New York Injury Talk Blog

Thinking of hopping on a low-cost curbside bus for a quick trip through New York? You might want to think again. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the results of a six-month-long study on the safety of curbside motor coaches and the findings show a severe increase in danger over other forms of transportation.

According to the NTSB study, low-fare curbside bus companies are involved in fatal crashes seven times more often than the buses run by conventional companies. These higher rates of accidents and fatalities are seen in motor coach companies that operate 10 or fewer buses and companies that have been in operation for less than 10 years. According to USA Today, the study began after a March 12 bus crash in New York which resulted in 15 deaths and 18 injuries.

The NTSB found that curbside carriers average 1.4 fatal accidents per 100 vehicles. In comparison, conventional transportation companies like Greyhound average 0.2 fatal crashes for every 100 vehicles.

The study also found that these small companies perform far fewer inspections and that the rapid growth in the industry has outpaced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) ability to inspect transportation. According to the study, the large amount of U.S. public transportation has left the FMCSA with a ratio of 1.15 investigators for every 1,000 motor carriers.

Those who choose to travel via public transportation put their trust and safety in not only the driver of the vehicle, but the company who owns and operates the line. When a bus crashes, the results are often shocking and devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured by a New York bus crash, the experienced New York bus accident injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Call our knowledgeable law team today for a complimentary consultation on your case at (212) 986-7353.

In the latest New York bus accident, a Trailways bus carrying passengers from Kingston to Manhattan collided with a tractor trailer truck going south on the New York State Thruway. Seven of the sixteen bus passengers, along with the bus driver, were injured and treated at Suffern’s Good Samaritan Medical Center.

According to reporting by Lohud.com, the driver of the tractor trailer told police that he reduced his speed to allow a vehicle to merge onto the highway from a south bound rest area. After the truck slowed, the bus allegedly crashed into the trailer’s right side. The bus driver, who suffered injuries to his leg and pelvis, was trapped when the front portion of the bus crumpled upon impact and had to be manually freed by emergency rescue personnel. Upon initial investigation, the officials claimed the bus showed no overlooked mechanical problems or safety violations related to the accident. However, federal officials and New York State Police said they will continue to investigate the cause of the wreck, starting with a more thorough examination of the vehicle at the company’s bus lot in Kingston.

The crash raises another serious safety flag in an unprecedented rash of commercial bus accidents in the New York area during the previous eight months. In spite of further government regulation and the suspension of operating licenses for eight bus companies, the crashes continue. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York bus accident, contact the New York bus accident attorneys with Wingate, Rusotti & Shapiro at (212)986-7353 for a free case review.

As reported over the past few months, due to a string of tragic commercial bus crashes that have plagued the Northeast due to bus safety violations, the federal has revoked the operating licenses of eight companies deemed responsible. However, the discipline may be moot as many of those suspended bus fleets are still out on the roads and operating under newly-diverted management companies, according to The New York Times.

Such is the case for a company named World Wide Travel. When its business was suspended back in August, the owner merely shuffled the fleets to operate under separate companies that he runs out of the same Brooklyn office. State transportation officials said a company named Great Escapes, owned by that same individual, now operates most of the former World Wide Travel buses, as reported by The NY Times. World Wide Travel was closed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in June due to severe safety infringements, including company violations of hours of service rules and a driver charged with manslaughter.

The problem of suspended bus fleets that re-emerge on the road with new company names was investigated back in 2009 by the Government Accountability Office. Back then, a Texas accident resulting in 17 fatalities was linked to a shuffled version of a bus business that had been supposedly shut down two months prior. A resulting study showed that upwards of 9 percent of bus fleets with operating licenses revoked for safety reasons had re-emerged under different identities.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident in New York that you believe was the result of operational negligence, contact the New York bus accident attorneys with Wingate, Rusotti & Shapiro at 212-986-7353 for a free consultation today.

The latest in an unprecedented run of Northeast bus accidents this year, a Greyhound en route to St. Louis via New York City crashed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike early during the early morning hours of August 13. According to The New York Daily News, the bus veered off the road and rolled onto its side. As a result, 14 passengers were treated at local hospitals for their injuries. State police reported that the driver was in the passing lane when he lost control of the vehicle.

