New York State Police have identified the five people who were killed in a tour bus accident as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhubani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China, a Columbia University student; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, New Jersey; and Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City.
According to an NBC news report, the bus was carrying 54 people, including the driver and a tour guide. Some of the occupants were ejected from the bus and trapped under the vehicle, officials said. Dozens of passengers, including several children, were hospitalized for a variety of injuries. Officials said many sustained injuries ranging from head trauma to broken arms and legs.
Injuries and Ongoing Investigation
As of Saturday afternoon, Eerie Medical Center, where 21 passengers were hospitalized for injuries, said 14 patients remained in the hospital, but were in stable condition, NBC reports. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash. Based on preliminary investigations, officials say they believe the driver Bin Shao, 55, of Flushing, New York, became distracted, lost control of the bus and overcorrected.
Officials said the bus was at full speed during the crash, but did not specify how fast the vehicle was traveling. The driver is not facing charges pending an official investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an investigation. The scope of the investigation will include the crash site, the mechanical condition of the bus, highway design and possible issues with the driver including fatigue, distraction and qualifications for operating the vehicle. NTSB has asked witnesses or anyone with video footage to contact the agency. The tour bus operator is based in Staten Island.
Compensation for Injuries in Bus Accidents
A bus accident can cause a wide range of injuries, depending on the speed, impact, and whether passengers were wearing seat belts. Common injuries include bruises, cuts and whiplash, often resulting from sudden jolts or falls inside the bus. More serious injuries may involve broken bones, head trauma, or spinal cord damage, especially if passengers are thrown from their seats. Internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding, can also occur and may not be immediately visible.
Psychological trauma, including anxiety or post-traumatic stress, is another possible consequence for victims that should not be overlooked. The severity of injuries often depends on the size of the vehicle involved, road conditions, and safety measures in place. Immediate medical attention is crucial after any bus accident to diagnose hidden injuries and prevent complications.
Injured victims of bus accidents may seek compensation from the bus company and/or other responsible parties for damages including medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones can seek compensation for damages as well by filing a wrongful death claim. Bus accidents have the potential to cause severe or even catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, multiple broken bones, internal organ damage, facial and eye injuries, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). One of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-tour-bus-crash-victims-identified-rcna226776