What happens if I am hurt while riding a New York City bus?

New York City has one of the world’s most robust transportation systems. While the New York City subway system may be the most famous component, there is also a comprehensive network of buses consisting of more than 5,000 buses serving nearly 5 million rides every day. On New York City buses every year there are thousands of people injured and some are even killed.

The very nature of large city buses means they can inflict a great deal of damage upon other vehicles without incurring much damage themselves, even when the accident is low speed. The majority of the cases involving severe injury or death in a bus accident occur when a bus strikes a pedestrians or bicyclist.

However, buses don’t just pose a danger to pedestrians and other drivers. Every year passengers riding New York City buses are injured while riding the bus as well.

Bus accidents in New York City can often take place due to a number of factors, including reckless driving, speeding, distracted driving, fatigued or overworked drivers, overcrowded buses, mechanical failure or defective parts, among others.

Other causes of accidents frequently involve negligence on the part of the driver, the bus manufacturer, or other transit employees.

New York City buses, just like any other vehicle on the road, are required to carry no-fault insurance coverage, which covers medical injuries and lost wages.

If you or a member of your household owns a vehicle with no-fault coverage, then you will file a claim with your own insurance company following an injury or accident aboard a New York City bus.

If you do not own a vehicle, then you will file a claim with the NYCTA. It is important to remember that no-fault coverage does not cover non-economic losses such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, or wrongful death.

These damages could be sought out in a lawsuit, so long as your injuries meet the threshold for “serious injury” which is defined as significant disfigurement, fractured bones, permanent damage to a body organ or limb, injuries resulting in full disability for 90 days, or if victims died as a result of the bus accident.

If you’ve been hurt while riding a New York City bus, you should be sure to heed the following points:

• Take down the name of the bus driver and the bus number.
• Call the police yourself, if you can, as the bus driver will not do so. Demand that both the police and an ambulance respond to the scene of the accident and do not leave the scene without speaking to the police.
• Be sure to obtain the names and badge numbers of the police officers responding as well as instructions on how to secure a copy of the police report.
• Try to get the contact information of any potential witnesses to the accident, either bystanders or other passengers of the bus.
• Seek medical attention for your injuries.

It is important to note that New York City buses are state entities and therefore the filing deadlines for claims are shorter than typical personal injury suits. In the event of injury on a New York City bus, you must file a claim within 90 days or your claim will be automatically denied regardless of the merit.

Therefore, it is critical that you consult with an experienced bus accident lawyer in New York City as soon as possible following your injury.

The experienced team at Greenberg & Stein has more than 75 years of combined experience handling all manners of personal injury accidents and lawsuits, including cases involving accidents and injuries on New York City buses and public transportation.

Every case is unique, and you can be assured that our team will explore every legal option available in order to ensure that you receive a fair and just compensation.

We offer a free consultation and a 24-hour phone line, so don’t hesitate to call us following a bus accident in New York City. Call us today at 888-411-3966 to schedule your free legal consultation.