This year already, 2011 has seen more bus accidents resulting in injury and deaths than all of 2010. Approximately 30 people have been killed and 300 more have been injured, according to data from Advocates of Highway and Auto Safety; a rise from the 28 deaths and 272 injuries of last year, with several months left to go in 2011.

A couple weeks ago, the state of New York revoked operating licenses for eight bus companies that repeatedly violated safety rules. Triggered by a deadly wreck in March, when a tour bus driven by an allegedly fraudulently licensed driver rolled over in the Bronx killing 15 passengers, and followed by numerous more in the region, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a heightened initiative to combat poor safety operations in early August. However, Saturday’s crash confirms that the current monitoring and enforcement efforts aren’t enough.

Have you or a family member been injured in a bus accident in New York? If so, contact the New York bus accident lawyers at Wingate, Rusotti & Shapiro, LLP at 212-986-7353 for a free review of your case today.

The state of New York suspended the operating licenses for eight bus companies that repeatedly violated safety regulations. Sparked by a deadly Bronx bus accident on March 12, during which a tour bus flipped over on a Bronx highway and killed 15 passengers — and then continually fueled by a run of bus accidents in the Northeast this year, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a clampdown on negligent safety procedures.

As reported by Reuters, the eight businesses named in violation by the New York Department of Transportation are: Party Ride, A & W Tours, Inc., Big Apple Bus Charter, Inc., Silver Star Limo Company, LLC, Touch of Class & Coach, Inc., Best Trails and Travel Corp; and Zoladz Limousine Service; Long Island Limousine Service Corp. Those companies run approximately 100 buses, or other vehicles, on New York streets.

As part of the embargo, New York transportation officials have completed about 3,000 roadside bus examinations during the previous four months, representatives of the Cuomo administration said, compared with 615 in all of 2010. The administration also said it will be employing 20 additional safety inspectors.

According to the state, each of the listed businesses either: flunked three or more checkups in the last six months, failed their semi-annual bus examination, or was given a federal “out-of-service” order. All were commanded to stop service by the first week in August and pay for a total Department of Transportation evaluation; non compliance results in the perpetual forfeit of right to do business in the state of New York.

Transportation companies have an obligation by law to operate under strict government safety standards. If they do not, they should be held accountable for injuries or deaths that take place as a result of negligent or unsafe practices. If you or a loved one has been involved in a bus accident, call the New York bus accident lawyers at Wingate, Rusotti & Shapiro, LLP at 212-986-7353 for a free consultation today.

A garbage truck collided with a school bus in Campbell Hall, NY, injuring one child and the garbage truck driver, according to the Associated Press. The New York bus accident occurred close to three o’clock Tuesday afternoon, April 26, about 60 miles from New York City. An 11-year-old child suffered a cut to the head and was transported to a local hospital by helicopter as a precaution due to a pre-existing medical condition. The truck driver suffered a knee injury. Both injuries are not considered life-threatening. The cause of the accident is unknown and an investigation is ongoing.

Although the cause of the accident has not yet been determined, likely predictions may be reached by analyzing recent crash causation data. According to a data report from the New York Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, there were a total of 9,473 motor-vehicle accidents in Orange County in 2009. The causes for the majority of these accidents include, in order of significance: 1) Driver Inattention/Distraction; 2) Following Too Closely; 3) Failure to Yield Right-of-Way; and 4) Unsafe Speed. Driver Inattention/Distraction had in fact caused the majority of all motor-vehicle accidents in Orange County from the year 2007 through 2009. Further investigation will tell if the recent New York truck accident falls within any of these trends.

New York truck accidents can cause serious injuries to drivers and passengers, especially if the collision involves a truck and a smaller vehicle. When an injury accident occurs because a driver was driving at unsafe speeds, failed to follow traffic laws and/or signals, or was distracted, they may be held responsible for any injuries their negligent actions caused.

The experienced New York truck collision attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro have successfully handled both bus and truck accident injury cases and can give the legal guidance an injured victim needs to get the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in New York truck or bus accident, call us today for a free consultation at 1-212-222-4336.

