A Frederick County, Virginia, woman is suing the estate of a man who died when his car crashed into the school bus she was driving. The bus driver claims the head-on collision on Shawnee Drive in Winchester was caused by driver negligence, although police blamed the fatal accident on icy roads.

The $100,000 lawsuit, filed to recover medical costs and lost wages, is one of two suits against the estate of the former sheriff's deputy who died, along with his 11-year-old daughter, in the accident. The mother of the deceased child has also filed a wrongful death suit against the estate administrator.

According to the complaint filed by attorneys for the bus driver, the deputy's 1985 Chrysler crossed a double yellow line into oncoming traffic lanes before hitting the bus. The suit claims the Chrysler driver was negligent for failing to control or stop the vehicle.

The second lawsuit against the estate is seeking $1.25 million for wrongful death.

It also blames the deputy for causing the fatal accident. The mother's case additionally accuses the children's father of failing to protect his daughters from injury. Neither the sheriff's deputy nor his daughter killed in the accident was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The dead girl's 8-year-old sister, who survived the accident, was sitting in the back of the Chrysler when the collision occurred. Her older sister was riding in the front seat.

As evidenced in this case, negligent drivers can be held accountable even in death. The victims who were injured as a result of a driver's negligence should not have to finance their own recoveries.

Source: Northern Virginia Daily, "School bus driver files suit in crash," Alex Bridges, Dec. 9, 2011