Most people in Maryland who ride municipal buses assume that their ride will always afford extra protection from injury in a traffic accident.
Such an assumption may generally be correct, but several individuals riding an MTA bus in suburban Baltimore may have differing opinions after a recent accident.
The MTA bus had stopped, apparently to unload and pick up passengers. While the bus was stopped and while passengers were waiting to leave the bus, the vehicle was struck by a pickup truck traveling at significant speed.
According to recorded footage, the truck hit the bus slightly behind the left front wheel. One witness told a TV reporter that he saw one man thrown to the ground by the impact. Other people were desperately trying to leave the bus as it filled with smoke. Another witness described the impact as so strong that it threw a 250-pound man from his seat onto the floor of the bus.
At least eight people were taken to local hospitals. Two of the individuals taken to hospitals were the drivers of the bus. Police have yet to provide any explanation about why the pickup truck veered off course and hit the bus. Police have also refused to say whether a third vehicle may have struck the pickup truck from behind.
Anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one in a similar accident may wish to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for an evaluation of the evidence and advice about seeking damages in a lawsuit. A knowledgeable lawyer may also be able to retain an accident reconstruction expert to provide a detailed account of how and why the collision occurred.