A Brooklyn bus accident with a Metropolitan Transportation Authority vehicle injured 41 people on September 9. According to CBS News, the accident occurred at 4:40 p.m., at Albany Avenue and Herkimer Street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of the borough.
Dozens of people on the bus were injured according to the FDNY, with many people transported to area hospitals. In all, 12 people were seriously injured and 29 suffered minor injuries. Witnesses told CBS News that a car was fleeing authorities and ran a stop sign, hitting the bus. The driver of the car suffered serious injuries.
An investigation into the accident should determine if police were precise in their pursuit or if there were actions that could have been avoided to negate the accident. Unfortunately, police pursuits kill hundreds of Americans each year, and a number are innocent bystanders. In a 1998 study, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that police pursuits killed 314 people, with 114 people being innocent bystanders.
To avoid fatal car accidents, many law enforcement agencies use technology like GPS, helicopter surveillance and cameras at intersections. Many agencies also have regulations in place for officers to follow should a pursuit take place, in an attempt to avoid accidents.
Aside from death, it should be noted that bus accidents can cause serious personal injuries like spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputations and broken bones. Buses have a higher number of passengers than most cars, which can cause people to fall into each other or injure each other in crashes. Often, buses not offer the same protections as cars or trucks, lacking seatbelts or proper seating. According to AAA, in 2010, 46 people died and 363 were injured in 34 motor coach accidents across the country.
New York and New Jersey have widespread public transit options. KGG lawyer Barry S. Kantrowitz assists victims and family members of bus accidents, subway accidents, taxi accidents and ferry accidents. Contact us toll free at (800) 711-5258 to schedule a free initial consultation or complete the form on this page to let our skilled attorneys review your case.
KGG’s Corner: According to NHTSA, ejections account for 78 percent of deaths in rollover bus crashes.
Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman, P.C. – Rockland County Injury Lawyers