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Glen Burnie Bus Accident Attorney

bus accident lawyer in glen burnie maryland

Seeking compensation after being injured in a motor vehicle accident in Glen Burnie, Maryland, is often relatively straightforward — typically, you just need to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer. However, as experienced Glen Burnie bus accident lawyer John Leppler can tell you, recovering the compensation you need is often much harder if you’re hurt in a bus accident.

This is largely due to the fact that, more often than not, determining liability for a bus accident is considerably more difficult.

For example, if your child is injured in a school bus accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit if you can prove that the driver acted negligently. In some cases, you might even be able to file a lawsuit against the school district that employs them.

However, when your personal injury claim involves a government entity, you must follow stringent requirements, including initiating the claims process within a year of the injury.

Moreover, school buses aren’t the only types of buses that can cause serious accidents. Glen Burnie has several active transit bus companies, including Anne Arundel County Transit, Jubb’s Bus Services, Hubers Bus Services Inc., Nixon Bus Inc., North County Bus Co Inc., and more.

If you or a loved one suffer injuries in a bus accident, recovering compensation is entirely possible. However, given the complexities of filing an insurance claim or lawsuit, it’s wise to retain an experienced bus accident attorney in Glen Burnie, Maryland, when attempting to do so.

Attorney John Leppler is available 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week to assist you. Call 443.955.1989 today to speak with John and schedule a free consultation.

Public Transit Bus and School Bus Crash Facts in Maryland

Bus crashes in Maryland have steadily become more common in recent years. However, the tide turned in 2024. Here’s a breakdown of Maryland bus crashes from 2021 to 2024:

  • 2021: 434 crashes (two fatal), with 370 injuries and two fatalities
  • 2022: 583 crashes (four fatal), with 526 injuries and five fatalities
  • 2023: 616 crashes (four fatal), with 603 injuries and four fatalities
  • 2024: 156 crashes (two fatal), with 149 injuries and four fatalities

The National Safety Council (NSC) notes that although school bus crashes are a distinct risk, riding a school bus is statistically safer for children than walking to school or riding in a passenger vehicle. This makes sense when you consider some recent (nationwide) school bus accident statistics, such as the following:

  • From 2013 to 2022, only 5% of fatalities in school bus crashes were bus passengers
  • In the same period, only 36% of injuries in school bus crashes were sustained by bus passengers
  • 71% of fatalities and 51% of injuries in these accidents were to occupants of other vehicles

The fact that there are many schools in the Glen Burnie School District means there are numerous school buses on the road. You may cross paths with buses from any of these schools throughout the day:

  • Point Pleasant Elementary School
  • Marley Elementary School
  • Oakwood Elementary School
  • Glen Burnie Park Elementary School
  • Glen Burnie High School

Fortunately, the Glen Burnie School District has rigorous standards for drivers. Comprehensive training and safety standards can help keep children safe on the ride to and from school.

After an accident or injury involving a public bus or a school bus it is not recommended to try to handle your own case. Without the assistance of an experienced Glen Burnie bus accident lawyer you are greatly at risk of being taken advantage of by the insurance companies. Leppler Injury Law can offer you the personalized legal assistance necessary to make sure your claim is not denied or undervalued. Call 443.955.1989 today or fill out the contact form on our website for a free case evaluation.

Reasons Bus Accidents Happen in Maryland

Just like other motor vehicle crashes, bus accidents in Maryland have a variety of potential causes. There are several broad categories of accidents that can happen, including the following:

Understanding the types of possible bus accidents is important, but so is understanding why these accidents occur. Here are nine of the most common reasons bus crashes happen in Glen Burnie and elsewhere:

Negligence on the Part of the Bus Driver

Driver negligence, which can include texting while driving, eating and drinking, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is a common cause of car accidents. Bus drivers can commit these violations, too.

Unfortunately, given the size of buses compared to most other vehicles on the road, a bus driver who becomes momentarily distracted is much more likely to cause serious damage than someone driving a car.

Negligence on the Part of the Bus Company

Drivers aren’t the ones whose negligence can contribute to bus accidents. Sometimes, the bus company itself (whether it’s a private entity or part of the government) can be negligent. Examples of bus company negligence include:

  • Not maintaining a fleet of vehicle properly
  • Not adequately screening drivers
  • Not providing sufficient training to new drivers

Unfortunately, the lax regulations bus companies face (especially when compared to airlines) make it easy for bus companies to get away with being negligent.

A Glen Burnie bus accident attorney may still be able to help you pursue compensation against a negligent bus company. Still, these cases can be challenging, especially if the bus is operated by the city government.

Bus Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue might technically be considered a subcategory of driver negligence. However, it’s such a common cause of bus crashes that it deserves special mention. Like other kinds of commercial drivers, bus drivers often get behind the wheel while tired, and when fatigue is serious enough, it can cause devastating accidents.

In some instances, bus drivers struggle with exhaustion behind the wheel because they disregard the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations on hours of service. These rules specify that drivers must take breaks at certain intervals.

Some drivers may ignore these regulations on their own. However, it’s not unheard of for employers to pressure drivers to disregard FMCSA rules to maximize productivity or minimize expenses. This kind of pressure puts everyone — including bus drivers, passengers, and other road users — at risk.

Blind Spots

Like commercial trucks, large buses have blind spots that drivers can’t see when behind the wheel. Responsible employers make sure their drivers are properly trained to be aware of these blind spots. Even so, accidents can (and do) happen.

Poor Weather Conditions

Inclement weather (including rain, ice, and fog) increases the chances of being involved in an accident for everyone on the road. Because of their large size, however, buses have a much longer stopping distance than smaller vehicles.

Making Left Turns

Left turns can be challenging for bus drivers because they involve a wide turn radius and temporary blind spots. Drivers can often lean backward and forward while turning to eliminate these blind spots, but it’s easy not to check thoroughly enough.

Errors by Other Drivers

Crashes involving buses aren’t always the fault of the bus driver — it’s possible for another driver to make a mistake that leads to an accident. For example, since buses make frequent stops, a driver who isn’t paying attention could easily cause a rear-end collision.

Bus Fires

Bus fires are much more common than fires in passenger cars. Depending on how fast the fire spreads, the passengers and driver may not have time to get out safely.

Road Congestion

While not an issue unique to buses, it’s worth noting that increasing congestion of urban (and even some suburban) roads is leading to an uptick in accidents.

It’s easy to assume that the only reason crashes are occurring more often in busy areas is the presence of more vehicles, and that’s certainly part of it. However, urban areas also face many other issues that make crashes more likely. For instance:

  • Work and construction zones can impede visibility and introduce new hazards, such as work vehicles
  • Pedestrians who don’t use crosswalks may enter the road without giving bus drivers time to stop
  • Delivery vehicles may load or unload inventory in unsafe areas
  • Cars parked along city streets may dramatically reduce visibility

Bus companies that operate in urban or otherwise congested areas may be able to reduce the risk of accidents by ensuring that drivers receive ample training in how to identify and respond to these and other hazards.

Who Is Responsible When a Bus Accident Injures Someone in Glen Burnie?

If you or your child are hurt in a bus crash, you might consider filing an insurance claim or lawsuit. However, before you start the claims process, you need to understand who is responsible for the crash.

Determining liability for bus crashes is often harder than it looks. Glen Burnie personal injury lawyer John Leppler may be able to help determine who was at fault, but it can be helpful to have a general understanding of the potentially liable parties. They include:

Bus Drivers

In many cases, the driver of the bus is liable for the crash. If the driver acted negligently behind the wheel and caused an accident, you might have a case against them.

However, it’s important to note that if you have grounds to sue the bus company itself (which you likely would in most bus accident cases), this is almost always a better option than directly suing the driver.

Bus companies have substantial liability insurance policies to cover accidents. If your losses exceed the minimum applicable policy limits, you’re much more likely to recover additional compensation from the bus company than from the driver.

Bus Companies

Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, a bus company may be held responsible if one of its drivers fails to perform their job duties safely — even if there’s no evidence that the bus company was directly negligent.

That said, there are some situations where you might have strong evidence of negligence on the part of the bus company.

For instance, imagine that a bus driver causes a severe crash because they got drunk before starting their shift. The driver is definitely liable in this scenario. However, if it’s revealed that the bus company doesn’t run background checks on new drivers, the company itself could be guilty of negligent hiring.

Government Entities

If the bus that caused the accident was operated by the Maryland Transit Administration or another government entity, pursuing compensation could be more complex.

Many government institutions have immunity from lawsuits. However, you may be able to file a claim for damages if you can prove that the bus driver or the government agency overseeing the bus was negligent in some way.

Importantly, the rules for suing a government entity are different from those of a standard personal injury lawsuit. For example, the Maryland Tort Claims Act (the law that allows plaintiffs to sue some government entities) generally requires you to formally file a complaint with the relevant agency within one year of the accident.

Once the government entity receives your claim, they may accept or deny it. If your claim is denied,  you’ll have three years from the date of the crash to file an accident lawsuit.

Third Parties

If you’re a bus passenger and you get hurt in an accident the bus driver didn’t cause, you’ll probably need to file a lawsuit or insurance claim against the responsible driver.

For example, imagine that you’re on a bus that’s stopped at a railroad crossing. A distracted driver comes up behind you and slams into the bus without stopping, and you suffer a neck injury as a result.

In this instance, because the other driver violated Maryland traffic laws, they would bear liability for your injuries, not the bus driver or bus company. However, if the bus had broken tail lights or otherwise contributed to your injuries, the bus company might be deemed partially responsible.

A qualified Glen Burnie bus accident attorney from Leppler Injury Law can help you understand Maryland’s contributory negligence laws and how being partially liable might apply to your case.

My Child Was Injured in a Bus Accident. Can I Sue?

If your child has been hurt in a school bus accident, it’s highly recommended that you work with a Glen Burnie bus accident lawyer to obtain the compensation they need to recover. However, because school buses are operated by government entities, securing compensation will require more than just filing a lawsuit.

Generally, if you can prove that the bus driver or the Glen Burnie School District was negligent, you’re entitled to file a claim for compensation under the Maryland Tort Claims Act, which allows state residents to sue government organizations for negligence in certain circumstances.

Here’s a general overview of how the claims process works:

  • You have one year from the date of injury to file a claim against the government entity
  • State officials will review your claim and pay it if they believe your complaint has merit
  • If the state denies your claim, you’ll have the option to a lawsuit
  • You’ll have three years from the date of the original accident to initiate a lawsuit

This process can be time-consuming and potentially frustrating. The best course of action is to contact a Glen Burnie bus accident attorney who can review your circumstances, help you understand your options, and create a plan that best suits your and your child’s needs.

When you have a lawyer handling the logistics of your case, you’ll have more time and energy to focus on taking care of your child.

How Can Attorney John Leppler Assist With My Bus Accident Claim in Glen Burnie?

There’s no law requiring you to work with a Glen Burnie bus accident lawyer if you decide to file an insurance claim against a negligent bus company. Given the many complexities of bus accident claims, however, having strong legal representation is vital to maximize your chances of winning the financial support you need.

Having reliable legal representation is advisable whether you were injured by a private bus company or a city-owned bus. While suing a private company is usually procedurally simpler than suing a government entity, that doesn’t mean it’s easier to get compensation.

Like most businesses, large bus companies often have teams of attorneys to shield them from liability. To level the playing field and improve your chances of securing fair compensation, you need an attorney who will work just as hard to protect your interests.

A skilled legal representative can also help you navigate a claim against a government agency if a city bus or school bus hit you. This process is intentionally complex, and even a small error could result in your claim being denied.

Skilled Glen Burnie Bus Accident Law Firm

If you’re looking for an attorney specializing in accident injury claims who has the ability and determination to stand up for your rights, attorney John Leppler, founder of Leppler Injury Law, can be a powerful ally. Our firm is committed to helping injury victims secure the compensation they need to heal and move on with their lives.

We understand the unique challenges that come with filing claims against bus companies and government entities, and we have a strong record of success in getting clients the help they need.

If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, contact us today to schedule your free consultation. Locations near Glen Burnie which John Leppler’s injury law firm also serve victims of bus accidents include Baltimore, Towson, Timonium, Owings Mills, Parkville, and more.