Ten people, including both children and adults, have been hospitalized following a school bus crash on the morning of Monday, January 28th, 2019.
The accident occurred near Farragut Road and East 22nd Street in Flatbush, Brooklyn at around 8 a.m., though it is not yet clear what caused the accident. The ten victims have been taken to Kings County Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Motor vehicle accidents involving school buses should not happen. When a parent puts their child on a school bus, they do so with the understanding that the bus driver will drive carefully, and that other motorists on the road will obey posted speed limits and traffic laws, particularly in the presence of school children. When this doesn’t happen, unspeakable tragedies become possible-a parent should never have to visit their child in the hospital.
Sadly, these types of accidents happen more than you may realize. Between 2007 and 2014, there was an average of 2,049 school vehicle accidents per year in New York. This is a staggering number which deserves our attention. So while school bus crashes usually have more than one listed cause, here are the leading Accident Contributing Factors according to the data provided by the New York government:
- Driver Inattention or Distraction (22.84%)
- Following Too Closely (19.09%)
- Failure to Yield Right of Way (16.21%)
- Slippery Pavement (9.06%)
- Turning Improperly (6.02%)
- Unsafe Speed (5.95%)
These are just a few of the most frequently cited causes of school vehicle crashes in New York. It should be noted that none of them specify who is at fault.
One factor that may add to confusion and traffic around a school bus are the unique laws about passing a school bus. When approaching a school bus which has its stop sign out and red lights flashing, other motorists are supposed to stop “at least 20 feet (6 m) from the bus.” This applies even if you are on the opposite side of the road from the school bus. Motorists must then wait for red lights to stop flashing and stop sign to be retracted before driving once again, taking particular notice of any children who may be crossing the street.
Hopefully more facts about this case come out soon, so that the friends and family members of any injured parties can recover fair compensation for the injuries suffered. Victims of any school bus accident should contact an experienced attorney with a history of successfully litigating such accidents. The motor vehicle attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy have won numerous lawsuits for victims of school bus crashes, such as:
- $2,925,000 settlement after a school bus driver ran a stop sign and struck a motorist in Queens
- $1,750,000 settlement after a motorist in the Bronx was rear-ended by a school bus
- $1,490,000 settlement for a motorist who suffered back injuries after a bus crash
- $1,450,000 settlement for a teacher who was involved in a collision with a school bus
- $1,350,000 settlement for a woman who was struck by a school bus that was trying to make a left turn
- $1,350,000 settlement after a rear-end accident that occurred on a highway in Brooklyn
Call 212-736-5300 or fill out our online contact form to receive a free legal consultation. Block O’Toole & Murphy is proud to serve all of New York City and State.