Pickup Truck Crashed Into East Meadow School Bus As It Was Exiting Parking Lot
EAST MEADOW, NEW YORK (July 1, 2023) – At least 20 students were injured in an East Meadow school bus accident by a parking lot along Old Westbury Road.
Long Island police officials are saying that the collision took place around 3:45 p.m. on Monday. A school bus was exiting a parking lot when it was hit by a pickup truck.
The force of the crash caused debris to fly everywhere. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.
A total of 20 students were hospitalized. It remains unclear if police issued any citations following the collision.
Liability For East Meadow Bus Accidents
School buses are among the safest forms of transportation for passengers. But they pose a number of unique hazards for pedestrians and those in smaller vehicles. For example, school buses have a wide turning radius which makes side impact collisions more likely. School buses also have large blind spots. If a bus driver is distracted even for a moment this can lead to a collision. There are a number of factors that could contribute to a school bus accident.
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Inclement weather
- Poor road conditions
School buses are considered common carriers and their drivers must exercise a great deal of care to help prevent collisions. Pursuant to New York Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1163, “No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection […] or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.” If a school bus driver makes un unprotected left turn into the path of another vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, the company or city that a bus driver worked for could be held at fault for a collision. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior employers are principally responsible for the negligent actions of their employees. According to Judith M. v. Sisters of Charity Hosp., 93 N.Y.2d 932, 933 (1999) respondeat superior will apply “so long as the tortious conduct is generally foreseeable and a natural incident of the employment.” There are a number of steps that should be taken after any school bus accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- An experienced bus accident attorney should be consulted.
It can be hard to know where to begin after any school bus collision. Accident victims may not realize the full extent of their injuries for several weeks or months. Any person that is injured in a school bus crash may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that come with a serious collision.
Investigating New York Bus Accident Claims
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this East Meadow school bus accident. It is our sincere hope that everyone is able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligent actions of a bus driver? Our team of bus accident attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
