Dozens Injured After Bus Carrying Band Camp Students From Farmingdale High School Crashed Along Interstate 84 In Orange County
ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK (September 21, 2023) – At least 45 people were injured and one person was killed in a Orange County bus accident involving Farmingdale High School students.
Orange County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 1:40 p.m. on Thursday. A bus carrying band camp students from Farmingdale High School left Interstate 84 and rolled multiple times before coming to a stop along trees.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. A total of 45 people were injured in the crash.
Five people were taken to the hospital with critical injuries. Sadly, one person died due to their injuries. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the following after the crash, “our hearts are with all who are impacted by this horrific situation.”
The bus was apparently headed to a band camp in Pennsylvania. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Orange county Bus Accidents
Buses tend to be very safe forms of transportation, but their high center of gravity makes them particularly susceptible to rollover collisions. According to the National Safety Council, “School bus-related crashes killed 108 people nationwide in 2021, up 50% compared to the pandemic-related low number of 54 deaths in 2020, according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).” There are many steps that bus companies should take in order to prevent collisions.
- Buses should be regularly inspected and periodically maintained.
- Bus drivers should be well trained before they start working.
- Bus drivers should take periodic brakes during their shifts.
Bus drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid accidents. Rollover accidents, in particular, are much more likely to occur when drivers are traveling at unsafe speeds. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code § 1180, no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than would be safe or reasonable given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a bus driver fails to slow down to avoid any collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Liability for a bus collision could extend beyond any negligent driver. The company that a bus driver worked for could also be liable for a collision. Companies are typically liable for the wrongful 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.” It is also possible that a bus crash was caused by faulty bus equipment.
The company that manufactured a bus or any of its component parts could be liable for a bus accident. For example, many bus rollover collisions are due to tire blowouts. These tend to occur when the inner portion of a tire tread separates from the outer bonded layer. It is crucial that the exact cause of any bus accident is properly understood. Victims of bus accidents should take a number of measures in order to preserve their rights.
- The police report for the collision should be sought.
- All medical records related to the crash should be preserved.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- An experienced bus accident attorney should be contacted.
Bus collisions often leave victims with very serious injuries. Many of these injuries may not manifest for several weeks or even months. Any person injured in a bus accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim. Sadly, though, it is common for bus companies to do everything that they can to deny liability after any crash.
Investigating New York Bus Crashes
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the bus passenger killed in this Orange County bus crash. It is our sincere hope that all of the other victims will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what went wrong should reach out to the New York State Police.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Orange County 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. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 800-529-9997.
