Earlier this month in Nottoway County, Virginia, a school bus driver was charged with reckless driving after he was involved in a serious collision with an oncoming dump truck. According to one local news report, the accident occurred at around 3:50 in the afternoon while the bus was taking students home. Twelve students were onboard the bus at the time of the accident.
Evidently, the school bus was heading north on Route 614 when it unexpectedly drifted out of its lane and into the eastbound lanes of Route 460, directly into the path of a Peterbilt dump truck. All 12 students, the driver, and one aide aboard the school bus were fine, suffering only minor injuries. However, the driver of the dump truck was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, as was his 12-year-old passenger.
“Professional” Drivers and Accident Liability in Maryland
School bus drivers, like truck drivers, taxi drivers, and any other motorist who is paid to operate a motor vehicle, have a duty to their passengers as well as others on the road. While the specifics of this accident are not known, it seems reasonable to think that the driver of the bus was somehow distracted in the moments immediately preceding the accident.
Distracted driving is a leading cause of serious Maryland truck accidents, along with drunk driving and speeding. The big problem with distracted driving—unlike speeding or drunk driving—is that most people are guilty of driving while distracted at one point or another throughout their day. Whether it be talking on a cell phone, texting a friend, chatting with a passenger, checking their email, looking at a GPS display, or quickly glancing at the news between stoplights, distracted driving greatly increases the chances of getting into an accident.
Professional drivers should know better than to engage in any of these activities while driving. In fact, these professional drivers must obtain a special license to operate a commercial vehicle. But from past experiences, most of us know that merely having a special license doesn’t necessarily result in safer driving.
Every year, we see many Maryland truck accidents caused by distracted truck drivers. Thankfully, the laws in the State of Maryland permit injured accident victims to file suit against negligent truck drivers for the injuries they sustained due to the driver’s negligence. If you have been injured in a Maryland truck accident, contact a dedicated Maryland truck accident attorney today.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
If you have recently been involved in a serious Maryland truck accident that you believe was the fault of a negligent truck driver, you may be entitled to monetary damages. However, from our experiences representing clients in these types of cases, you can expect a fight from the truck driver, the company that employs him, and their insurance companies. To make sure that you are not taken advantage of, contact one of the dedicated Maryland personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The skilled lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen have decades of experience successfully bringing cases against negligent truck drivers and trucking companies. Call 610-654-3600 today to set up a free initial consultation with a dedicated personal injury attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland’s Winter Weather Partially Responsible for Cattle Truck Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published March 27, 2015.
Maryland Truck Driver Facing Criminal Charges for 2013 Fatal Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published February 25, 2015.