Several People Sustained Injuries In Hempstead School Bus Collision Along The Southern State Parkway
HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK (October 27, 2023) – A school bus was involved in a Hempstead collision with two other vehicles on the Southern State Parkway by Exit 19.
Hempstead police officials are saying that the collision took place around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. A school bus carrying children was involved in a crash with two other vehicles under uncertain conditions.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. Several people sustained injuries, but only one person in one of the cars was taken to the hospital after the crash.
A full investigation into the Hempstead bus accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Hempstead 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).” There are many steps that bus drivers should take to avoid collisions.
- Bus drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
- Bus drivers should slow down at pedestrian crossings.
- Bus drivers should follow all vehicles at a safe distance.
Bus companies are considered common carriers. Their drivers must undergo specialized training and do everything within their power to avoid collisions. According to New York VAT § 1129 (a), drivers must maintain a safe follow distance with the vehicle ahead of them. When a driver rear-ends a vehicle in their own lane they will usually be considered at fault. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane of traffic.
If a bus driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. It is crucial that all evidence is properly preserved after any school bus accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Maintenance records for the bus involved should be sought.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability insurance. Any person that is injured in a school bus accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Sadly, though, bus companies will often do everything in their power to deny liability after any collision. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating New York School Bus Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this collision. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Hempstead school bus accident? Our team of bus accident attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
