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A child hurt on a school bus usually has the right to medical care paid by whoever caused the crash. A Ridgeland school bus accident lawyer can sort out which insurance applies and whether the school district shares any blame. Thirteen Madison County students went to a hospital after a school bus crash in Ridgeland on Monday morning.
If your child was hurt, call Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A. at 601-948-8005 for a free consultation; early help protects evidence.
What Happened in the Highway 51 School Bus Crash?
The crash happened at about 8:15 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Highway 51 and Colony Parkway in Ridgeland, WAPT reported. A Madison County Schools bus and another vehicle collided at the intersection.
The Ridgeland police chief told Darkhorse Press that 32 people were on the bus, including 31 students. Thirteen students went to a hospital for treatment, the chief said. Nobody in the other vehicle was hurt, according to police.
Early counts varied. WAPT reported that the district first said 10 to 12 children were injured. In a statement covered by the Clarion Ledger, Madison County Schools said police and emergency crews responded. The district said it was contacting parents and reuniting students with their families.
Police have not said what caused the crash. No citations or fault findings have been announced.
What Are Your Child’s Rights After a Ridgeland School Bus Crash?
Every child hurt in this crash may have a claim for medical bills, future care, and pain and suffering. Parents may also recover their own costs, such as missed work for doctor visits. The right path depends on who caused the collision.
If the other driver was at fault, that driver’s liability insurance is usually the first source of payment. Mississippi’s minimum limits are low, and 13 injured children can use up a small policy fast. A family’s own auto policy may then help through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Our page on uninsured and underinsured motorist claims explains how that works.
Can a Family File a Claim Against the School District?
Sometimes. Madison County Schools is a public school district, so the Mississippi Tort Claims Act governs any claim against it. Under Miss. Code § 11-46-11, a family generally must give written notice at least 90 days before filing suit. The law also sets a general one-year deadline and caps damages. Exceptions may apply, and special rules can protect minors.
A claim against the district would depend on facts that have not been released. Those include how the bus driver approached the intersection and whether the bus was in good repair. Nothing reported so far blames the bus driver, the other driver, or the district.
How Does Fault Work in a Mississippi Bus Crash?
Mississippi follows pure comparative fault under Miss. Code § 11-7-15. A person can recover even if partly at fault, though damages drop by that share. Student passengers rarely carry any fault. When both drivers made mistakes, each may answer for part of the harm.
The police crash report, witness accounts, and video will shape the answer. Our Madison and Ridgeland car accident guide and our article on what to do after a bus crash cover these issues in more depth.
Why Should Parents Talk With a Ridgeland School Bus Accident Lawyer Early?
Evidence from a busy intersection can vanish within days. Many school buses carry interior and exterior cameras. Stores and traffic cameras along Highway 51 may also record the road, and that footage is often overwritten quickly. A lawyer can send preservation letters to the district, the other driver, and their insurers.
A Ridgeland school bus accident attorney can also request the bus inspection and maintenance records and the driver’s training file. Those records can show whether the district met its duty to transport students safely.
Children’s injuries need close watching too. A concussion or neck injury may not show its full effect for days. Follow-up visits create a record that ties symptoms to the crash.
What Should Families Do Next?
Take your child for a medical evaluation, even if they seemed fine at the scene. Ask Ridgeland police for the crash report number. Save photos, hospital papers, and every bill. Write down what your child remembers while it is fresh. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before getting advice. Our guide to evidence that can strengthen an injury claim lists what to keep.
We hope every student hurt in this crash makes a full recovery.
How Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis Can Help
CGG Law helps families across the Jackson metro, including Madison County, after serious crashes. We investigate what happened and preserve evidence. We deal with insurance companies and identify everyone who may share responsibility, including government entities. We pursue compensation when the facts support it. Learn more on our Jackson personal injury lawyer page. Protecting Victims. Pursuing Justice.
Talk With a Ridgeland School Bus Accident Lawyer
Call CGG Law at 601-948-8005 for a free consultation, or reach us through our contact page. The sooner we start, the more evidence we can protect.
This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney advertising.
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