Maria Rodriguez, 73, was struck and killed by a school bus in a Queens neighborhood the morning of Nov. 10. According to an NBC New York news report, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred when the school bus made a left turn on 107th Avenue and 86th Street and struck Rodriguez as she was walking home after dropping her three grandchildren at a nearby school. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim lived in the Bronx but was visiting her daughter in Queens and was helping out her family — which included bringing the kids to school, according to reports. This tragic death comes a few weeks after a beloved school crossing guard was struck and killed by a dump truck. The 47-year-old bus driver remained at the scene and was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care, authorities said. We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Maria Rodriguez for their heartbreaking loss.
Injuries in School Bus Versus Pedestrian Accidents
School buses, often viewed as safe modes of transportation for students, can nonetheless pose risks when accidents involve pedestrians. The mass and size of school buses can lead to substantial injuries, especially if a pedestrian is struck directly or even by the side of the bus. In New York City, pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked. According to the law, drivers must yield to pedestrians in these areas, and it is illegal for motorists to pass other vehicles that have stopped at a crosswalk.
Pedestrians involved in school bus accidents may suffer a range of injuries, including fractures, head trauma, and soft tissue damage. The height and weight of a school bus can intensify the impact, potentially leading to more severe outcomes compared to collisions involving smaller vehicles. Children, in particular, are vulnerable to injuries in such accidents due to their smaller size and lesser ability to withstand the forces involved.
While school buses are designed with safety features, such as high seat backs and reinforced structures, pedestrians may still be at risk, especially during boarding or alighting. Factors such as distracted driving, poor visibility, or inadequate pedestrian infrastructure can contribute to these incidents.
Compensation for Victims
Injured victims of pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in pedestrian accidents can seek compensation for damages such as medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, lost future income, etc.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should also remember that they can seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if the victim was not walking in a marked crosswalk and even if the driver involved in collision was not charged. Our law firm recovered the full one-million-dollar insurance policy for a girl who was not in the crosswalk when a motor vehicle hit her.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident or bicycle 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.
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.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/73-year-old-woman-struck-and-killed-by-school-bus-in-queens-police/4850098/