Louisiana Man Injured by School Bus Wins $51000

The Terrebonne Parish School Board must pay more than $51,000 to a man who was injured when a school bus rear-ended a Sears van he was driving, a Louisiana district judge has ruled.

Although police reported minor injuries at the time, court documents say Bruce Williams suffered permanent disfigurement and disability, The Courier reported.

The breakdown approved by Judge Randall Bethancourt includes $12,350 for medical expenses, $8,000 for loss of injuries, and $30,000 for pain and suffering.

The board voted Tuesday to pay the $51,570 total from its annual operating budget.

The board has had few such judgments, board President Roger DeHart said.

“Maybe in my 22 years, we’ve paid three or four times,” he said.

Williams’ attorneys said the crash was caused by the bus driver’s negligence in failing to keep a proper lookout and safe control of the bus, and going over the lawful speed.