New York State Police Investigating Lake George Bus Rollover Accident on Adirondack Northway
LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK (January 5, 2023) – One person died and a dozen people were injured in a Lake George bus rollover accident along the Adirondack Northway highway.
Lake George police officials are saying that the collision took place around 1:00 p.m. on Friday. A bus was traveling south from Montreal, Canada when it suddenly crashed.
It remains unclear if any other vehicles were involved in the collision. One person died due to their injuries and another was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in critical condition.
Another 12 passengers on the bus were taken to Glens Falls Hospital. A full investigation into the Lake George collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Lake George Bus Accidents
Thousands of people are injured every year in bus collisions. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” There are a number of steps that bus companies should take in order to prevent bus accidents.
- Buses should be regularly inspected and well-maintained.
- Bus drivers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
- Bus drivers should be well-trained to drive their particular vehicle.
Bus drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must exercise due care and do everything within reason to avoid collisions. Many bus accidents are due to bus drivers that are speeding. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code 1180, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a bus driver fails to slow down to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, the company that owned a bus could be liable for a collision. Employers are typically liable for the wrongful acts 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.” It is crucial that numerous steps are taken after any bus accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- The cause of the bus crash should be understood.
It can be hard to know where to begin after any bus accident. Victims will often suffer very serious injuries and may need to take extensive time off of work. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have rights. The family of any person that is injured in a bus accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. 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 Bus Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person that died in this Lake George bus accident. It is our sincere hope that the other victims will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Do you need more information about a Lake George bus accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of bus accident attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the support and justice that they deserve. 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.
