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New York City Bus Accident Lawyers

New York Personal Injury Attorneys Representing Clients Injured by Buses

New York Bus Accident Lawyers, MTA Bus

Andrew Wilson was a 35-year-old single father of two young children when he was injured after a bus collided with a truck in Brooklyn.

Mr. Wilson sustained serious injuries to his lower back that prevented him from working and made it very hard for him to care for his then 3- and 5-year-old children. Andrew was a single dad and all the responsibility for caring for his children fell on him. Daniel O’Toole of Block O’Toole & Murphy was hired to represent Mr. Wilson by another personal injury law firm in New York City who knew of Mr. O’Toole’s reputation as a trial lawyer and negotiator.  

Perhaps you, like Andrew, were traveling through New York City on a tour bus when the bus collided with another vehicle. Or maybe you were a pedestrian on your way to work, about to cross the street in the crosswalk at a busy intersection, when an MTA bus making a sudden turn hits you, causing injuries that have since kept you from working. Regardless of the type of bus that was involved, you deserve to receive full and fair compensation for any injuries you or a loved one suffered because of another party’s negligence. The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy have handled many bus accident cases in the last 25 years. 

Though it was clear that as a passenger Mr. Wilson did nothing to cause the accident, attorneys for both the bus and the truck denied that their clients were at fault and denied that Mr. Wilson was injured by the impact. But Block O’Toole & Murphy know the law, and how to fight for our client’s rights.

How Lawyers Experienced in Handling Bus Accidents Work for You

New York State law regarding motor vehicle accidents allows for what is known as joint and several liability. What that means is that if a driver is found to be even 1% at fault for an accident, a passenger such as Mr. Wilson can collect 100% of their damages from that driver and the owner of his or her vehicle.  This law can be very important for people injured in bus accidents as sometimes the driver of the other vehicle does not have adequate insurance coverage to cover the full extent of a passenger’s injuries.

New York State Insurance law section 5102 (d) requires accident victims to prove that their injuries are sufficiently serious in order for them to make a claim for pain and suffering. Mr. O’Toole went to trial before a judge and jury in Brooklyn to help Mr. Wilson.

Prior to the trial, Mr. O’Toole ensured that expert medical reports were reviewed and exchanged with the defense attorneys and insurance representatives. The reports detailed the injuries of Mr. Wilson and contained opinions that the injuries were causally related to the bus accident. An expert was hired to say what the future lifelong medical needs of Mr. Wilson were expected to be. This is an important aspect of a personal injury case.

Three weeks into the fault/liability phase of the Wilson trial, a settlement in the amount of $6,000,000 was obtained. This settlement allowed Mr. Wilson to focus on his own physical healing and taking care of his children.

At the premier personal injury law firm of Block O’Toole & Murphy, we maintain a respected reputation for representing bus injury victims with great diligence and skill. Our attorneys are experienced in litigating bus accident cases and have won top verdicts and settlements against some of the biggest bus operators, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

Bus Crashes in New York City

According to the data set “Motor Vehicle Collisions-Vehicles” on NYC’s OpenData website, the number of bus crashes has been increasing since 2019 — with 2,789 crashes in 2020, which increased 18%in 2021, then again nearly 10% in 2022.

NYC Bus Accidents Statistics 2020 though 20222

This data is based on all police-reported motor vehicle collisions in New York City. Police reports on collisions are required to be filled out when someone involved in the accident is injured or killed, or there is at least $1,000 worth of damage. We at Block O’Toole & Murphy understand that accidents do happen. And when they do, we are here to help you.

Who Is Responsible for Injuries and Other Damages After a Bus Accident?

Bus accident lawsuits can be very complex, as the attorney not only needs to be well-versed in state and local traffic laws, but also needs to understand specific regulations that govern bus operations. Despite the sometimes-complicated nature of bus accident cases, our bus crash attorneys are well-versed in cases such as these. Here at Block O’Toole & Murphy, we are proud to offer you the assistance of the best bus accident lawyers available in New York City.

