We must understand that any motor vehicle involved in an accident can be deadly. It will depend on different factors, such as the speed at which they were being driven, the maneuvers that drivers performed, and the driver's expertise. If the driver was impaired in any way, like inebriated, fatigated, or if they impacted a smaller vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian.
If you were injured in a bus accident, you should contact a bus accident lawyer in New York because you may be entitled to compensation. It is unfair that you must bear all the burden for something a negligent driver could have avoided.
A bus accident lawyer from The Ward Law Group is ready to help you. It is your best move to approach our offices so you can be guided and supported in the best way possible.
How Common Are Bus Accidents in NYC?
Indeed, Bus accidents are not as common as car accidents, but they can be as dangerous as other accidents. They account for about 4% of motor vehicle accidents state-wide. Just in May 2023, 393 buses were involved in motor vehicle collisions.
We can not take these accidents for granted; they can cause deaths on the road because they are big machines carrying up to 40 people at max capacity. The bigger the mass, the higher the chances of fatalities, not only for the bus passengers but for the people in the other car that crashes into it.
Buses are usually not allowed to travel at high speed. Still, they must stick to the speed limit, and sometimes negligent drivers can be found operating a bus with multiple people under their responsibility. In New York City, there are different ways in which people use buses as transportation.
We are going to navigate through the different types of bus accidents
Types of Buses Involved in Accidents
We know that every motor vehicle can have collisions in many ways, and it does not exclude buses. They can impact as in a T-bone crash, they can be in a rear-end collision or rollover collision, and they can provoke different serious injuries. Here, we will talk about the different types of buses you commonly see in New York City.
Public Transportation/MTA
MTA public transportation buses are heavily relied upon by commuters and residents of New York City and operate with high frequency throughout the metropolitan area. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is responsible for administering and overseeing the operations of these buses, ensuring the safety and efficiency of their services.
Tour Buses
Tour buses, popular among tourists and travelers, offer sightseeing experiences in the bustling city. Private companies operate these buses and cater to both domestic and international visitors.
They often follow specific routes and schedules, taking passengers to iconic landmarks and attractions like Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, The Empire State Building, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Museum, among others.
While these buses provide an enjoyable means of exploring the city, their operation and safety fall under the responsibility of the respective tour bus companies.
School Buses
School buses are vital in transporting students to and from educational institutions across the state. They operate on designated school days and follow predetermined routes, ensuring the safe transportation of children.
School bus services are typically organized and overseen by local school districts or contracted transportation companies, prioritizing the students' well-being and safety.
Private Buses
Private buses encompass many services, including commuter, chartered, and shuttle services. These buses cater to specific demographics and purposes, such as transporting employees to and from work, facilitating group trips, or providing transportation within particular neighborhoods.
The responsibility for administering private bus operations lies with the private companies or organizations that own and operate them. Government agencies, such as the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), enforce safety regulations and protocols to ensure passenger safety.
Common Causes of NYC Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can happen for different reasons, mostly due to driver's negligence, but sometimes they can be due to motor vehicle malfunction. A list of potential reasons why buses are involved in crashes are:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
- Driver's lack of experience
- Reckless driving
- Vehicle malfunction
- failing to yield the right of way
If you have been injured in a bus accident and saw that the other driver was performing any of the previous causes of accidents, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. A bus accident lawyer can represent you, building a solid case with evidence and convincing wording to win the compensation you deserve.
Common Injuries from Bus Accidents
Depending on the severity of the crash and the conditions of the vehicles, a driver or passengers can get injured in different ways. It is not rare that passengers suffer from serious injuries, but the most common wounds they could get are:
- Whiplash
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Broken Bones
- Burns
- Internal Organ Damages
- Psychological Damages
New York City Bus Accident Statistics
In 2022, 3,615 car accidents involved a bus; it seems like a lot, but compared to the whole number of vehicles involved in accidents in the year, which was 28,753, it is just a tiny amount. It still is a threatening and alarming number, though.
Since buses have more capacity for passengers, they are more likely to suffer injuries when they get into an accident on the road. Bus accidents may be complicated since multiple people can face a massive lawsuit against the at-fault party if serious injuries are involved.
In any case, you need a bus accident lawyer to fight for your interest.
Who's Liable For My Bus Accident?
Remember that New York is a no-fault state; the first claim you must file is with the insurance company to pay for your medical expenses. However, we know that most of the time, that coverage is not enough and that besides the medical bills, injured people lose other opportunities or incomes when they are in the healing process.
Therefore, if the injured person has a severe injury, they can file a personal injury lawsuit to seek extra monetary compensation to cover all the damages they suffered.
A Bus Driver can be held accountable for a bus accident if they provoked the accident by being negligent on the wheels. They have a huge responsibility to transport multiple people from one place to another, and they must obey all the transit rules and be extra cautious.
The bus Driver's Employer has a responsibility because they have to find experienced drivers who know all the transit rules by heart and have experience operating a large vehicle. Moreover, they must train them and ensure they are reasonable people with a duty of care.
It is not always the driver or their employer who is at fault in a bus accident; there may be negligent parties that can share responsibility for the victims' injuries. They can be pedestrians, bicyclists, or other car drivers who provoke the accident. Of course, there is a need to investigate the details of the casualties. Plenty of surveillance cameras and eyewitnesses can be used to determine who the at-fault party was.
Another possibility is that bus manufacturers or safety devices installed in buses do not ensure that their products perform correctly and avoid these accidents. During the investigation, it was found that a specific mechanical part of the bus that was not supposed to fail did and provoked the crash.
Compensation in a Bus Accident Case
When an injured person in a bus accident looks for a bus accident lawyer's help, they know the monetary compensation they may be entitled to. Of course, it will require a professional investigation, and the bus accident lawyer will guide the injured person through the process so they can seek compensation.
If you were injured in a bus accident, you may be entitled to receive economic and non-economic compensation for your damages. The monetary damages are:
- Hospital bills
- Medication pills expenses
- Loss of wages
- Lost or reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitation expenses
The non-economic damages are available for those who suffered severe injuries like TBI, Spinal cord injuries, broken bones, amputation, and third-grade burns, among others. You can seek compensation for:
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
Contact a New York Bus Accident Lawyer
The wisest move you can make whenever you or a loved one gets injured in a motor vehicle accident is to call your NYC bus accident lawyer. They will guide you from day one of the crash to what steps you can take, and they will be in charge of investigating and building a solid case to get the compensation you deserve.
The Ward Law Group is where you can find experienced and respected New York City bus accident lawyers who have won million-dollar compensation for their clients in over 25 years of experience. Call now for a Free consultation on your case, and you will find the answers you sought. Our line 855-DOLOR-55 is available, or you can also contact us through the online chat on this page.