NYC Bus Accident Lawyer | Bus Injuries | Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek

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NYC Bus Accident Claims

Taking a bus is a convenient way to navigate the Big Apple. These large vehicles can cause extreme damage. If you’re hurt by a bus as either a passenger, a driver, or a pedestrian, you might be able to file a claim for personal injury compensation. Many factors can affect your claim’s viability, like who owned the bus and how severely you were injured.

If you’ve been hurt by someone’s negligence, you can pursue a personal injury claim for your losses. You can seek a settlement to cover your medical bills, pain and suffering, damaged property, and lost wages.

Working with a skilled New York personal injury attorney can allow you to maximize the compensation you can secure. Your attorney can investigate your injuries, identify liable parties, secure evidence, and help you calculate your claim’s value. Finding the right lawyer to support you after an accident is essential.

Contact HKD Today for a Free, No-Risk Assessment

Common Causes of New York Bus Accidents

Bus accidents can have many causes, and identifying them can affect how you file a claim and who you file one against. Driver error can contribute to bus accidents, including:

  • Traveling above the speed limit.
  • Failure to yield.
  • Distracted Driving.
  • Driving while under the influence.

There are other ways that your accident could have happened. Maybe a bus wasn’t properly inspected, and a damaged part contributed to your crash. Maybe the bus was made with a defective part.

There could be more than one liable party. An HKD personal injury lawyer will investigate your crash and your injuries to determine who could be liable for your injuries.

NYC Bus Crash Liability

There are public or private bus services available throughout New York. Accidents with private and public buses are handled differently.

Charter buses or tour buses are examples of private buses used throughout the state. If you’re injured while riding one of these buses or if you’re hurt in an accident with one, you may be able to sue the driver and the company for negligence. You’ll have three years after the accident to file a claim.

In accidents involving public buses, the matter can become complicated quickly. These are bus services offered by the government, like buses run by the Metropolitan Transport Authority. Some of these entities have qualified immunity from torts or personal injury claims. These claims must also happen sooner than claims against private entities. You must file a notice of a claim against the MTA within 90 days of your accident.

How a Lawyer Helps Bus Accident Claims

If you’ve been in an accident with a NYC bus, you should be focusing on recovering from your injuries, not worrying about how to get compensation for your damages. Finding a skilled personal injury lawyer is a critical step to securing the money you deserve to be made whole.

Your attorney can identify liable parties, who can be sued for your injuries, how the accident happened, and how to file your claim.

Identifying Who’s Responsible for Your Bus Accident

Bus services employ many people, which means there could be several people responsible for your accident. In many cases, the most easily identifiable party is the bus driver. However, other possible liable parties include a bus management system, a bus company, a school district, or manufacturer.

Your attorney’s investigation can determine who shares the blame for your injuries, and help you take the necessary steps towards getting compensation.

Filing Claims Against Public Entities

There are special procedures for filing claims against the government or other public institutions. Your claim will proceed under the New York Court of Claims Act. If you or your child were hurt in a school bus accident, you’d take action against a school district.

Some entities have their own procedures for handling bus accident injury claims, including the New York City Transit Authority, the MTA, and the MTA Bus Company. Make sure you discuss these distinctions with your personal injury attorney.

Lawsuits Against Public Entities vs Private Parties

Compensation After NYC Bus Accidents

If you’ve been hurt because of someone’s negligent behavior, you may be eligible for monetary damages if you can prove liability. Because your accident was caused by legal negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic and non-economic losses.

Economic losses are expenses you pay for out of your pocket. These are direct financial losses caused by your accident, like medical bills or lost wages. They have a value that can be quantified by looking at bills or receipts.

Your non-economic losses can be more challenging to calculate. These are losses that are caused by your injury. They’re conceptual in nature. Damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, or loss of consortium may apply to your claim.

No-Fault Insurance Claims

Drivers in another vehicle hurt in a bus accident should be aware of no-fault insurance claims in New York. Victims in motor vehicle crashes typically file an injury claim with their insurer. These claims cover economic damages, not non-economic losses.

There are exceptions to no-fault rules. If your claim exceeds your coverage, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable parties. You can file a lawsuit if your injuries exceed New York’s “serious injury” threshold.

NYC Bus Accident FAQs

Who Can Get Hurt in a Bus Accident?

Many people could be the victim of a bus accident, depending on the situation. Bus passengers, other drivers, or pedestrians all have the potential for injury.

What Kind of Injuries do Bus Accidents Cause?

Common injuries caused by bus accidents include traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, neck injuries, broken bones, scarring, disfigurement, burn injuries, or paralyzing injuries.

Contact Our NYC Bus Accident Attorneys Today

Being injured in a NYC bus accident is a serious situation. Your injuries are likely very severe, requiring long and exhaustive treatment. You may have even lost a loved one. It’s hard to know what to do when such a tragedy happens, but that’s why you need skilled, knowledgeable, and committed legal assistance from the beginning.

At Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C., we serve clients throughout New York City and the surrounding counties. We have decades of experience, a record of holding negligent parties accountable, and always pursue maximum compensation. Let us review how you came to be injured, identify who’s to blame in your bus accident, and fight to make sure you get everything you deserve.

Call us at 212-490-5700 or contact us online to request a free, no-risk consultation. There are no up-front costs and nothing unless you recover compensation.

CLIENT REVIEWS

Google Reviews

10/15/2021

I have had two cases with Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek and have had great results! I have netted over seven figures and would recommend the firm anyone who has been injured in a slip and fall or auto accident.

5 Stars Review 5
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12/09/2020

My family and I hired Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek to represent us with regards to a car accident case. We were very impressed with the level of attention we received from Jonathan Damashek. They were able to secure a very…

5 Stars Review 5
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07/05/2015

After meeting a half dozen lawyers at different firms, I decided to go to Hecht, Kleeger and Damashek. As soon as I met Jon Damashek, I knew I had to look no further. Mr. Damashek made me feel at ease…

5 Stars Review 5
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Average 5 out of 5 rating based on 3 Reviews