Earlier this month, a New York tour bus crash claimed the lives of 15 people, adding to the multitude of fatal bus accidents across various U.S. states. According to EmpoweredNews.com, the early March bus crash in New York, the latest in a long list of fatal crashes in the U.S., has prompted the revival of travel safety campaigns to pass additional safety legislation for buses, and other public transportation.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made several recommendations and proposals to the Department of Transportation in the past, including requiring bus passengers to wear seatbelts, installing monitors to gauge how long a bus driver has been driving, requiring buses to have stronger roofs to withstand collisions, and installing shatter-proof windows that can be easily opened in case of emergency.

DOT officials will be meeting with a Senate subcommittee in order to explain why bus safety regulations are not being implemented in a timely manner. Had they been, the regulations may have prevented many fatal bus accidents. It is very difficult to suffer an injury, but especially so when the bus injury crash was the fault of poor bus safety, or a negligent bus driver. According to the NTSB, 60 percent of fatal large bus accidents have been the result of driver-related causes in the past 12 years. In 60 percent of those crashes, the bus driver, and possibly their employer, could be held liable for injuries sustained, and lives lost.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a driver-related bus accident, the experienced New York bus crash injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP can advise you of your legal rights and work professionally with you towards achieving proper financial compensation for any injuries and losses you’ve suffered. Call today at 1-212-222-4336 for a free consultation.

Recently, a bus and four vehicles collided inside the Lincoln Tunnel’s south tube, leaving five people injured, according to My Fox New York. The bus was traveling from South Orange, New Jersey to New York City when the bus accident occurred.

The bus was about 1,000 feet or one-fifth of a mile from the Lincoln Tunnel’s New York exit when the bus driver suffered a seizure, causing the bus to crash into several other cars. Three passengers in one car as well as the driver of another were injured, but not severely. None of the 25 passengers on the bus were hurt, according to authorities.

No one has yet said whether the bus driver had a history of seizures. New Jersey law requires health care professionals to file certain reports with the Department of Motor Vehicles. These reports contain the names, ages, and addresses of people who have epilepsy or other conditions that may pose a danger to themselves and other motorists if they are operating a motor vehicle.

Heavy traffic and construction slowdowns can make for hazardous driving conditions, especially inside an enclosed space like the Lincoln Tunnel. If you have been injured in a bus accident in New York, the experienced New York bus crash attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP can help you understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our law office today at 212-986-7353 for a free and confidential consultation.

A bus accident near Syracuse, New York has left 4 dead, 5 seriously injured, and the bus driver with a head injury. The remaining19 passengers received medical attention. The New York Daily News reports that those who were killed and seriously injured occupied the top deck of the 13-foot-tall double-decker Megabus. It is suspected that the driver was confused due to being lost, causing him to pass under the bridge, which is only 10-foot, 9-inches tall. As a result, the Megabus’s top deck was shredded and the bus flipped onto its side.

An investigation into the Salina double-decker bus crash is pending; however, police do not suspect that the bus driver was intoxicated. Since it has been reported that there are several signs warning of the bridge’s height, those examining the events leading up to the collision may look into whether some form of driver distraction contributed to the crash.

Preliminary data for 2008 from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notes that 307 people were killed in accidents involving buses and 24,000 were injured. While serious commercial bus accidents like this one do not happen as often as other types of motor vehicle collisions, bus passengers are more susceptible to serious injury and even death. This heightened risk is presented by a lack of air bags and seat belts in most commercial buses.

Individuals who are injured in a bus accident caused by another person’s negligence have legal rights that deserve to be upheld and protected. Injury victims as well as family members of those killed in bus collisions can seek compensation for their losses, pain and suffering, and other damages. The New York bus accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP have years of experience in motor vehicle litigation including bus accidents. For a free consultation of your case, call 212-986-7353 today.

The Star-Ledger reports that 23 passengers of a bus traveling from New York's Chinatown were injured after their vehicle crashed in Atlantic City. The bus skidded as it braked and struck a car. A 57-year-old man from Brooklyn, who was driving the bus, was thrown through the front windshield and suffered facial cuts and a broken left arm. The bus apparently hit two vehicles and then skidded against a retaining wall for about 80 feet. There were 50 passengers on the bus and 23 of them required hospitalization.

If you have been involved in a New York bus accident, you need to speak promptly with a NY personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights and options. It will be important to determine what caused the accident and who was at fault. Were the brakes poorly maintained? Did the bus meet safety standards? Was the driver inattentive, impaired or otherwise negligent? A skilled injury lawyer in New York will help bolster your case and assist you in dealing with insurance companies.

If you have been injured in a bus accident, it is important to immediately seek medical attention. It is also crucial for you to obtain copies of your medical records and document your injuries. A bus accident attorney can review all of your medical records and bills to determine the value of your case and ensure that you receive fair compensation.

Pursuing damages after a bus accident can be complicated. Please call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP at 212-986-7353 to find out how we can help your pursue your rights. We always offer a free and comprehensive consultation.

A jury awarded two victims of a New York bus accident more than $7 million in damages for injuries they sustained. According to a news report from 1010wins.com, the accident occurred in July 2005 when a Transit Authority bus struck the vehicle carrying the women who were traveling on Ocean Parkway Service Road at Avenue U in Brooklyn. The women said the bus driver ran a red light; however, the bus driver claimed that the female driver ran a stop sign and failed to yield right-of-way.

Apparently, the jurors took the victims' side and held the MTA liable for the injury collision. One of the women sustained punctured lungs and six fractures. She was awarded $7.2 million. The second woman was less injured and was therefore awarded $250,000. The total settlement could have been as low as $3 million had the MTA chosen to settle instead of going to trial. The two women decided to take the case to trial and to prove their case.

Under New York law, the driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection is required to yield the right-of-way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection. Failure to yield right-of-way can lead to serious collisions and personal injuries. There are nearly 200,000 accidents in New York involving two or more vehicles in New York State each year.

If you or a loved one has been in an auto accident, contact the experienced NY injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti and Shapiro LLP. We will provide you with a free comprehensive evaluation of your case. Our attorneys will fight for your legal rights and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Nine preschool kids, a matron, and their bus driver sustained injuries in a New York car accident after the driver of a sedan ran a stop sign. The sedan then rammed into the bus and caused it to flip over on its side. According to a news report in the Times Newsweekly, the accident occurred in the Middle Village area on 69th Road. The female driver of the sedan was heading northbound on 75th Street. Apparently, this intersection has been the site of several other serious auto accidents in recent years. The hazardous roadway has even prompted residents to call repeatedly for installation of a traffic control device in the area. The nine children, matron and bus driver were transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the sedan suffered minor injuries.

City officials say they have sent several letters to the Queens Borough Commissioner for the Department of Transportation requesting traffic safety control devices at that intersection, which has also been the site of a fatal motorcycle accident in 2008. However, the Department of Transportation has not responded to requests for an all-way stop sign, speed bump or conversion of 69th Road to a one-way street.

Continue reading "New York Bus Accident Injures Nine Children" »

Six people were hurt in a bus accident in Robinson, Pennsylvania after a sport utility vehicle crashed into a Greyhound bus which was traveling from New York City to St. Louis. Police said the auto accident occurred on the southbound ramp to the Interstate 79 near the parkway in Robinson. According to this news report, driver of the SUV, 26-year-old Michael Kuzo, was reportedly speeding when he rear-ended the Greyhound bus. The SUV then spun out of control and rolled over several times. Kuzo was extricated from the vehicle and is in the hospital with critical injuries. The bus was carrying 55 passengers. Five passengers were treated for injuries at local hospitals.

Taking the bus is a way of life for New Yorkers. Be it a bus, taxi or the subway, public transportation is something we use everyday to get to work, school, social events and other destinations. In some cases, bus accidents are caused by other motorists. But in many cases, bus accidents occur because of driver negligence, an impaired driver, lack of proper bus maintenance or a product defect.

It takes experienced New York bus accident lawyers to look into all aspects of an auto accident and determine the facts to discover whether someone's negligence or recklessness caused the accident and the resulting injuries. If you have been injured by someone else's negligence, you deserve to get fair compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings and other related damages. If you have been seriously injured in a New York bus accident, please call the New York personal injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro for a free and comprehensive consultation.

