profanity during your meeting is a sign that you might not be provided with quality service.

Evaluate Their Communication Skills
The level of communication that your attorney provides will determine how easily you can get ahold of them when you have a question or concern. Evaluate how quickly they respond to emails or if they return your phone calls the same day. If you’re left waiting several days to hear back from the Lake County family attorney, you’ll likely be left in the dark at times if they have poor communication skills.

Narrow Your Options Down to Three Attorneys
Many people make the mistake of hiring the first attorney that they meet. Interview at least three attorneys and hire someone that specializes in family law. Look for someone that will help you understand the legal process and has strong negotiating skills. Look around by asking your family members and friends for recommendations or perform a search online and read reviews from former clients.
When it comes to finding an attorney that you can trust, you’ll need to take a few steps that will help you to find a professional that has plenty of experience. You’ll not only enjoy working with the individual but can increase your chances at having a good outcome with your case.