New York Bus Accident Attorneys

As cities across New York in the United States continue to grow, there’s been an increased reliance on buses and other forms of public transportation. This has led to a sharp increase in the number of annual bus accidents. 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.” Pedestrians tend to be the most at risk given their small size and lack of protection.

Buses are uniquely dangerous compared to other vehicles. They can weigh 36,000 lbs or more depending on their size. They also have large blind spots that may easily obscure the presence of other vehicles on the road. Given the sheer size and weight of buses, it is common for victims of bus accidents to sustain very serious injuries. Victims of bus accidents should take a number of actions in order to preserve their rights. This includes seeking legal assistance. The New York bus accident lawyers at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. are here to help you. We can evaluate the unique facts of your case and let you know if you have a claim that can be pursued. You can reach out to our office anytime at (800) 529-9997.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

Buses are substantially more difficult to operate than passenger vehicles. They are top-heavy and have a high utilization rate. This requires that they be routinely inspected and well-maintained. There are several factors that could potentially contribute to a bus accident.

• Driver Negligence: Speeding remains one of the most common causes of motor vehicle collisions, including bus accidents. A bus collision may also take place because a bus driver failed to check their blind spots before turning through an intersection.
• Mechanical Failures: Buses are constantly being driven throughout the day, much more so than the average vehicle. This necessitates that buses are well-maintained at all times. In particular, special attention must be given to the brakes and tires on a bus since they tend to wear out faster than other components. Any defect in the brakes or tires on a bus could easily lead to a rollover collision.
• Weather and Road Conditions: Adverse weather conditions are another major cause of bus accidents. Rain and slick road conditions from snow can dramatically increase the time it takes to stop a bus. Bus drivers should be very mindful of the conditions that they are driving in and slow down accordingly.
• Other Drivers: Other drivers may cause bus accidents due to their own negligence. This often includes people who make unsafe lane changes or T-bone buses at intersections. A good bus driver should always drive defensively and take into consideration the unsafe actions of other drivers on the road.
• Manufacturing Defects: Buses are large and complex pieces of machinery. They are susceptible to manufacturing defects like other vehicles. Brake system failures, steering malfunctions, tire defects, and suspension failures can all contribute to an accident.

Preventing bus accidents requires vigilance on the part of bus companies and the drivers that they hire. The vast majority of bus accidents can be prevented when bus operators follow safety regulations. But far too often this does not take place.

Common Injuries Associated With Bus Accidents

Bus accidents can leave victims with traumatic and lifelong injuries. Given the size of these vehicles, even a low-impact collision can potentially be deadly. What follows are some of the common injuries that victims of bus accidents often sustain.

• Physical Injuries: Victims of bus accidents can sustain major physical trauma, including broken bones, head injuries, spinal injuries, and organ damage. Pedestrians tend to suffer the worst physical injuries and are at grave risk of being sucked under the bus following an initial crash. Though bus passengers are relatively safe in most crashes, rollover collisions can lead to catastrophic injuries and often result in death.
• Psychological Injuries: All victims of bus accidents and car accidents run the risk of developing numerous psychological injuries. This includes anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to one study in Science Direct, “Trauma-related MVA injuries are associated with elevated psychological distress, and MVA-related psychological consequences could have long-term effects if left untreated.”
• Long-Term Disability: Many of the injuries associated with bus accidents are so severe that victims are left with long-term disabilities. This can impact a person’s ability to be gainfully employed and their overall quality of life. It is relatively common for survivors of bus accidents to give up some of their favorite hobbies and activities.

The injuries associated with bus accidents are almost never entirely understood shortly after a collision. Certain injuries could become far worse over time. This is particularly true with brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury can substantially increase the likelihood of developing a neurodegenerative illness like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

Parties That Can Be Held Liable in New York Bus Accidents

Bus accidents are often very complex events by their nature. The factors that could give rise to any bus accident may take place hours, days, or even weeks prior to the accident. They may involve weather conditions, vehicle system failures, and negligence on the part of other drivers. Here are just a few of the possible entities that could be held liable for any bus collision.

• Bus Drivers: The person who operated a bus and was involved in a crash could be liable for the accident if they were negligent. Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care in order to avoid a collision.
• Bus Companies: Liability could also extend to the bus company that employed a bus driver. Generally speaking, companies are vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties.
• Other Drivers: The drivers of other vehicles could also be held at fault for a collision. All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid colliding with buses and other vehicles. A large portion of bus accidents involve one or more drivers who are either speeding or failing to follow some other traffic regulation.
• Municipal Entities: Municipal Entities could also be held liable for a collision. It is common for cities to operate bus fleets. For example, the New York City Transit Authority operates all of the MTA buses with routes throughout New York City.

Depending on the facts of any case, there could be several liable parties for any bus collision. Even if the victim of a bus accident was partially at fault, they may still be entitled to damages through a civil claim. This is why it is so important for accident victims to seek the guidance of an experienced New York bus accident attorney.

Steps to Take After Any New York Bus Accident

It can be hard to know where to begin after any bus accident. This is especially true when victims are dealing with serious injuries related to a collision. There are several steps that accident victims should take in order to preserve both their health and legal rights.

• Seek Medical Attention: It is crucial that bus accident victims seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is true even if a person feels completely fine after a collision. The truth of the matter is that adrenaline often masks the nature and extent of a person’s injuries after a serious motor vehicle accident. Medical evaluations can help reveal injuries that you may not otherwise have been aware of.
• Document Everything: To the greatest extent possible, accident victims should also document the scene of the collision. Photos of the accident site should be taken. Witness information should be collected. The police report related to the collision should be sought.
• Avoid Making Statements: It is best to avoid making any statements to insurance companies without the guidance of legal counsel. These companies do not have your best interest in mind and will take anything that you say and potentially use it against you.
• Contact a New York Bus Accident Attorney: One of the smartest steps that bus accident victims should take is contacting an experienced New York bus accident lawyer. They can evaluate your case free of cost and help preserve evidence related to your claim.

There are no upfront costs associated with hiring an attorney. Instead, they work entirely off of a contingency fee basis. In other words, they only get paid by the opposing party if they are able to successfully resolve your claim.

Compensation for a Bus Accident

Buses are mandated by law to carry larger insurance policies in order to properly compensate any person who is injured or killed in a crash. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that for-hire buses carrying 16 or more passengers have at least $5 million in liability coverage. Bus accident victims can seek compensation for numerous types of damages related to their injuries.

• Medical Expenses: Victims can seek compensation for all of the medical expenses related to the accident. This includes costs for surgeries, hospital visits, rehabilitation, medication, and medical transportation. It also covers all of the future medical bills that a person will need to pay for their injuries as well.
• Lost Wages: Any person injured in a bus accident may need to take extensive periods of time away from work. This could range from days to even months or years. In certain cases, victims may never be able to return to their previous profession. Damages can also cover the loss of earning potential that a person suffers as a result of their injuries.
• Pain and Suffering: Bus accident victims are able to recover for the non-economic damages associated with the accident. This includes the pain and suffering that they experience. It also covers the diminished quality of life that a person must contend with due to not being able to perform their favorite activities, such as sports or hiking.
• Property Damage: Victims can be compensated for property damage resulting from the collision. Buses routinely destroy smaller vehicles in collisions, which can leave survivors without any form of transportation.

Insurance companies will often do everything in their power to limit the amount of compensation that accident victims receive. For example, they may try to claim that victims were not seriously injured. A New York bus accident attorney can help put your case in the best light so that you are able to receive as much compensation as possible.

How Our Law Firm Can Help

Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. is committed to helping victims of bus accidents get the support and justice that they are owed under the law. Our team of bus accident attorneys has recovered over $1 billion for our deserving clients. This includes a $6.75 million settlement for a pedestrian who sustained severe orthopedic injuries after being struck by an MTA bus.

We are committed to maximizing compensation for each of our clients no matter their situation. This is made possible by our amazing team of trial lawyers, forensic engineers, accident reconstruction experts, pain management experts, neurologists, life care planners, economists, and biomechanical engineers. We leave no stone unturned when it comes to getting our clients the very best outcome possible.

Why Choose Us for Your Bus Accident Case

Hiring an experienced New York bus accident attorney can often mean the difference between winning or losing your bus accident claim. When your financial and physical well-being is on the line, it is crucial to work with a law firm that has a proven track record of winning cases for their clients. Here are just a few of the reasons that you should hire us for your bus accident case.

• There are absolutely no upfront costs to hire us. We work entirely off of a contingency fee basis. Our law firm guarantees that we will never charge you anything directly. All of our compensation is the result of us winning a positive settlement or verdict on your behalf.
• Our lawyers have recovered numerous 7-figure settlements and will do everything in their power to help you get the most compensation. If the insurance provider in your case is not willing to offer a fair settlement, we are prepared to take every case we handle to trial.
• We offer a personalized approach to each case. No two cases are the same because no two people are the same. Our lawyers will get to know you as a person and learn how you have specifically been impacted.

Our legal team will take care of everything needed to move your case forward. This includes ensuring all filing deadlines are met and making sure that you receive the medical treatment necessary for your injuries. We will make sure that you can focus on recovery while we take care of everything else.

Getting Help After A New York Bus Accident Case

There is a tremendous piece of mind that comes with having an experienced New York bus accident attorney handle your claim. They can deal with the objections of insurance providers and all of the evidence collection necessary for your case. When you hire Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C., you can rest assured that your case is being well handled by attorneys with literally decades of experience helping accident victims.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a New York bus accident? You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our team of New York bus accident lawyers is here to help with whatever you need. We have successfully resolved thousands of claims and will do everything possible to ensure that you get the most compensation. 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 (800) 529-9997.

Related Articles:

• Woman Died in East Orange Transit Bus Accident
• Child Injured in Schodack School Bus Accident
• 9 Injured in South Jersey School Bus Accident
• Five Injured in Coney Island Bus Accident
• Three Injured in Lower Manhattan Bus Accident With NYPD Vehicle
• Multiple Injured In Evesham Township School Bus Accident
• Nearly 20 Injured In Flushing, Queens MTA Bus Accident
• Multiple Injured In Mercer County School Bus Accident
• Male Pedestrian, 87, Killed In Brooklyn MTA Bus Accident
• Girl Critically Injured In Midwood, Brooklyn School Bus Accident While Crossing Street

This post is also available in ES.