Tree Limb Crushes School Bus in Queens Injuring Eight Children

 Eight children and three adults suffered injuries in an incident when a large tree limb fell on a school bus and crushed it. According to an NBC New York news report, the victims, mostly children, were fortunate to escape without life-threatening injuries when the tree limb fell on their small school bus at Woodhaven Boulevard and 66th Road in Queens. The nature of the victims’ injuries wasn’t immediately clear. But, they are all expected to survive. All the victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Footage from the scene shows the right side of the bus and the windshield completely crushed with the door appearing to be barely attached to the vehicle. The children had to be escorted off the bus through the emergency exit in the back. Authorities have not confirmed whether the accident was weather-related. But it came at a time when the tri-state area was being pummeled by gusty winds. The accident is still under investigation.

The Importance of Tree Maintenance
Trees should be properly pruned and maintained to help ensure that they are not a danger to passersby and vehicles that are in the vicinity. New York City’s safety protocols require tree trimmers to mark the area to warn pedestrians of the danger of falling tree branches. The trimmers are also required to have a lookout person who can warn pedestrians when such tree maintenance work is being done. If a tree is diseased, a certified arborist must be called to look at it and determine when and how it should be removed.
Falling tree branches can cause significant injuries to pedestrians and road users including, but not limited to, severe head injuries such as concussions and brain trauma; spinal cord damage, multiple broken bones, facial injuries, internal organ damage, etc. These are all injuries that require extensive medical treatment. Some tree-related accidents may result in catastrophic injuries leading to permanent disabilities or even death. Victims may not be able to return to work for an extended period or time. In some cases, their injuries may permanently end their ability to earn a livelihood.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
In cases where the trees are on someone else’s property, a premises liability claim may be filed against the property owner and/or property manager. If your injury is the result of an incident involving maintenance work being performed on a tree that is on public property, then you may be able to file a claim against the city or governmental agency that is responsible for the maintenance of that tree.
Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages that include medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. The family of a deceased victim can seek compensation for damages by filing a wrongful death claim as well.
In order to hold a defendant liable for injuries caused by a fallen tree or tree branch, plaintiffs must establish negligence on the part of the defendant by showing that the defendant had a duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition; that they breached their duty by failing to do so and that the plaintiff’s injuries were caused by the defendant’s failure to safely maintain the premises. When a falling tree branch causes an auto accident, other parties may also be held liable. An experienced auto accident lawyer will be able to examine all aspects of the case and help victims fully understand their legal rights and options.
Protecting Your Rights
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a crash caused by a distracted and negligent 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 46 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 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.
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 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.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/School-Bus-Accident-Queens-454091143.html