In the later part of October, a bus carrying a college rowing team was involved in a fatal accident with a passenger car. According to one local news source, the accident, which killed one and injured 13 others, occurred on a Pennsylvania highway on a Tuesday evening.
Evidently, the bus was carrying the members of the school’s rowing team back to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania after a competition when it was involved in the fatal accident. According to the news report, it was the passenger car that crashed into the bus, but additional details have not yet been released. What is known is that it was the driver of the passenger car who was killed in the accident.
An investigation is ongoing to determine what exactly occurred in the moments leading up to the fatal accident. As of the publication of the article, no citations had been issued to any of the parties involved.
Bus Driver Liability
Bus drivers, like all commercial operators, have a special duty to their passengers to make sure that everything is done to ensure a safe ride. However, sometimes accidents do happen, and the question of when a bus driver can be held liable for the injuries of a passenger commonly arises.
Bus drivers can generally be held liable for injuries sustained by a passenger when the passenger can show that the bus driver was somehow negligent, and that negligence led to the accident that caused the plaintiff’s injuries. In most cases, this can be done by showing that the accident was either the bus driver’s fault or that there was something more the bus driver (or the company that owns the bus) could have done to prevent or lessen the injuries suffered by the plaintiff.
While there are cases in which a bus driver or bus company is found liable to a passenger even though the driver was not found to be at fault for the accident, these situations are rare, and additional preparation should be taken if this theory is to be used. Generally speaking, bus drivers, busing companies, and the insurance companies who cover them are reluctant to settle with a passenger unless they have no other choice. To learn more, contact a dedicated attorney with questions.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland Bus Accident?
Maryland and Washington, D.C have a lot of buses and trucks on the road, and bus or truck accidents are inevitable. If you or a loved one has recently been injured in Maryland bus accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation to help you recoup the expenses associated with the accident. In addition, you may be able to recover for any pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the accident. Call 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation with one of the dedicated Maryland personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The skilled attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen have decades of experience bringing cases on behalf of injured Marylanders and look forward to speaking with you about yours.
More Blog Posts:
Laurel Bus Accident Claims One Man’s Life, Injures Seven Others, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 17, 2015.
Weather Blamed for Recent Semi-Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 7, 2015.