Lehman College Bus Accident: 52-Year-Old Woman Injured In Bronx Bus Accident By Bedford Park Boulevard and Paul Avenue Near Lehman College
BRONX, NEW YORK (November 11, 2019) -A 52-year-old woman was seriously injured in a bus accident near the entrance of Lehman College by Bedford Park Boulevard and Paul Avenue.
New York police officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:05 p.m. The woman was hit and pinned underneath the Bee-Line bus as it was making a left turn.
Witnesses looked on in horror as the unidentified victim sustained serious head and torso trauma. The woman was initially conscious after the accident but her condition worsened and she was taken to the Barnabas Hospital in critical condition.
The driver of the Bee-Line bus remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. The bus is operated by the Westchestor County government and serves around 27 million customers every year.
An investigation into the Lehman College bus accident in the Bronx remains ongoing.
Liability In Bronx Bus Accidents
According to data from the University of Michigan, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year. Inter-city buses are 1.9 [times] more likely to become involved in an accident, and charter operations have “significantly higher odds of driver error.” Because of their weight, shape and size buses can be very difficult to operate. Bus companies should strictly adhere to the following rules to help prevent accidents:
- Buses should be properly maintained. Buses should be checked daily and repairs should be made immediately to prevent long-term damage.
- Bus companies must inspect buses periodically, enforce work hours for bus drivers, give drivers proper training and administer random drug tests on drivers.
- Bus drivers must abstain from alcohol, not work while sick or fatigued and obey traffic rules
Pedestrians can be particularly vulnerable to buses making left-turns. According to the New York Department of Health, “Pedestrians have the right of way if there is an intersection or any marked crosswalk on the road and no traffic signals. Drivers must yield, slowing or stopping, to allow pedestrians to cross.” There is simply no excuse for a bus driver to hit a pedestrian in a lawfully marked crosswalk while making a turn. These types of accidents tend to happen when bus drivers are fatigued, distracted or speeding. Victims of bus accidents are often left with very serious injuries including:
- Internal bleeding
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Skin burns
- Organ damage
Many of the injuries sustain in bus accidents are not always physical. A high number of bus accident survivors are left with post traumatic stress disorder. According to Very Well Mind, “Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are the leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the general population.” Signs of PTSD may include:
- Avoidance behaviors
- Intrusive memories
- Changes in emotional reactions
- Negative changes in thinking and mood
If the at fault bus driver works for a government agency that agency may be liable for the accident. Cities and state agencies may face civil liability for the negligent conduct of their employees – insofar as those employees are working within the course and scope of their job duties. The victim or family of the victim will need to file a Notice of Intention to File a Claim within 90 days of the accident.
Buses that are capable of carrying 16 or more passengers are required by FMCSA regulations to carry at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a bus accident may be able to seek damages through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a bodily injury claim can help cover medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, bus companies will often fight vigorously to deny liability for an accident. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Help After A Bus Accident
We at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson extend our thoughts and prayers to the victim of this horrific accident near Lehman College. Any person that may have witnessed the accident should reach out to the NYPD as they continue their investigation. What happened is completely unacceptable. Bus drivers need to be looking for pedestrians before turning into intersections. There needs to be some accountability for what happened.
