An MTA bus crashed into a light pole in Flushing, Queens, early morning on July 11, leaving eight people injured and narrowly missing two others waiting at a bus stop. According to an ABC7 news report, the bus accident occurred at 57th Road and Main Street. Surveillance video obtained by Eyewitness News showed the city bus traveling on Main Street. As it crossed over the intersection, the video showed the bus jumping the curb. The impact was so great that it tore down the street sign pole attached to the traffic light, the outlet reported.
Investigation Shows Bus Driver Fell Asleep
Seven passengers and the bus driver were transported to New York-Presbyterian hospital in Queens for non-life-threatening injuries. The 25-year-old driver of the Q20 bus said he had a green light and misjudged the curb at the bus stop. But, after investigators downloaded the video from the bus’s onboard cameras, officials say the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.
According to reports, he is a probationary driver who started last October. The driver does not appear to have suffered a medical condition or otherwise distracted. The MTA pulled the driver out of service pending the investigation where he will undergo testing, which is standard protocol, officials said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this bus crash. We wish them all the best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Bus Crashes Caused by Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is a serious factor contributing to bus accidents, posing significant dangers to both passengers and other road users. Fatigue reduces a driver’s ability to stay alert, slows reaction times and impairs judgment, making it much harder to respond to sudden changes in traffic conditions. Long driving hours, inadequate rest breaks and demanding schedules are common among bus drivers and operators. Studies by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have shown that drowsy driving is a major contributor to large vehicle crashes, including in bus accidents.
When bus drivers operate vehicles while fatigued, the risk of rollover crashes, rear-end collisions and veering off the roadway increases dramatically. Regulations such as Hours of Service (HOS) rules are in place to limit driving hours, but violations and poor enforcement can still lead to accidents. Passengers entrust their safety to professional drivers and fatigue undermines this trust. In the event of a crash, driver fatigue can be a key factor in determining liability. Preventing bus accidents requires strict adherence to rest period requirements, proper scheduling practices, and a culture that prioritizes safety over deadlines.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
In cases where such negligence (carelessness) is a factor, 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.
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. We 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. Also, 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. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
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://abc7ny.com/post/8-hurt-mta-bus-car-collide-flushing-queens/17067489/