Bus Accident Lawyer in Manhattan, NY
Buses and other transportation vehicles are a necessity for millions of New Yorkers who rely on transportation like MTA buses to get them around the city. MTA drivers are responsible for safely transporting their passengers without incident. When bus accidents occur, passengers and other drivers on the road can be seriously injured.
If you or a loved one was hurt in a bus accident in Manhattan, contact Sullivan and Galleshaw’s Manhattan bus accident lawyers today. Our attorneys represent victims of bus accidents and work to get them compensation for their injuries. To schedule a free legal consultation on your Manhattan bus accident case, contact our law offices today at (718) 843-0300.
Bus Accident Lawyers in Manhattan
Although city buses do not usually get up to high speeds, especially in the traffic conditions in Manhattan, riders are still at risk for serious injury in bus accidents. Bus riders do not wear seatbelts or have the protection of airbags like drivers and passengers in cars do. This leaves bus passengers with a higher risk of injury if they are involved in a crash.
Bus passengers could fall and hit their head during an accident, even if the bus does not suffer much damage. The sudden force of stopping or being struck by another vehicle can throw riders around the interior of the bus, potentially causing broken bones, head injuries, and back injuries.
New York Bus Accident Damages
If you face injuries in a bus accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit to recover damages for your injuries. In an injury case, the victim can usually claim damages for any financial harms or physical injuries they suffered. Generally, these damages fall into three major categories, though other damages are also available: damages for medical bills, compensation for lost wages, and pain and suffering damages.
The damages for medical bills can include coverage for emergency medical care after an accident as well as ongoing care after the initial accident. This can even include damages for physical therapy and rehabilitation after the initial medical care ends.
If your bus accident injuries kept you from work, you may be entitled to compensation for the wages you missed. If you cannot return to work after your injury and must take a lower paying job, these damages may include compensation for the difference in what you used to make and your current income. This is usually referred to as damages for reduced earning capacity.
The last major area of damages available in a bus accident case is compensation for pain and suffering. Serious injuries typically yield higher compensation than mild injuries, but beyond that, it is difficult to put a price on what your injury should be worth without examining the specifics of your case.
Whom Do You Sue for Bus Accident Injuries in NYC?
The bus driver is individually responsible for any harms they cause through negligence behind the wheel, but their employer may also be liable for the damage and injuries they cause. The bus company can be held liable under New York Law for errors that its employees commit while performing their job duties. However, to hold the bus company liable, you must first prove that the driver was at fault for the accident.
Bus drivers could be found at-fault for an accident for a variety of reasons. Any act or omission that can be considered “negligent” can help prove the bus driver’s fault. Common examples of negligence in bus accident cases include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Tired driving
- Failing to yield
- Running stop signs and red lights
- Speeding
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Pulling out into traffic without checking blind spots
The bus company might share direct responsibility for the crash as well, and they can be held liable to the degree that they contributed to the accident. If the MTA or another bus company puts a dangerous bus into service or uses a bus with maintenance problems, they can be held responsible for the damage and injuries those maintenance errors cause. The bus company is also responsible for hiring safe drivers with a clean driving record.
If the bus company hired a bad driver or a driver with a history of serious traffic violations or drunk driving, they may be liable for negligent hiring. Additionally, if they failed to fire a driver after serious on-the-job errors, and that driver caused another accident, that negligent retention may be a contributing cause of the crash.
Call Our Manhattan Bus Accident Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one was injured in a bus accident involving an MTA bus, a tour bus, a Chinatown bus, or any other bus or transportation company, contact our Manhattan bus accident injury lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw today. Sullivan and Galleshaw’s bus accident attorneys offer free legal consultations to help you understand your options to file for compensation after a bus accident and to learn more about what your case might be worth. Call (718) 843-0300 to schedule your free legal consultation.