New York City
Bus Accident Lawyer

At The Silbowitz Firm, our legal team represents individuals throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island who have been harmed in bus collisions. We provide support to pedestrians, commuters riding the bus, and people in passenger vehicles when the lack of proper care leads to serious wrecks and bodily harm.

Experiencing a collision involving a large bus is often a complicated ordeal because of the specific set of state and federal rules that dictate how the transportation industry must operate. When the people who own or drive these large vehicles fail to follow even one of these regulations and a crash occurs, they may be held legally responsible for the resulting losses. Furthermore, when a bus is run by a government agency like the MTA, there are additional legal hurdles that can significantly shorten the amount of time you have to start a legal claim.

It is vital for you to work with a New York City personal injury lawyer who has a history of going through bus accident cases with success. Mitchell Silbowitz has been fighting for the rights of injury victims since 1989 and has helped clients win more than 1,000 cases across New York City and Long Island. Our firm has the resources to ensure you pursue the full payment you deserve after getting hurt, including investigating the facts to find out who was at fault and seeking every legal remedy available to you.

For a free meeting with a bus accident lawyer in New York City, call (646) 419-5344.

Mitchell Silbowitz Identifies Fault in Bus Accident Cases

Because there are unique safety standards that govern the transit industry, having a lawyer who understands the rules that bus companies and their drivers must follow is often the difference in proving how a lack of care led to your harm. In legal terms, negligence happens when a party with a responsibility to act safely fails to meet that standard and causes another person to suffer.

Some examples of how a failure in duty can lead to a bus wreck and subsequent injuries include:

• A person operating a bus without the proper commercial driver’s license
• A driver who has not completed the required safety training programs
• A bus operator who is distracted by a phone, under the influence of alcohol, or ignoring speed limits and traffic signs
• Driving a bus in a way that ignores specific transit industry safety rules
• Failing to perform required mechanical inspections or skipping routine maintenance
• Equipment failures caused by broken or defective bus components
• Operating a vehicle while a driver’s license is currently suspended
• A company hiring a driver without checking their safety record or background
• A transportation company failing to provide proper oversight of their employees

Any of these failures can quickly result in a life-changing event. A city bus driver who is looking at a device instead of the road might jump a curb and strike a person on a sidewalk in Manhattan. A school bus with poorly maintained brakes might fail to stop at a crossing in the Bronx, causing a collision with a cyclist. A private charter company might put an unqualified driver behind the wheel who then causes a head-on crash on a crowded highway in Queens. In every one of these situations, the failure to follow safety rules is what leads to the trauma and the resulting legal claim.

Injuries Resulting From Bus Accidents Are Often Severe

Similar to the damage seen in large truck accidents, the harm caused by a bus collision is frequently life-altering due to the massive size and weight of these vehicles. When a person walking or riding a bike is struck by a bus, they can be thrown a great distance or even pinned against other cars or buildings. Even when a bus is traveling at a very low speed, the force it carries is enough to cause permanent damage to a person who has no physical protection.

Buses also carry dozens of passengers at a time, many of whom are students, and most of these vehicles do not have seatbelts to keep people in place during an impact. In any crash where a bus is involved, the likelihood that those on board will suffer significant harm is very high.

Common injuries seen in these cases often include:

• Fractures or crushed bones
• Loss of a limb
• Deep cuts and scarring
• Partial paralysis
• Full paralysis or loss of function
• Permanent disfigurement
• Severe burns
• Injuries to the face and jaw
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Damage to the spinal column
• Trauma to the head

Just like any major medical event, getting hurt in a bus wreck requires various levels of professional care and long-term treatment. It is not unusual for a victim to need multiple surgeries, ongoing pain management, months of physical therapy, and extended stays in a hospital or rehab center. While some of these physical issues may resolve after a few months, others like brain trauma or paralysis will permanently change the life of the victim and every member of their family.

We Conduct Investigations to Prove Who Caused Your Injuries

After experiencing a bus accident, you will likely need a significant amount of time to rest and heal. The physical pain and the emotional shock of the event make it nearly impossible to think about anything other than your health and your family. Our attorneys take on the task of investigating the cause of the wreck so that you can put all of your energy into your medical recovery.

We gather evidence from a variety of sources, including police reports, medical files, and the internal records kept by the bus company, to find the specific details of what went wrong. Our team interviews people who saw the crash and works with experts who can recreate the scene to show exactly how the impact happened. We also look for proof of whether a driver broke a traffic law or if the company ignored a safety regulation. Furthermore, we consult with medical professionals who can analyze your records to explain the full scope of your suffering to a insurance company or a jury.

Compensation You Can Recover After Your Accident

The personal injury lawyers at The Silbowitz Firm take every case seriously, and we know that a bus wreck can be one of the most stressful events a person ever goes through. Our main goal is to secure the highest amount of payment allowed by New York law when someone else’s carelessness causes you harm.

Treating a major injury is incredibly expensive, and when that injury was someone else’s fault, you have the right to ask that person or company to pay for your losses. While money cannot take away the pain or fix the physical damage, it is a tool that makes the recovery process a little less difficult for you and your loved ones.

The payment you seek after a bus accident might include:

• Current hospital and doctor bills
• The cost of medical care you will need in the future
• Money you lost because you could not work
• The loss of your future ability to earn a living
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• The cost to fix or replace your personal property

A bus crash often causes more than just a broken bone; it can lead to a financial crisis and deep emotional trauma. The stress of being unable to work while bills keep arriving can make life feel impossible. By choosing an experienced personal injury lawyer, you are taking a necessary step toward holding the negligent party accountable. Insurance companies often try to pressure people into taking a small settlement early on, but you should not have to give in to that pressure. Call The Silbowitz Firm to ensure you pursue the maximum recovery that the law allows for your specific situation.

Contact Our New York City Bus Accident Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus crash, don’t wait to get legal help. The sooner you reach out, the stronger your case will be. Evidence can disappear quickly, and deadlines for filing claims are strict.

Call The Silbowitz Firm today at (646) 419-5344 to schedule your free consultation. Let us fight for the justice and financial recovery you deserve.