New York City Fire Department officials are saying that 59 people suffered injuries in a three-vehicle pileup on New York City's Brooklyn Queen's Expressway. According to a news report in the New York Post, a casino bus, another bus and a tractor-trailer collided. Six people were taken to the hospital, but their injuries were not life-threatening. Other injured victims were treated at the scene of the auto accident in New York. Officials are still looking into the cause of this multi-vehicle crash.

Bus accidents in New York have the potential to cause major injuries and deaths. It is fortunate that this bus accident did not result in such devastation. Bus companies – private or public – owe their passengers the "utmost duty of care." What this means is that they owe their passengers the duty to take them to their destination safely. If the bus accident is the bus driver's fault or if it was caused because of the driver's negligence, the bus company can be held liable for injuries caused to passengers. That is also true for other motorists or pedestrians injured by buses.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York bus accident, truck accident, or car accident, you would be well-advised to consult experienced New York auto accident attorneys who will vigorously fight for your rights and make sure you receive fair compensation for your damages. Remember that it is best not to talk to insurance companies, attorneys for bus companies or sign any settlements until you have retained a knowledgeable New York personal injury attorney who can counsel you on the best course of action. Please call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro today to find out more information about how to pursue your legal rights.

An auto accident in Brooklyn involving a New York City bus has injured 10 people – one of them seriously. According to this recent Associated Press report, the injury crash happened January 20, 2009 at the street intersection of 49th Street and 14th Avenue. All the injured were taken to Maimonides Medical Center for evaluation and treatment for cuts and bruises.

The article does not provide any information whether another vehicle was involved or whose fault it was that the crash occurred. Hopefully an official investigation is underway and will soon reveal all the details of this motor vehicle accident. However, all public carriers, including operators of New York City buses, owe their passengers a standard of “utmost duty of care.” The injured victims in this New York City bus accident deserve to be compensated for their suffering.

If you have been injured in a New York auto accident from the negligence of others you should contact the experienced personal injury law firm of Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro. We will have our experts working on your case to reconstruct the accident, obtain information and complete an independent investigation. Our dedicated team of attorneys focuses on identifying the parties at fault and holding them accountable for their actions. Call us today to learn how we can help you with our vast experience of successfully representing clients who were injured in similar automobile accidents.

A New York City Fire Department truck crashed into a city bus when it was responding to an emergency, injuring 30 people. According to this United Press International news report, the December 16, 2008 NY bus accident occurred when the fire truck was speeding to a car fire Tuesday and crashed into B15 bus. The impact from the crash pushed the bus onto a nearby sidewalk and into a set of concrete barriers.

The bus reportedly suffered significant damage. Witnesses told officials that the bus looked like a “crumpled beer can.” Two firefighters who were on the truck were treated for concussions. Nobody on the bus suffered major injuries, the news report said.

This is a scary New York truck accident that could have resulted in something a lot more serious. It is indeed fortunate that nobody was fatally or serious injured in this New York bus versus fire truck accident. Hopefully, a thorough investigation into this incident will reveal what went wrong here. Were the firefighters operating the truck following all safety procedures? Was it their fault or the bus driver’s fault for not paying attention to the approaching fire truck?

If this accident was the fire engine operator’s fault then the city could be held liable for injuries caused. But if this accident is a result of the bus driver’s negligence, then the bus company could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. The injured victims in the bus would be well-advised to contact a New York personal injury lawyer who will take a good look at this case and advise them about their rights to compensation. If you have been injured in a New York auto accident, please call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro for a free and comprehensive consultation.

A 9 year old girl was critically injured and six others were sent to the hospital after a private van that authorities said was illegally carrying a group of young children to school collided with a city bus in Queens, according to a New York Times report. The New York Bus Accident occurred at about 8am, after the Dodge Ram filled with children made a left turn into the path of an oncoming Q46 Bus at 184th street and union turnpike in Fresh Meadows.

Rebecca Frazier, the 9 year old, was in critical but stable condition at Long Island Jewish Medical Center on Friday night. The other six children were in stable condition at various hospitals or were treated and released. The children ranged in ages from 5 to 12 and most were on their way to Public School 178 in Jamaica.

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