Our thoughts are prayers are with the 11 year old girl who was struck by a yellow school bus as she was crossing the street at St. John’s Place and Nostrand Avenue in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon (February 15, 2017). Reportedly, medics removed her to Kings County Hospital, where she was seen for head trauma and a fractured pelvis. We wish her a speedy and full recovery.
Police apparently stated that the child was in the crosswalk when she was struck. A witness, Jovani Soto, was quoted as saying that the bus was turning the corner and suggested that the bus was moving too quickly. Mr. Soto further explained, “I guess her book bag or something like hit the door or something. It made her spin and hit the floor. As he kept turning, he ran her over.”
The description sounds absolutely horrific.
The safety of our children is of utmost importance. Not only are children more susceptible to traffic accidents as they may be less visible to drivers, but they are also more likely to be injured in pedestrian accidents. According to NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, a 2013 study showed that children ages 10 to 14 make up approximately 9% of total pedestrians injured in motor vehicle crashes in the United States – the highest of any age group. Tragically, approximately 21% of pedestrians killed were children under the age of 14.
If these early indications about the happening of the Brooklyn accident are accurate, we hope that the bus driver and bus company are held fully responsible for hurting this young girl. Our years of experience representing pedestrians struck by vehicles, including buses and trucks, counsels us that investigations into these accidents should be undertaken swiftly and carefully, before potentially important evidence disappears or witnesses’ memories begin to fade.
Block O’Toole & Murphy has recovered more than $1 Billion for its injured clients through verdicts and settlements, and our team of experienced trial lawyers can be reached anytime at 212-736-5300 or via our contact form for a free consultation.
Sources:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/02/15/crown-heights-girl-struck/