Based out of Queens and serving all five boroughs, the lawyers at Cohen & Cohen Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C., understand New York City transportation. When we work on your case, we already know about the infamous intersections, the dangerous underpasses, and all the other features that make an adventure of traveling by bus in New York City.
LET US HELP YOU IN YOUR NEW YORK BUS ACCIDENT CASE
We work with clients who have been injured in bus accidents arising out of a wide variety of circumstances, including, for instance:
- Negligent operation
- Poor hiring practices
- Defective vehicle parts
- Driver fatigue
- Improper maintenance
When you work with us, you gain the benefit of a firm with decades of combined experience. We understand what to look for in bus accident injury cases. Those cases are not your normal motor vehicle accident cases. It is not just a really big car case.
An MTA accident or bus injury case can involve, not just people, but also major corporations that might even own other corporations solely for the purpose of avoiding liability. We know how to navigate this territory, identify the liable parties, and fight to maximize the compensation available to you under the law.
BUS INSPECTIONS, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, AND BUS ACCIDENTS
New York residents expect that the buses in the city are safe. After all, these vehicles should be held to a higher standard than other passenger vehicles, considering the fact that they carry significantly more people. Yet, far too often buses are involved in serious motor vehicle accidents that leave unsuspecting victims seriously injured. As these victims attempt to recover their health, they may be left to deal with the physical, emotional, and financial ramifications in the wake of their accident. This is where a personal injury lawsuit may be able to help.
Of course, proving liability in a bus accident case isn’t always easy. To increase the chances of success, it may be worth examining a bus operator’s inspection history. Under New York law, certain buses must be inspected every six months. These buses include those that transport individuals under the age of 21 to and from school, as well as licensed city, state, and double-decker buses.
After undergoing inspection, a bus may be given a rated defect. Those defects rated as class A render a bus inherently unsafe and therefore inoperable under the law. Vehicles with these defects cannot carry passengers until the defect is fixed, at which time the vehicle needs to pass another inspection. Until that second inspection, these vehicles do not receive an inspection certificate. Class B defects are those that must be corrected before the bus can carry passengers, but the vehicle is still given an inspection certificate. A C defect, which is the least serious, only requires correction within 15 days, during which time passengers can be carried and an inspection certificate is obtained.
In an ideal world, bus operators would follow the inspection rules. Their buses would be subjected to frequent examination for defects and those defects would be corrected before allowing passengers to ride. Unfortunately, however, far too often bus operators try to cut corners at the expense of riders’ safety. When this happens and an accident and injuries result, it may help to get more information about legal options.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED QUEENS BUS ACCIDENT ATTORNEY NEAR YOU
We can provide you with a candid assessment of your situation, including identifying any next steps as well as discussing your chances for success in the legal process. Call us to schedule an initial consultation with a lawyer at our firm: (718) 971-2107. You can also reach us online to make your appointment.