Five people were killed when a tour bus traveling to New York City from Niagara Falls crashed on a highway outside Buffalo. According to a report in The New York Times, the fatal bus accident occurred the afternoon of Aug. 22 on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, ejecting passengers and pinning some of them under the vehicle. The cause was under investigation and did not appear to involve a mechanical failure or driver impairment, officials said at a news conference.
Driver Distraction May Have Been a Factor
Investigators believe, based on a preliminary investigation, that the driver who survived the crash, became distracted, lost control of the bus and then overcorrected. This caused the vehicle to roll over into a ditch. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent a team of investigators to the scene of the crash.
The identities of the deceased victims have not been released. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who have been injured in this horrific tour bus crash.
Severe Injuries Reported
Officials said the bus had 54 people on board at the time of the crash including the driver and another person who worked for the bus operator based in Staten Island. New York State troopers said the bus was traveling at “full speed” when the driver lost control. Officials said every passenger on the bus had some sort of injury and that most of them were tourists from countries including India, China, the Philippines and Middle Eastern countries. The 24 patients brought to the hospital had suffered head injuries, broken extremities and internal injuries, said hospital officials at Eerie County Medical Center, one of the hospitals where the injured were taken.
Six people were treated at the University of Rochester Medical Center, including two who had suffered critical injuries and four victims, including a child, who were “medically stable,” hospital officials said. Mercy Flight also made multiple trips from the crash site to local medical centers. Helicopters had transported two children to Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo and other adult victims to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and Eerie County Medical Center in Buffalo, the Times reported.
Steps Bus Accident Victims Can Take to Protect Their Rights
If you’ve been injured in a tour bus or charter bus crash, taking the right steps immediately can help protect your health and legal rights. First, seek medical attention, even if injuries seem minor as some symptoms may appear later. Document your medical care and follow your doctor’s instructions closely.
Next, report the accident to the bus company or tour operator, but do not give detailed statements until you have spoken with an experienced New York bus accident attorney. If possible, gather evidence at the scene. Take photos of the bus, road conditions and your injuries. Collect witness names and contact information and keep records of any expenses related to the crash. Preserve all documents such as bus tickets, receipts, and correspondence with the bus operator or insurers.
Consult with an experienced New York personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Bus crashes often involve complex liability issues including multiple parties such as the driver, company or even government entities. Your lawyer can guide you through insurance claims, protect you from unfair settlements and pursue maximum compensation for your injuries, damages and losses.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
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. 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.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/nyregion/new-york-tour-bus-crash.html