Two people were killed and dozens of others were injured after a coach bus overturned and crossed into oncoming traffic on the Long Island Expressway in Maspeth, Queens, the night of June 29. According to a WABC news report, the deadly bus accident occurred on the westbound Long Island Expressway near the Greenpoint Avenue exit. The chartered bus was an airport shuttle carrying crew members of the Royal Jordanian Flight 8261, which arrived from Amman, Jordan, at JFK that night.
Fatalities, Injuries and Ongoing Investigation
Fifteen crew members, including two Thai flight attendants, were on the bus, which was taking them to their hotel. Officials said the coach bus first crashed into two vehicles before hitting the center divider. The bus then overturned into the eastbound lanes, where it collided with two other vehicles. The driver of the bus and one passenger were pronounced dead, based on the news report. The passenger was identified as Moad Farid Mohd Obaidat, 42, of New York City.
The driver of one of the vehicles traveling in the eastbound lanes was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Three other drivers involved in the crash were reported to be in stable condition, the news article said. About two dozen passengers on the bus were taken to Bellevue Hospital, New York-Presbyterian Queens and Elmhurst Hospital Center, to be evaluated for injuries.
WABC also reports that the deceased driver has seven prior arrests including for burglary, sexual abuse and forcible touching, and that he was a registered level 2 sex offender. While he had a valid driver’s license, he also had seven moving violations. None of those were issued when he was a professional driver. Among the violations, two were for speeding, two for disobeying a traffic control device and one for dangerous driving, the news outlet reports. The investigation into this crash is ongoing. The National Transportation Safety Board is working with the NYPD to look into what caused this fatal bus accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this horrific incident.
Steps to Take After a Bus Accident
A bus accident can leave victims dealing with painful injuries, unexpected medical bills and uncertainty about the next steps to take. First, seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor as some symptoms may appear over several hours or even days or much later. When an airport shuttle bus is involved, report the accident to the appropriate parties. These may include the transportation company, law enforcement, airport authorities, airline company, etc. Request a copy of any incident report. Your bus accident attorney can also help you get a copy of this report. Immediately contact a personal injury lawyer before contacting any insurance company, even your own insurance company.
If possible, take photos of the accident scene, your injuries and any property damage. Collect contact information from witnesses and other involved parties. Do not discuss fault or give recorded statements to insurance representatives before speaking with your lawyer. Keep all medical records, receipts, and documentation related to your treatment and expenses. Finally, consult an experienced personal injury lawyer who can investigate the accident, preserve evidence, negotiate with insurers and pursue fair and full compensation for all your injuries, damages and losses.
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 very 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. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact a very experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 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, although there was only a 1 million dollar insurance policy and we got $500,000 above that insurance policy.
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 cases, negligence cases, motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, ceiling collapse cases, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases, quadriplegia cases 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://abc7ny.com/post/long-island-expressway-coach-bus-crash-kills-2-injures-dozens-causes-major-traffic-delays/19419559/