Fourteen people were injured after an MTA bus was rear-ended by a box truck on the West Shore Expressway near the Victory Boulevard exit at around 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, 2019.
When the FDNY arrived on the scene, the MTA SIM2 bus was blocking the two left lanes of traffic on the southbound West Shore Expressway. A spokesperson from the MTA indicated that “the bus was moving in traffic when it was rear-ended by a box truck.” Emergency services were soon on the scene to transport the injured passengers to local hospitals.
The bus and a nearby construction vehicle were badly damaged in the accident, and a second bus eventually arrived to continue transporting the passengers. The accident caused significant delays that extended back to the Staten Island Expressway and is still under investigation.
We wish a speedy recovery to all involved in this accident and urge them not to try to ‘tough out’ their pain or think it will go away on its own.
This is because rear-end accidents can be more damaging than they first appear, particularly if any of the victims suffer whiplash, which is a common injury caused by rear-end accidents.
In one study that analyzed the presence of neck pain among 503 rear-end accident victims, it was found that 78% experienced neck pain that lasted more than one week, and 33% had neck pain that lasted more than a year.
Among victims who had reported neck pain lasting more than a week, 52% of these people were still suffering neck pain a year later. Of the people who reported having neck pain more than a year after they were rear-ended, 44% complained of feeling pain 7 days a week.
Furthermore, while victims of rear-end accidents might feel that their accident wasn’t that severe, the study also found that there “is little evidence that the severity of the impact predicts” neck pain down the line.
Other studies have shown that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal injuries, and spinal injuries are nothing to take lightly. What begins as soreness could develop into sharp pain, loss of range of motion, unexplained muscle spasms, weakened sensation of touch, and a whole other host of troubling side-effects.
If you or somebody you love have been injured in a rear-end accident, you should remain diligent about regularly seeing your medical provider and treating your injuries. Do not assume the pain will simply go away on its own, because this could cause you to develop medical complications down the line.
The other thing that victims of rear-end accidents should be sure to do is consider contacting an experienced personal injury attorney, so that they can learn their rights and pursue compensation for the damages they suffer. Medical treatment such as doctor visits and physical therapy can add up quickly, and you do not have to face these bills by yourself.
The attorneys of Block O’Toole & Murphy have settled countless results exceeding $1,000,000 for victims of rear-end accidents, such as:
- $9,263,326 verdict for a passenger in a taxi who suffered severe spinal injuries after the cab was rear-ended in Brooklyn
- $4,250,000 settlement for a man who was rear-ended in Westchester county, ultimately requiring him to have multiple surgeries on his spine
- $4,100,000 verdict for a man who suffered ten herniated discs after he was rear-ended while sitting in the back seat of the vehicle that was struck
- $3,375,000 settlement for a delivery driver who was rear-ended by a commercial truck, causing him severe pain in his neck that ultimately required spinal fusion surgery
Call 212-736-5300 to receive a free, no-obligation legal consultation from one of our attorneys. We are proud to serve all of New York and New Jersey.