Cause of Utica School Bus Accident Involving Black SUV Remains Under Investigation
UTICA, NEW YORK (May 9, 2023) – Several people were injured in a Utica school bus accident with a black SUV by the intersection of Bleecker Street and Florence Street.
Utica police officials are saying that the accident took place around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. A black SUV and a school bus were involved in a collision.
Both vehicles traveled a short distance before coming to rest. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Utica School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically very safe for bus passengers. But they can be very dangerous for 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 a number of factors that can make school buses particularly dangerous.
- School buses can weigh ten times more than passenger vehicles.
- School buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of smaller cars.
- School buses take much longer to stop than other vehicles.
Many school bus accidents are due to speeding. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code § 1180, no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed than would be safe or reasonable given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a driver fails to slow down and collides with another vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of school bus accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- PTSD
If a school bus driver was negligent and caused an accident, the school district or company that they were working for could be held at fault. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their employment. Any person that is injured in a school bus accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. A school bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A New York School Bus Accident
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Utica school bus accident. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Utica school bus accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here for you. 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.
