Five Children Injured In Mamakating School Bus Accident On Route 17 Near Middletown
MAMAKATING, NEW YORK (February 29, 2020) – At least five children were injured in a school bus accident along Route 17 not far from Middletown.
New York Highway Patrol officials are saying that the collision took place around 7:45 a.m. For reasons that remain under investigation a pickup truck rear-ended a bus that was heading eastbound.
The force of the impact pushed the school bus into a guardrail which caused it to flip over. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.
A total of five children and two adults were injured in the crash. The driver of the pickup truck was cited for following A Vehicle too closely.
Liability In School Bus Accidents
Buses are considered “common carriers” under the law and are held to a very high standard in terms of safety. According to Acosta v. Southern California Rapid Transit Dist, “Common carriers bind themselves to carry safely those whom they take into their vehicles, and owe both a duty of utmost care and the vigilance of a very cautious person towards their passengers. Such carriers are responsible for any, even the slightest, negligence and are required to do all that human care,vigilance, and foresight reasonably can do under all the circumstances.” Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage
- PTSD
The FMCSA requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a bus accident may be able to recover damages through a bodily injury claim. Many accident victims may not realize the full extent of their injuries until several months after an accident. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal rights are.
Investigating A Mamakating Bus Accident
We at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson extend our thoughts and prayers to all of those that were injured in this bus accident. Any person that may have seen what happened should reach out to police as they continue to investigate. It is our sincere hope that measures are put in place to help prevent additional accidents like this. Drivers need to learn to slow down and follow vehicles at a safe distance.
