Fong Yang was 16 years old with diagnoses of severe autism and Down syndrome. Fong had a history of running away from his Fresno school when left unsupervised.
Because of Fong’s tendency to run off, his teacher told the First Student bus dispatcher that the bus driver should not drop off Fong early at school or allow him to get off the bus after school en route to his home unless he was accompanied by an aide.
Despite these instructions, Fong’s bus driver let him get off the bus without an aide. Fong ran half a block to an intersection, where he was hit by a car and thrown about 30 feet. Fong suffered a skull fracture, an epidural hematoma and multiple abrasions. His medical bills totaled $78,500.
His family sued the Fresno Unified School District and the bus company, First Student, alleging that the defendants were negligent in allowing Fong to exit the bus when he was unattended. Before trial the parties entered into a mediation agreement and settled the case for $217,500.
The attorney representing the child’s family was Douglas L. Gordon.
Yang v. Fresno Unified School Dist., No. 11 CE CG 04016 JH (Cal., Fresno Co. Super. April 3, 2013).
Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully handling automobile accidents, pedestrian accidents, school bus accidents and motorcycle accidents for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Des Plaines, Northbrook, River Grove, Riverside, Evergreen Park, Calumet Park, Riverdale, Calumet City, Harvey, Oak Forest, Burr Ridge, Brookfield, Chicago (Lincoln Park, Old Town, Goose Island, Humboldt Park, Lawndale, Marquette Park), Bellwood, Maywood and Northlake, Ill.
Related blog posts:
Jury Reaches 897,000 Verdict in Head-On Collision After Rear-End Impact From School Bus – Fuller v. Richmond Burton High School
School Bus Accidents: Our Most Precious Cargoes Are Our Children
Fatalities Related to Truck and Bus Safety Hazards Overlooked by Federal Safety Regulators