Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog
Earlier this week, a bus headed south from New York City was involved in a fatal accident near the Maryland-Delaware border. According to a report by USA Today, the accident occurred on an exit ramp onto northbound Route 13 from Route 1 near Red Lion, Delaware.
Evidently, the southbound bus was in the process of negotiating a tight turn when the driver lost control of the bus, triggering the fatal bus accident. The bus was attempting to make the teardrop-shaped loop onto Route 1 around 4:20 in the afternoon when the accident occurred.
No one on board the bus escaped without injury. Two people died as a result. One of the deceased was found trapped under the bus. Several others were trapped inside the bus. In total, 48 passengers were injured. Maryland State Police loaned Delaware authorities helicopters to help get the victims medical care as quickly as possible.
An investigation discovered that the motor coach company was in the process of picking up people who had recently had medical procedures performed. The company has a total of seven drivers and no instances of safety violations or accidents in the past 24 months.
Maryland Bus Accidents
Maryland sees a substantial number of buses on its roads due to the vast number of historical sites and national monuments scattered across the state. With so much bus traffic, it is not surprising that on occasion a serious bus accident will occur.
However, bus accidents have the potential for massive tragedy because few vehicles carry as many passengers as buses do. Consider the above accident. Fifty people were either injured or killed in the accident. This is the equivalent of ten or more regular traffic accidents.
Since bus accidents can cause so much harm, bus drivers must be especially careful when driving. In fact, the legislature in Maryland has determined that bus drivers are held to a high standard when operating a bus. For instance, a bus driver may not use a cell phone at all while driving, either for texting or for talking. Additionally, the blood-alcohol limit for bus drivers is 75% lower than for regular drivers (.02 rather than .08 for regular drivers).
The bottom line is that bus drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner. When a driver fails to do so, he or she may be held liable for any injuries caused as a result of his or her negligence.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Bus Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland bus accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages as a result of the bus driver’s negligence. In addition, you may be able to seek recovery from the owner of the motor coach company. To learn more about how to recover financially after being involved in a Maryland bus accident, call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Driver’s Negligent Driving Causes Serious Accident in Hagerstown, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 2, 2014.
Truck Accident in Frederick County Kills One Motorcyclist, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 19, 2014.