Buses are a daily part of getting around New York City, and the vehicles share crowded streets with cars, bikes, and pedestrians. When a bus stops short, collides with another vehicle, or strikes someone at a stop, passengers and people nearby can be hurt. Bisogno & Meyerson, LLP handles bus accident matters for people in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the other boroughs. The firm’s office is at 7018 Fort Hamilton Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Staten Island and other NYC clients are represented from Brooklyn.
A bus claim is a negligence case. It asks whether the driver, the operator, or another party failed to use reasonable care and whether that failure caused the injury. What sets bus cases apart is often the defendant. City buses are commonly run by public authorities, and claims against public entities follow shorter and stricter deadlines than ordinary lawsuits.
This page is a city-focused overview. For the practice-area description, see bus accidents. For a plain-language explanation of time limits, read personal injury deadlines in New York. For first steps after a crash, read what to do after a car accident in NYC. Related work appears under personal injury law.
Who May Be Responsible in a Bus Accident
Responsibility in a bus crash can rest with the bus driver, the company or authority that operates the bus, another motorist, a maintenance contractor, or the owner of a defective roadway or stop. Passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and people in other vehicles may each have a claim. Identifying who operated and owns the bus is an early step.
Under CPLR 1411, New York applies comparative negligence. If an injured person is found partly at fault, damages are reduced in proportion to that share rather than barred outright. For a passenger, that issue may not arise at all. For a pedestrian or cyclist it can.
Common Bus Accident Situations in NYC
Sudden stops and passenger falls
Passengers can be thrown by a hard brake, a sharp turn, or a start before they are seated. Riders may be hurt while boarding, on a lowering ramp, or when a door closes. Reviewing these claims often means looking at onboard camera footage, driver logs, and maintenance records. Those records are held by the operator, so a prompt preservation request can matter.
Collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists
Bus collisions at intersections, during lane changes, and at stops can involve several parties. A bus turning across a crosswalk may strike a person on foot, which the firm discusses in its pedestrian accident overview. Photographs of the vehicles and the scene, the bus number, and witness names are helpful if it is safe to collect them.
Stops, shelters, and sidewalks
Injuries at or near a bus stop can involve a defective sidewalk, a damaged shelter, or poor lighting. Those cases may turn on who controlled the area, and they can raise premises liability questions as well.
Notice of Claim and Public Authority Deadlines
Claims against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or the New York City Transit Authority are not like most lawsuits. Generally, a written notice of claim must be served within 90 days of the incident, and a lawsuit must be started within one year and 90 days, under the Public Authorities Law and related statutes. Claims against New York City itself follow similar General Municipal Law rules in sections 50-e and 50-i. Missing a deadline can bar a claim even when the facts are serious.
A claim against a private bus company, such as a charter or tour operator, is generally subject to the ordinary three-year period under CPLR 214. Because it is not always obvious who owns or operates a bus, confirm the operator early and preserve the paperwork. Every case differs, so consult an attorney about your dates.
Insurance and No-Fault
New York’s no-fault system, found in Article 51 of the Insurance Law, may provide medical-expense and some lost-earnings benefits to people hurt in a motor vehicle accident regardless of fault; who qualifies depends on the vehicle and the policy. The application window is short, generally 30 days from the accident. See the firm’s no-fault information page for background.
No-fault does not cover pain and suffering. To sue for non-economic loss after a motor vehicle accident, a person generally must meet the serious injury threshold in Insurance Law § 5102(d). Whether a particular injury meets it is a medical and legal question that depends on records and examinations.
Steps That Can Help After a Bus Accident
Seek medical care and describe every symptom. Report the incident to the driver or the operator if you can, and ask for a copy of any report. Note the bus number, route, direction, and time. Photograph injuries and the scene when it is safe, and keep every bill and letter. Avoid posting a detailed account online, and think carefully before giving a recorded insurer statement. Do not wait on the notice rules described above.
How Bisogno & Meyerson, LLP Reviews These Matters
Bisogno & Meyerson, LLP has concentrated in personal injury and workers’ compensation work since 1994. When the firm reviews a bus matter, the work typically includes collecting medical records, identifying the operator and owner, requesting available video and maintenance records, and checking notice and filing deadlines. None of that predicts a result. It is the ordinary work of building a factual record. A short firm overview describes the practice.
Talk With Our Firm About a Bus Accident
If you were hurt in a bus accident in New York City, Bisogno & Meyerson, LLP can review what happened and explain possible next steps. A free consultation is a conversation about facts, deadlines, and options. It is not a prediction of liability or of any recovery.
Call (718) 745-8880 or contact us. Attorneys on the site are Patrick Bisogno, Esq.; Michael C. Meyerson, Esq.; and George A. Silva, Esq. Bring any photographs and medical paperwork.
Attorney Advertising. This page is general information from Bisogno & Meyerson, LLP, not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship.