Bus/Truck Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the 10 year period from 1998 – 2008, there were about 414,399 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those, 1409 (.34%) were classified as “school transportation-related,” i.e., involving a school bus. This represents an average of just over 140 per year. Of those deaths, 72% of those killed were occupants of a vehicle other than the school bus. Non-occupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) accounted for 20% of the deaths, and only 8% of those killed were occupants of the bus.
Research shows that on average, about 63,000 buses (of all kinds) are involved in an accident each year. About 14,000 result in injury, and 325 result in a fatality. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year. Inter-city buses are 1.9 more likely to become involved in an accident, and charter operations have “significantly higher odds of driver error.”
These are staggering statistics. But they are reality. The attorneys at GLG have handled many bus accident cases. Several years, Mr. Grenier obtained the largest single case settlement in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) almost 50 year history, involving a death that occurred when a bus ran a red light and struck another vehicle. After months of tenacious litigation, Mr. Grenier obtained a $14 million settlement. Mr. Grenier has recovered almost $20 million from WMATA as the result of the negligent operation of buses by its drivers, which resulted in serious injury or death. In another bus case against WMATA, Mr. Grenier obtained a $2.3 million settlement wherein a WMATA bus struck and killed a pedestrian. Through diligent investigation, Mr. Grenier and his team located a security camera mounted on a government building, which captured on video the incident and eventually lead to the settlement.
There are many factors which may contribute to bus accidents, including negligent driving, driving under the influence, dangerous weather conditions, poor road conditions, and mechanical problems, just to name a few. We realize that bus accident injuries do not only affect the victim; they affect the victim’s family as well. In cases of severe injuries, such as paralysis or head trauma, the victim may require special care, in addition to expensive medical treatments, surgeries, therapies, and other injury-related care. Families may have to make sacrifices to pay for these costly yet necessary health care treatments. If you have been injured in a bus crash, the aggressive bus crash attorneys at GLG may be able to recover compensation for your injuries, medical costs, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and other bus accident related expenses.
Depending on the circumstances of the bus accident, victims may suffer injuries ranging from minor cuts and scrapes to serious and even fatal injuries. Along with physical injuries, you may suffer from emotional trauma as a result of the bus accident.
If you or someone you know was injured or killed, whether as a bus passenger, vehicle passenger, pedestrian, bicyclist, etc. who was hit by a bus, you should contact GLG immediately. Our attorneys have represented the victims of some of the most horrific bus accidents in the Maryland, Virginia and D.C. area. If you want to find out if you have a case for a bus accident a consultation with one of our attorneys is always done without charge.
Truck accidents can be similarly devastating in their consequences. According to NHTSA, in 2012 there were 3921 people killed and 114,000 injured in crashes involving large trucks (gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds). In the United States, 333,000 large trucks were involved in crashes during 2012. This represented a significant increase in the number of large truck crashes during 2011.
Interstate trucking is very heavily regulated. For example, there are weight limits and limits upon the number of hours a driver is permitted to drive per day. The federal motor carrier regulations are designed to ensure the safe operation of trucks on our roads and highways. Yet all too often, truck drivers may violate these regulation, which can have catastrophic consequences. Imagine the damage that an 18-wheeler can do if the driver loses control due to speeding or other unsafe driving. GLG’s attorneys have handled multiple trucking accident cases, including one as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada. We roll up our sleeves and investigate the whether there were any regulatory violations which may have caused the incident.
If you or someone you know was injured or killed as the result of the negligent operation of a truck, you should contact GLG immediately. If you want to find out if you have a case for a truck accident a consultation with one of our attorneys is always done without charge.