A Mississippi School Bus and Mini Van Collide Head On

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Several parents in Rankin County received a dreadful phone call this past Wednesday morning notifying them that their children had been involved in a bus accident. Both the parents and their children were all “shaken up” after the school bus collided head-on with a mini-van at the intersection of U.S. 80 and Overby Street [Source: WAPT News]. After the two vehicles collided, the impact pushed the bus into a pole. Officials are saying the rain and slick roadways may have contributed to the collision occurring.

Thankfully, no students were said to have suffered any major injuries, however, two students were complaining of some discomfort. They were taken to a local hospital where they were checked out. There was a total of 12 students traveling on the bus at the time of the accident. The driver of the minivan was said to have suffered a leg injury, but no serious injuries were reported.

 

How to Help Children Cope With Being Involved in an Accident

 

When a child is involved in a traumatic accident, it can sometimes have a negative effect on them for days or even weeks. So, as a concerned parent who is looking for ways to help your child through this stressful time, below are a few tips to consider that may help them recover.

 

  1. Minimize media exposure. Some accidents will make headline news, and linger as a trending topic for days. Avoid allowing your child to see this as it might take them back to the event and cause them to replay the entire incident in their head again.
  2. Engage in activities with your child. Try and spend more time with your child and let them know there is an open line of communication for them to discuss the accident with you. Some ways you can engage with your child more include:
  • Provide them with ongoing opportunities to talk.
  • Acknowledge and validate your child’s concerns.
  • Reassure them that everything is going to be OK.
  • Don’t pressure them into talking.
  1. Encourage your child to engage in physical activity. According to Helpguide.org, “physical activity can burn off adrenaline, release mood-enhancing endorphins, and help your child to sleep better at night.”
  2. Feed your child a healthy diet. The food you choose to feed your child impacts their mood so be sure to provide them with a healthy diet that won’t lead to mood swing as they may already be struggling with this.
  3. Work to rebuilt trust and safety. After an accident, such as a bus collision, a child might become more fearful of the world and less likely encouraged to try new things because the fear prevents them from doing so. So, to help rebuild their trust trying doing things like create routines or minimize the level of stress at home.

 

You may also want to consider meeting with your child’s physician to determine what other options are available to help them cope with the traumatic experience they went through. You are also going to want to consult with a Jackson, MS bus accident lawyer as they can work to determine if your child is eligible to recover compensation for their injuries. If you aren’t sure where to even begin searching for a reputable lawyer, USAttorneys.com is here to help you.