New York Bus Accident Lawyer

Millions of New Yorkers board buses every day, trusting that they will arrive at their destination safely. MTA buses carry commuters through Manhattan traffic and across the outer boroughs.

Private charter buses transport tourists to Broadway shows and sporting events. School buses move children to and from classrooms throughout the city. Long-distance coaches connect New York to cities up and down the East Coast.

When a bus accident happens, the results can be catastrophic, with dozens of passengers suffering injuries in a single crash. A New York bus accident lawyer can help victims pursue compensation from negligent bus drivers, transit authorities, and private bus companies.

The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler represents bus accident victims throughout New York City and the surrounding areas, fighting to hold those responsible accountable while meeting the strict legal deadlines that apply to these complex cases.

Why Choose Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler for Your New York Bus Accident Case?

Bus accident cases involve challenges that set them apart from typical motor vehicle crashes. Government-owned buses trigger special procedural requirements with unforgiving deadlines.

Private bus companies carry large insurance policies but fight aggressively to minimize payouts. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler understands these complexities and provides representation tailored to the unique demands of bus accident claims.

When you work with Jason B. Kessler on your bus accident case, you receive:

• Immediate action to meet the 90-day notice of claim deadline required for cases involving MTA buses and other government transit services
• Thorough investigation to identify all potentially liable parties, including drivers, bus companies, maintenance providers, and government entities
• Analysis of the common carrier standard that holds bus operators to the highest degree of care for passenger safety
• Aggressive negotiation with insurance companies and transit authority attorneys
• Preparation for litigation and trial if fair settlement cannot be achieved

Whether you were injured on a city bus in Queens, a tour bus in Midtown Manhattan, or a school bus in Westchester, the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler provides the dedicated representation you need to pursue full compensation for your injuries.

What Makes Bus Accidents Different From Other Vehicle Crashes?

Buses present unique dangers to passengers that do not exist in typical passenger vehicles. The size of buses, their interior design, and the way passengers travel all contribute to the severity of injuries when accidents occur.

No Seatbelts

Most public transit buses, charter buses, and tour buses do not have passenger seatbelts. This means that when a collision occurs or a driver brakes suddenly, passengers have nothing restraining them.

They can be thrown from their seats, slammed into metal handrails, or ejected into the aisle. Even minor fender benders that would cause no injury in a car can send bus passengers to the hospital.

Standing Passengers

During rush hour, many bus passengers stand in the aisle holding onto overhead straps or poles. A sudden stop, sharp turn, or collision can send standing passengers tumbling to the floor or crashing into other riders. Elderly passengers and those with mobility issues face particular danger in these situations.

Hard Interior Surfaces

The interior of a bus is filled with hard surfaces, including metal handrails, rigid plastic seats, grab bars, and sharp corners. When passengers are thrown around during an accident, they collide with these surfaces, suffering lacerations, broken bones, and head injuries that would not occur in a car with padded interiors and airbags.

Multiple Victims

A single bus accident can injure dozens of people simultaneously. When a fully loaded MTA bus is involved in a crash, passenger counts can exceed fifty or more victims. This multiplies the severity of the overall harm and complicates the legal process as multiple claims compete for the same insurance coverage.

What Types of Bus Accidents Cause Injuries in New York?

Bus accidents take many forms throughout the New York metropolitan area. The type of accident often determines which parties bear responsibility and what legal theories apply to your claim.

Collisions With Other Vehicles

Buses can cause devastating damage when they collide with cars, motorcycles, or pedestrians. The weight and size of a bus means that occupants of smaller vehicles bear the brunt of the impact. Intersection crashes, rear-end collisions, and sideswipe accidents all occur regularly on New York streets.

Sudden Braking Incidents

Bus drivers must react to changing traffic conditions constantly. When a driver brakes too hard or without warning, standing passengers can be thrown to the floor while seated passengers slam into the seat in front of them. These incidents can cause serious injuries even when the bus never makes contact with another vehicle.

Boarding and Exiting Accidents

Many bus injuries happen when passengers are getting on or off the vehicle. Drivers who close doors on passengers, pull away before riders are safely aboard, or stop at locations where passengers must step into hazardous conditions create liability for resulting injuries.

Rollover Accidents

Charter buses and long-distance coaches traveling at highway speeds face rollover risks, particularly on curved roads or when drivers lose control. Rollover accidents are among the deadliest types of bus crashes, with passengers thrown violently around the interior as the vehicle tumbles.

