New York City Police Investigating Brooklyn School Bus Accident That Left 69-Year-Old Cyclist Critically Injured
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (May 22, 2024) – A 69-year-old cyclist was critically injured in a Brooklyn school bus accident along 21st Avenue.
New York City police officials are saying that the collision took place around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The cyclist was making his way down 21st Avenue when he was hit by a car door before being hit by a school bus.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. The cyclist was taken to NYU Langone Hospital with critical injuries.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Brooklyn School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically very safe for their passengers. But they pose a number of hazards to pedestrians and those in passenger vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “School bus-related crashes killed 54 people nationwide in 2020, down by over 50% compared to 2019 according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).” School bus drivers should take a number of steps in order to avoid hitting cyclists and pedestrians.
- School bus drivers should be well rested before heading out onto the road.
- School bus drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
- School bus drivers should slow down when pedestrians are nearby.
Bus drivers must take reasonable measures in order to avoid causing accidents. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code 1146, all drivers must exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians, bicyclists, and domestic animals in the roadway. When a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting pedestrians, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
Bus accidents can be very complex events. The factors that contribute to any bus accident can take place hours, days, or weeks prior to a collision. Sadly, though, bus companies will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if one of their drivers is involved in a collision. This is one of the reasons it is so important that evidence is properly preserved. Evidence will ultimately help determine who was at fault.
Investigating New York City School Bus Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to the cyclist injured in this collision. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken in order to prevent similar collisions.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Brooklyn school bus collision? Our team of bus accident attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
