Commercial Bus Accidents in New York

Large commercial vehicles like buses serve a great purpose. In urban areas, they help reduce traffic by transporting people throughout the city on economical routes. In suburban areas buses make commuting easier for people, particularly students, who are commuting to work or class from a distance. And in rural areas buses enable people to travel great distances at an affordable price and without the hassle of driving. Many schools and sports teams also rely on buses to safely transport students and players throughout the area, sometimes even out of the area for long distance trips or contests. While many bus drivers and bus companies do an exceptional job at these tasks, unfortunately, some bus drivers and trucking companies do a poor job and cause personal injuries or wrongful deaths in New York bus accidents.

Bus accidents are like most other commercial vehicle and New York trucking accidents. This is because buses are very large and heavy, meaning they require a greater distance to stop and are more difficult to maneuver for turns. Buses also have larger blind spots and rely on two, three, sometimes four different sets of mirrors on just one side to make a safe turn or lane merge. Sometimes bus drivers neglect to properly utilize these mirrors and hastily make turns which put all of us at risk of a bus accident. Buses also require more maintenance and upkeep, which means constant attention must be paid to each wheel and brake, the steering column, lights, and other important equipment. Additionally, the fact that buses have many passengers who may be distracting also requires a bus driver to fight to focus on the road and pay close attention to all traffic.

Common Causes for New York Bus Accidents

Like New York trucking accidents, there may be numerous causes why a bus accident occurs. Sometimes these causes are due to bus driver error, whereas other causes are due to maintenance mistakes or oversight. In either situation, any victim of a bus accident may be able to hold a bus driver or bus company liable for causing his or her personal injuries. This is particularly true if the bus driver violated New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, which may be used by the victim to automatically establish negligence against the bus driver and bus company under the doctrine of negligence per se.

Some of the most common causes of New York bus accidents include the following:

• Running a red light or stop sign;
• Improper left turns;
• Speeding or excessive speed, especially in the snow, rain, or other adverse weather conditions;
• Failing to yield;
• Fatigued driving or falling asleep while driving;
• Drugged driving or drunk driving, both illegally or due to prescription medication where driving is not allowed or strongly discouraged;
• Wide turns;
• Improperly backing up;
• Aggressive driving;
• Improper lane changes;
• Brake failures;
• Steering wheeler malfunctions;
• Mechanical failures;
• Not having headlights and other lights on at night or in adverse weather conditions; and
• Many other causes.

Damages for Bus Accident Victims in New York

Individuals who have sustained personal injuries in a bus accident or other New York trucking accident may be entitled to “damages.” Under New York law, damages in a personal injury action are usually compensatory in nature, meaning they are money damages.

Some of the most common damages in a New York bus accident include the following:

• Past pain and suffering from the date of the subject accident to settlement or verdict;
• Future pain and suffering from the date of settlement or verdict to the life expectancy of the victim;
• Medical bills, both past medical bills and provable future medical bills;
• Emotional pain and suffering;
• Lost wages from being out of work;
• Lost future earnings from being unable to perform the same line of work;
• Future surgeries and treatment, including medications and physical therapy;
• Property damage;
• Loss of consortium, services, affection, and relationship with loved ones such as spouses, children, parents, and other dependents;
• In wrongful death cases, burial costs and funeral expenses; and
• Other damages.

Injured in a New York Bus Accident? Protect Your Rights by Calling Us

Bus accidents can cause serious personal injuries and the wrongful death of passengers, pedestrians, and occupants of other vehicles. These cases are more complicated than a regular auto accident and required experienced counsel. Call our New York trucking accident lawyer to learn how we can help you today by protecting your rights after a bus accident.