In some cases, buses owned and operated by government entities such as the MTA have their own set of rules and regulations. Additionally, in a bus injury lawsuit, multiple parties can be held responsible for your injuries, including:

  • Other vehicle drivers: If the bus accident was caused by another vehicle, you could potentially file a third-party lawsuit with the at-fault driver.
  • City and state government entities (for public transit buses): Similar to bus management companies, city and state governments are responsible for overseeing public transit buses, with different rules and regulations. If a public transit bus gets into an accident, it is possible that the government entity that oversees the public transit system could be held responsible or partially responsible for the accident, especially if the bus driver or bus violated the government entity’s rules. In other words, if you are involved in an MTA bus crash, MTA could be held responsible. 
  • Bus driver: There are various reasons a bus driver might be considered liable in a bus accident. This can include a lack of adequate training or if drivers were hired without proper screening, driving while under the influence, or working while fatigued. 
  • Management company: Companies that manage buses are required to make sure their fleet is regularly and properly maintained, in order to comply with all government regulations and ensure they hire only drivers who are qualified. If it appears that they were negligent in any of these actions and it contributed to the accident, the bus management company could be held liable.

Private corporations and local or state governments that own and operate the bus will often work with top defense lawyers and go to great lengths to avoid being legally responsible for your injuries. Not only is it a PR nightmare for them, but paying those injured can affect their business’s bottom line.

If you’ve been involved in a bus accident of any kind, it’s best to speak with an attorney skilled in litigating bus accident cases to help you get the maximum compensation that you are entitled to under the law. Our bus accident lawyers are knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated to you. To speak with a skilled attorney about your case, please call: 212-736-5300

Employer Responsibility in MTA Bus Accidents

Bus drivers do not drive their own personal vehicles when they are on the job; whether it is a school bus driver or a public transit driver, bus operators are employed by a company that has hired them to drive. This means that if the bus driver was working at the time of the accident, the employer could be considered vicariously liable. 

Vicarious liability is the theory that even though the driver may have caused or at least been involved in the accident, his employer is also partially responsible for the accident, since the driver was on company time when it occurred.

For example, if an MTA bus driver runs a red light and causes a crash while transporting passengers on their morning commute, the MTA would be at least partially responsible for this accident, since the driver was working at the time of the crash. Vicarious liability is supposed to be helpful to the accident victim and the driver, since often companies have more insurance coverage and are likely better financially equipped to compensate the accident victim(s) than the bus driver alone would be.

In other cases, the employers of bus operator can also be considered directly liable for an accident one of their drivers was involved in, if it can be proved that the employer’s negligence directly contributed in some way to the accident. Using the same example from above, the MTA could be considered directly liable for the accident if they did not properly background check or train that driver before hiring and allowing him to drive.

Vicarious and direct liability are not mutually exclusive, meaning that accident victims could bring claims for both kinds of liability if there is evidence to prove they exist.

Common Injuries in Bus Accidents

Common injuries that can occur in bus accidents are similar to those that might occur in a motor vehicle accident. Depending on the circumstances of each case, severity of injuries can vary.

Many accident-related injuries are permanent and will last the entire life of a person. To make sure that enough money is available to the injured party for the rest of their life, Block O’Toole & Murphy retain doctors to give expert opinions on lifelong medical needs. This is known as a life care plan. The reports specifically discuss what the medical treatments will be, what their frequency and duration will be and what the current cost of the treatment is in the New York metropolitan area.  That report is then sent to an expert economist who will explain to the jury how medical costs increase over time.

Bus accidents are quite uncommon. However, they are serious. Buses have fewer built-in safety features than cars do (no airbags or seatbelts, for example). This means that when bus accidents do occur, sometimes injuries can be more severe than they would be in a car accident. A sudden collision can have catastrophic effects, including:

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Paralysis
  • Herniated discs
  • Amputation
  • Broken bones
  • Concussions
  • Soft-tissue injuries (such as whiplash)

Along with physical injury, bus accidents can result in emotional and psychological turmoil for victims. Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression are unfortunate yet all-too-common results in the aftermath of a bus crash. Financial stress, new physical limitations, and strained relationships are significant factors that may arise and deeply impact one’s quality of life. Bus accidents are serious and have the potential to devastate individuals and families; you may be entitled to compensation for damages such as these. 

