Buses, including school buses, mass transit buses, city buses and private charter buses, cause thousands of injuries and deaths each year in New York and across the U.S. In New York, major bus service providers include the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), and numerous smaller municipal bus lines and private bus carriers.
Bus accidents may be caused by a number of factors, including distracted driving, cell phone use, operator error, speed, driver fatigue, intoxication and maintenance violations.
Like subways and trains, buses are considered common carriers. As such, they are held to greater regulation and responsibility towards their passengers. If you are injured by the negligence of a bus operator, the company may be liable for your injuries.
Bus companies have a duty to ensure drivers are properly trained and know how to properly handle the equipment. Bus companies have a responsibility to make sure their drivers are properly rested and are not fatigued from excessive hours on the road. Further, bus companies have an obligation to properly maintain vehicles and keep maintenance logs.
Drivers have a responsibility to keep their attention on the road and follow safety guidelines, even if they get behind schedule. Cell phone use is banned by bus drivers in New York. This includes talking on cell phones, texting while driving and e-mail.
Failure of bus companies and individual drivers to carry out these responsibilities is negligence on behalf of the bus company.
When a bus overturns on a highway or collides with another vehicle, it is likely that there will be wrongful death or personal injuries. These injuries may include head trauma, lacerations, broken bones, and internal injuries. These injuries may prevent passengers from returning to work for an extended period. Passengers may also suffer debilitating emotional trauma.
An experienced bus accident lawyer can file a claim on behalf of you or your family for wrongful death or personal injuries. In injury cases, you may be entitled to damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. In wrongful death cases, you may be entitled to loss of income, loss of companionship, loss of support, and punitive damages.
Bus and motorcoach companies, maintenance companies, and design and engineering firms may be liable, amongst others. Bus companies typically have insurance policies that can compensate bus accident victims.
First, seek appropriate medical treatment. Then, contact an experienced New York bus accident attorney who can preserve your rights. All accident cases are governed by the Statute of Limitations, and when municipal carriers are involved, there is a shorter period for the required statutory notice.
In bus accident cases, it is crucial to preserve evidence while it is still fresh and stay informed about what evidence has been gathered by local, state and federal authorities. An experienced bus accident lawyer will promptly contact officials and launch their own investigation.
Establishing liability in bus accident cases is highly complex and requires experienced and successful personal injury attorneys. The personal injury lawyers at Asta Law know that each case is unique and depending on the circumstances, multiple parties may be responsible for the accident—including the driver, bus maintenance company, school district or school board, tour company, city and county governments, bus owners, and others. Our attorneys have identified responsible parties in numerous bus accident cases and will help you gain compensation from any and all negligent parties.
There are many potential victims of bus accidents, including pedestrians, passengers, motorists, and bicyclists. These victims can experience a wide range of serious injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burns, and other catastrophic injuries.
Bus accidents can be devastating for victims and their families—physically, emotionally, and financially. The New York personal injury attorneys at Asta Law will help you gain compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other bus-accident-related expenses. We have been extremely successful in gaining rightful compensation for our clients.
A bus accident injury can be emotionally and physically devastating. Michael J. Asta, Esq. is one of New York’s leading accident attorneys with over 500 Million Dollars recovered for clients and over 30 years fighting for New Yorkers like you. You can be confident that the legal team at Asta Law is fully committed to winning the best possible results for our personal injury clients and their families. If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, call Asta Law at (212) 244-6555 or complete the contact form here on our website so we can help you. The consultation is free, and we work on a contingency basis meaning there is no fee until we obtain compensation on your behalf, guaranteeing you’ll never come out of pocket.
Asta Law, Where Quality Representation Doesn’t Cost, It Pays.