No Cause Has Been Given for the Deadly Party Bus Collision on I-95

A deadly crash involving a party bus early Sunday morning (May 5) is still under investigation, as police try to determine what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The bus crashed into a guardrail around mile marker 77 on I-95 in Maryland; the impact was severe enough to injure 23 people and fatally injure one woman from Philadelphia.

As of this writing, no criminal charges have been filed against the driver or anyone else, but The Baltimore Sun reported that “the bus was not registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration… [even though] registration is required for companies that operate commercial vehicles transporting passengers or hauling cargo in interstate commerce.”

What is a party bus?

Party buses are modified buses designed to entertain groups of people. Unlike a regular bus or a limousine, party buses often come equipped with flashing lights, bar accoutrements, bathrooms, and televisions. Some also come equipped with “dance floors, and karaoke machines.

Notably, all party buses come equipped with seat belts, though the advertisements for these vehicles rarely mention sitting.

Are party buses dangerous?

Party buses can potentially be very dangerous, and for multiple reasons.

First, there’s the issue of people moving around on the bus while it travels. One of the first rules children learn on school buses is not to walk around while the bus is in motion. Party buses are specifically designed to allow you to get up, move, and socialize.

Second, party buses require a driver with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) – but limousines don’t. That’s important, because many party bus companies are actually limousine rental companies, which means they may need to contract a driver with a CDL – a driver who likely has a regular 9-5 job or route during the week. This could potentially increase the risk of having a driver who is drowsy behind the wheel, if they are operating the party bus after their regular work day.

Third, many party buses are retrofitted, meaning their insides are customized to the owner’s liking – but the vehicle itself may not receive any upgrades. This means you may be traveling on what looks like a new party bus but is a much older vehicle that’s been upgraded.

Finally, most party buses come equipped with a bar, with the understanding that the travelers will bring their own alcohol. Even though these companies typically have rules about excessive drinking, enforcement can be lax. After all, an exhausted contracted driver is likely much more concerned with traffic or getting home than he or she would be with how much the passengers are drinking.

Unique causes of injuries on party buses

Party bus crashes, like any vehicle accidents, can lead to catastrophic injuries: head and brain trauma, broken bones, spine or spinal cord damage, etc. They can also be fatal. However, the very nature of these vehicles creates unique circumstances for injuries in the event of a bus crash or accident:

• You can slip and fall on the bus itself. You can fall while you’re dancing or moving around. Drinks can spill, and if it’s raining outside, water can be tracked in.
• You can be thrown around the bus. Buses are roomier, which means a body could travel longer. A person can also suffer harm by crashing into any of the amenities on the party bus.
• You can suffer a seizure. Lots of party buses come with strobing, flashing lights.
• You can fall out of/off the bus. Last year, a 14-year-old fell out of moving party bus. She had been leaning on the emergency door, which opened while the bus was in motion. There are multiple stories of people falling out of party bus emergency windows and being hit by cars, or striking buildings.

Can you sue a party bus if you’re injured?

Potentially, yes – if you suffer harm while traveling on a party bus, you may be able to sue the company for damages.

It’s common practice for party bus companies to issue a waiver of liability that you must sign. This waiver generally states that the company is not responsible for the actions of the travelers. Ironically, they point out that walking around in a moving vehicle can pose risks, and that the driver or company has the right to remove any person who’s behaving inappropriately. In short, liability waivers are there to protect the company in the event riders are injured in falls or because someone gets alcohol poisoning from excessive drinking.

However, just because you signed a waiver does not mean you have no options if you are injured on a party bus in Maryland. Acts of negligence by the driver or the company itself could open a path to liability. Further, the waiver may be void if any part of the agreement proves false or fraudulent.

In Sunday’s terrible accident, for example, the bus company – Just Becuz Entertainment Party Bus Service – may be open to liability because it was not registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), or if the investigation shows that driver negligence caused the crash.

The best thing to do is contact a Maryland bus accident lawyer as soon as possible to review your case, and let you know what options are available to you. Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. helps people who have been injured in any kind of vehicle crash or incident. Please call us or contact us today to schedule a free consultation.