
Injured While Riding in an MTA Bus: Accident Attorneys
Riding in a bus is generally a safe and easy way to get around NYC. We see them on the streets all the time. The New York Transit Authority reports that 8 million people make a trip on their buses every day.
The National Transportation Safety Board did a study on fatalities while riding in a car or bus vehicle and found that the passenger car occupant fatality rate was five times the rate of deaths while riding in a bus.
Even though riding in a bus is pretty safe, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll never get hurt. In some cases, you may get more severe injuries because buses are not equipped with the same safety features you see in a car such as seat belts and airbags. Buses also have a higher risk of a rollover, which means you will likely get ejected from your seat in the event of a serious accident.
What Causes a Bus Accident?
While not an exhaustive list, here are some of the reasons a bus may get into an accident.- The driver falls asleep at the wheel or is otherwise driving impaired.
- Defective bus equipment.
- Failure to observe traffic laws.
- Road conditions and construction problems.
- Vehicle handling problems and/or defects.
- Weight distribution problems affect stability.
Liability
Bus accident lawsuits can be complicated because your lawyer needs to be well-versed in NY traffic laws, as well as regulations that govern bus operators like the NYTA. The MTA may have a separate set of rules and regulations. There may be multiple parties responsible for your injuries, including:- Other vehicle drivers.
- City and state government entities.
- The bus driver.
- The management company (who manages and maintains the buses).