BUS ACCIDENTS

New York has approximately two million riders per day and nearly seven hundred million riders per year on buses. New York City alone is home to over 300 bus routes. According to the Motor Vehicle Collision data collected by the New York City Police Department in March of 2024, there were 308 reported bus accidents in New York City’s five major boroughs.

COMMON BUS ACCIDENTS:
  • Aggressive driving or road rage;
  • Intoxication and impairment;
  • Distracted by cell phone calls or text messages;
  • Speeding;
  • Failing to observe and yield to traffic with the right of way;
  • Falling asleep at the wheel;
  • Following vehicles too closely;
  • Passing cars improperly;
  • Disregarding traffic signals;
  • Making improper turns;
  • Being an inexperienced driver;
  • Changing lanes improperly;
  • Backing up without looking;
  • Assault of a passenger or bus driver:
    • Assault of a New York City bus operator can result in a punishable crime of up to seven years in prison.

New York State follows what is known as “no-fault insurance” law (sometimes referred to as “personal injury protection insurance” or “PIP”) . That means regardless of who was at fault for the accident, your medical expenses and lost wages will be covered by the insurance company if the laws have been followed correctly.

Article 51 of the insurance law states that in order to pursue a lawsuit for  personal injury from an automobile accident, you must establish a basic economic loss exceeding $50,000 or have suffered a “serious injury.”

Serious injuries are defined as follows:

  • Death;
  • Dismemberment;
  • Significant disfigurement;
  • A fracture;
  • Loss of a fetus;
  • Permanent loss of the use of a body organ, member, function or system;
  • Permanent consequential limitation of the use of a body organ or member;
  • Significant limitation of the use of a body function or system;
  • A medically determined injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured party from performing substantially all of the material acts which constitute such person’s usual and customary daily activities for not less than ninety (90) days during the one hundred and eighty days (180) immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment.


*** IMPORTANT NOTE: New York State No-Fault regulations require you to file a claim within 30 days of your motor vehicle accident.  
 

For more information, you can refer to the official New York State website: 

No-Fault Law – Notice for a Motor Vehicle Accident Requirement

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