Pedestrian and Cyclist Strikes

Buses have significant blind spots, and their large turning radius creates danger for pedestrians in crosswalks and cyclists sharing the road. When a bus strikes a person on foot or on a bicycle, the injuries are typically severe or fatal.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a New York Bus Accident?

Bus accident liability can extend to multiple parties depending on who owned the bus, who employed the driver, and what caused the crash.

The Bus Driver

Drivers who cause accidents through distracted driving, speeding, running red lights, driving while fatigued, or operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs bear direct responsibility for resulting injuries. Bus drivers are held to a higher standard of care than ordinary motorists because they operate as common carriers responsible for passenger safety.

The MTA and NYC Transit Authority

MTA buses and other public transit services are operated by government agencies. When agency negligence causes an accident, whether through poor driver training, inadequate vehicle maintenance, or failure to enforce safety protocols, the transit authority can be held liable. However, claims against government entities require filing a notice of claim within 90 days under New York General Municipal Law Section 50-e.

Private Bus Companies

Charter bus operators, tour companies, intercity carriers, and private shuttle services can be held liable when their drivers or vehicles cause accidents. These companies often carry substantial insurance policies, but their insurers fight aggressively to minimize claim values.

School Districts

School bus accidents may create liability for the school district operating the bus. Like other government entities, school districts require notice of claim filings within strict time limits.

Maintenance Companies

Defective brakes, tire failures, steering malfunctions, and other mechanical problems can cause accidents regardless of driver care. When a bus company outsources maintenance to a third party, that maintenance provider may share liability for accidents caused by their negligent work.

Vehicle and Part Manufacturers

Manufacturing defects in buses or their components can cause accidents. Product liability claims against manufacturers do not require proving negligence, only that the defect existed and caused harm.

What Are the Deadlines for Filing a New York Bus Accident Claim?

Bus accident claims are subject to different deadlines depending on whether the bus was operated by a government agency or a private company. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your claim regardless of how serious your injuries may be.

Government Bus Claims

If your accident involved an MTA bus, NYC Transit Authority vehicle, school bus, or other government-operated transportation, you must file a notice of claim within 90 days of the accident.

This notice must include specific information about when and where the accident occurred, how it happened, and the nature of your injuries. After filing the notice of claim, you have one year and 90 days from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.

The 90-day deadline is strictly enforced. Courts routinely dismiss cases where victims failed to file timely notice, even when injuries are severe and liability is clear. This is why consulting with an attorney immediately after a bus accident is critical.

Private Bus Claims

Claims against private bus companies follow the standard three-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases in New York, as established under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules Section 214. While this provides more time than government claims, acting promptly still benefits your case by preserving evidence and witness testimony.

Wrongful Death Claims

If a loved one died in a bus accident, wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. Claims against government entities still require notice of claim within 90 days, even in wrongful death cases.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a New York Bus Accident?

Bus accident victims can pursue damages that account for both the financial burden of their injuries and the ways those injuries have diminished their quality of life.

Economic Damages

• Hospital bills, surgical fees, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any future medical treatment your doctors recommend
• Paychecks you lost while unable to work, plus diminished earning potential if your injuries force a career change or early retirement
• Expenses you would not have incurred but for the accident, such as hiring help for household tasks, retrofitting your home for accessibility, or paying for rides to medical appointments
• Replacement costs for phones, laptops, eyeglasses, or other personal property destroyed in the crash

These losses can be calculated through bills, pay stubs, and receipts, making them relatively straightforward to prove.

Non-Economic Damages

• Mental health consequences including flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks when boarding public transit, and clinical depression
• Activities and hobbies you can no longer enjoy, relationships that have suffered, and the daily frustrations of living with limitations you did not have before
• Visible scars or disfigurement that affect how you see yourself and how others perceive you

The severity of injuries common in bus accidents, particularly when multiple passengers are hurt in a single crash, often supports substantial compensation. However, government liability caps and insurance policy limits can complicate the recovery process in cases involving public transit.

FAQs

Contact the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler Today

Whether your accident happened on an MTA bus, a charter coach, a school bus, or a long-distance carrier, Jason B. Kessler provides the aggressive representation needed to pursue full compensation.

Time is critical in bus accident cases, particularly those involving government entities. Contact the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler today for a free consultation. Discuss your accident, learn about the deadlines that apply to your claim, and take the first step toward holding the responsible parties accountable for the harm they caused.