Compensation for a Bus Accident

As with any personal injury case, if you have been injured as a result of a negligent party’s actions, it is possible you are legally entitled to compensation. This is no different for those injured in bus accidents. With the help of a bus accident lawyer, you can determine if this is an option for you. Based on the severity of your injuries and how they may affect your ability to work and generally live your life, you could make various claims to recover compensation, including:

  • Medical bills
  • Loss of current and future earnings
  • Pain and suffering
  • Rehabilitation costs

If you suffered as a result of a bus accident, you can get legal help today. Call the NYC lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy at 212-736-5300 or fill out our contact form for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

New York City Bus Accident Attorneys

Our bus accident attorneys are committed to fighting for the victims of serious physical or emotional injuries. Serving the entire state, our New York accident lawyers have achieved outstanding results for bus injury victims.

We handle all types of bus accident cases, including those involving:

  • MTA buses
  • Tour buses
  • School buses
  • Daycare buses
  • Church buses
  • Adult care buses
  • Other Public Buses (Bee-Line, NJTransit, Nassau Inter-County Express, etc.)
  • Coach buses (Greyhound, Peter Pan, Bolt Bus, Coach USA, etc.)

Notable verdicts and settlements include*:

  • $9,500,000 settlement for a pedestrian who was struck by an NYCTA bus while she was crossing the street within a crosswalk
  • $8,000,000 settlement for a pedestrian who was struck by a Transit Authority Bus and suffered a leg amputation
  • $6,000,000 recovery for man who was a passenger in an NYC Transit Authority bus when it collided with another vehicle
  • $3,500,000 settlement for bus driver who sustained neck, shoulder, and back injuries when the bus he was driving was rear-ended by a truck
  • $3,450,000 settlement for a 46-year-old pedestrian who was hit and dragged 25 feet by an Access-a-Ride bus
  • $3,000,000 settlement for a self-employed barber who was unable to return to work after he was injured in a crash with an MTA bus
  • $2,925,000 award to driver who suffered back injuries when his vehicle was broadsided by a school bus in Queens, New York
  • $2,270,000 verdict for a bus passenger who was hurt when the bus rear-ended a tanker truck
  • $2,250,000 settlement for a pedestrian who suffered a herniated disc after she was hit by a school bus
  • $2,250,000 settlement in a wrongful death case, when a 68-year-old retired schoolteacher was fatally struck by a bus while walking in a crosswalk
  • $2,225,000 settlement for a passenger of an Access-a-Ride bus that was struck by another vehicle in Manhattan.
  • $2,200,000 settlement for a pedestrian who was struck by a NYC transit bus while she was attempting to cross the street with the crossing signal in her favor
  • $2,056,656 jury verdict to a Brooklyn pedestrian who was hit by a New York City Transit Authority bus while she was crossing at an intersection
  • $1,750,000 award in Suffolk County case for a woman who sustained lower back injuries after she was struck by a bus that ran a stop sign
  • $1,750,000 settlement for a motorist who suffered multiple bulging and herniated discs in a rear-end accident caused by a school bus in the Bronx
  • $1,600,000 settlement for a Brooklyn woman injured who sustained neck and back injuries when the bus she was riding collided with another bus
  • $1,500,000 settlement for a 51-year-old man who was rear-ended by a bus in Queens
  • $1,500,000 settlement for a 55-year-old car passenger struck by a public bus in Flatbush, Brooklyn
  • $1,490,000 recovery for a 39-year-old man who suffered neck and back injuries after he was involved in a collision with a school bus
  • $1,450,000 settlement for a driver who crashed into a bus when both vehicles were attempting to turn right
  • $1,400,000 settlement for a passenger on a public bus that was involved in a collision with a truck in Brooklyn, New York
  • $1,350,000 awarded to a driver who was struck in the rear by a school bus on Henry Hudson Highway

With well over 100 auto accident case results exceeding $1,000,000 each, the Law Firm of Block O’Toole & Murphy is qualified to represent victims in crash cases. To read the full list of successful motor vehicle case results we have obtained, please visit our Auto Accident Verdicts & Settlements page.

Contact a Bus Injury Attorney Serving New York

If you were seriously harmed in an accident involving a careless or reckless driver, request a FREE case evaluation from the experienced attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy today. Call us at 212-736-5300, or contact us online.

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*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Vehicle Accidents

Free Consultation with Bus Accident Lawyer

To discuss your bus accident case with a knowledgeable lawyer, please call 212-736-5300 or fill out the short online form below. An attorney will reach out to you shortly.