Maryland School Bus Accident Lawyer

When you send your child to school in the morning, you expect them to arrive and return safely. Unfortunately, school buses frequently get into accidents, often resulting in serious injuries. If your child was hit by a school bus or was injured in a school bus accident in Maryland, Rice, Murtha & Psoras can help you understand your family’s legal options. You may have a case against the school district, the bus driver, a negligent mechanic, or others who were involved in your child’s accident.

Our Maryland school bus crash lawyer can help you determine whether you have a case, and if so, who may be liable for your son or daughter’s injuries. We have years of experience handling child injury lawsuits and are prepared to aggressively litigate your case. If you believe you may have a lawsuit against a negligent school bus driver, a public school system in Maryland, or other parties who allowed your child to be injured, contact us online to set up a free legal consultation, or call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. We are available 24/7 to provide assistance with school bus injury claims in Maryland.

School Bus Accident Statistics

School bus accidents can occur on the way to school, on the way to a student’s home, or while traveling for field trips, sports events, competitions, school dances, or other school-related events. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 1,150 school-related crashes occurred over the period from 2007 to 2016. Tragically, these crashes resulted in nearly 1,300 deaths: “an average of 128 fatalities per year,” according to NHTSA data. School bus occupants accounted for nearly 120 of the total fatalities, pedestrians hit by buses or other vehicles accounted for over 200, and occupants of other vehicles accounted for more than 900.

Most accidents occurred between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M., or between the hours of 2:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. During these hours, buses are carrying children to and from school – and in many cases, are sharing the roads with impatient, careless, or distracted commuters.

What Are Some Causes of School Bus Accidents in Maryland?

Like other types of automotive accidents, school bus accidents can have many causes. In fact, most accidents have more than one cause, with several mistakes or problems combining together to cause a crash or collision.

When an accident is caused by a driver or bus driver’s mistake, or by the mistakes of a mechanic or manufacturer, the victims and their families can pursue financial compensation by filing a personal injury claim. Accident causes that could lead to a personal injury lawsuit include, but are not limited to, the following examples:

  • Aggressive driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving while fatigued or sleepy
  • Driving while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs, including prescription painkillers and sleep aids
  • Failure to check mirrors for students, pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles
  • Failure to follow speed limits, especially in school zones (which have reduced speed limits) or under low-visibility conditions (such as foggy weather or sharp corners)
  • Failure to stop at red lights or stop signs
  • Failure to use signals properly
  • Following other vehicles too closely for safety

While most accidents are caused by driver errors like the examples listed above, crashes can also result from faulty road design, defective bus parts, or debris being left in the roadway.

Types of Injuries that Can Result from a School Bus Crash

School bus crashes, though less common than car accidents, can cause numerous injuries and fatalities. Multiple cars, trucks, and motorcycles may be forced to swerve around the bus, potentially causing huge pileups involving dozens of vehicles.

While the occupants of smaller vehicles are more likely to be killed or catastrophically injured than the occupants of the bus, anyone can be hurt when a school bus crashes or overturns. Injuries can range in severity from minor to permanently disabling, depending on factors like the speed of the bus, where passengers were sitting, and the point of impact. Tragically, school bus injuries can be fatal, claiming more than 100 lives each year. Our Maryland school bus injury lawyer handles all types of personal injury claims against negligent schools and bus drivers, including:

  • Back injuries
  • Bone fractures (broken bones)
  • Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Cuts, scrapes, and bruises
  • Dislocated joints
  • Internal injuries
  • Paralysis and spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
  • Road rash injuries, which can occur when someone is ejected from a vehicle
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash or a sprain injury
  • Torn ligaments
  • Wrongful death

Maryland School Bus Accident Injury Attorney

Public school systems, bus companies, and bus drivers are responsible for keeping your child safe. When carelessness leads to a preventable accident, you have a right to get answers for what happened – and to pursue damages. For a free legal consultation with our Maryland school bus injury attorney, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291, or contact us online for assistance.