Critical Injuries in Northeast D.C. Bus Accident

On Wednesday, July 14, 2021, a Washington D.C. Metrobus crash on First Street and Riggs Road sent 12 people to area hospitals. Emergency responders reported two people in critical condition, three people in serious condition, and seven others with non-life-threatening injuries. Another person at the scene sustained injuries but refused medical attention.

Authorities say the Green Line Metrobus traveling from Fort Totten station to Prince George’s Plaza in northeast D.C. left the roadway and slammed into a retaining wall at approximately 3:23 p.m. local time. The bus crash occurred near Keene Elementary School.

Possible Cause of D.C. Bus Crash

The northeast D.C. bus crash cause may not be known for several months. The D.C. Metropolitan Police are investigating the cause of the accident and will likely issue preliminary findings within a week or two of the accident.

According to government data, some of the most common causes of bus accidents involve human error, such as distracted driving and driver fatigue. With more and more people attached to their mobile phones—including bus drivers—texting and driving has increasingly become a factor in accidents. Other common bus accident causes include speeding and failure to obey traffic signals.

In addition to human factors, mechanical failures like braking issues and tire blowouts can also lead to bus accidents. Lastly, accidents are far more common among bus operators that fail to maintain their fleet of vehicles responsibly. For example, if bus tires are not rotated or replaced when needed, or if brakes are not routinely inspected for problems, a mechanical failure is more likely to happen.

Our bus accident attorneys have seen operators cut costs all too often by failing to perform adequate maintenance on their vehicles. This negligence puts bus passengers and the motoring public in danger.

D.C. Bus Accident Lawyers with Winning Track Record

Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman D.C. bus accident attorneys have decades of experience litigating cases involving city municipal buses. Our firm has earned justice and compensation on behalf of victims harmed in bus accidents involving American Stage Lines, American Tour and Leasing Co., Bluebird, Ford Motor Company, Greyhound, Mexico Transportación Turista Peninsular, San Diego Metropolitan Transit, Sky Express, Inc., Windsor Inc., and many others.

As advocates for safety of passengers and others using our highways, our lawyers have been urging the installation of advanced safety systems on buses and trucks. Passengers on buses should be protected by well established safety systems such as collision avoidance, automatic braking, lap and shoulder belts, lane deviation warning systems, etc., just as are operators and passengers in many makes and models of automobiles. It is our belief that many tragic incidents could have been avoided had the manufacturers, owners and operators been required to invest in passenger safety when designing, manufacturing, buying and operating buses.

Over the last three decades, the firm’s attorneys have handled more than 100 bus accident cases on behalf of bus passengers, pedestrians hit by buses, and those who tragically lost family members. In one case, we were able to obtain nearly $10 million for victims of a school bus accident in California. Our track record of success includes more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients, including those harmed in preventable bus accidents.

If you or a family member were harmed in a bus crash, our firm is here to help you. Call (855) 948-5098 today or contact us to schedule an appointment with a D.C. bus accident lawyer