Three people were seriously injured in an accident on July 21, 2022 in which a school bus overturned on the Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx.
Shortly after 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning, the school bus carrying dozens of passengers flipped onto its side while turning onto an exit ramp toward Bruckner Boulevard. There were thankfully no children on board.
Footage shared in new reports shows a frightening scene following the accident. As first responders rushed to their aid, many passengers were seen lying on the grass surrounding the overturned bus. Three passengers are currently hospitalized in serious condition. More than thirty others, including the bus driver, suffered minor injuries, according to reports. Passengers were transferred to either Jacobi or Lincoln hospitals.
The passengers were bus drivers heading to work at Summer Rising, a city program that provides academic and enrichment activities for students in grades K-8. The accident led to traffic issues in the area throughout the rest of the day.
Our hearts are with the victims of this accident and their loved ones. We wish everyone a rapid recovery.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, though reports say “it appears the bus driver failed to navigate the turn, lost control, and overturned on the ramp.”
School buses are expected to be among the safest vehicles on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sets standards for school buses that go beyond those set for normal buses. Features such as flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors, and heavily padded seating aim to increase school bus safety. Additionally, the vehicle’s larger and heavier design is meant to distribute crash forces so that passengers experience less impact forces than those in other vehicles.
However, school bus accidents, especially rollover accidents, are still very dangerous situations. In 2020, 54 people were killed in school bus-related accidents nationwide. This type of accident can result from circumstances like a bus speeding, hitting a curb, or experiencing a mechanical issue, like a tire blow out. Due to its size and higher center of gravity, a school bus has a greater chance of rolling over. A driver must take this and other factors into consideration while operating a school bus.
If a school bus accident does occur, there are a variety of parties that can be found liable, including the driver, other vehicles on the road, the bus manufacturer or maintenance entity, and others. Some of the most common causes for school bus accidents include:
- Distracted driving, such as texting while driving
- Reckless driving, such as speeding or failure to properly signal a turn
- Poor weather conditions, such as dense fog or strong winds
- Driver error
Victims of a school bus accident may have a legal right to receive financial compensation for damages they suffered as a result of the accident. The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy have a proven track record of obtaining full and fair results for clients involved in motor vehicle accidents, including a $6,000,000 settlement for a passenger injured on a city bus that collided with another vehicle in a Brooklyn intersection.
To discuss your case with one of our skilled attorneys, call 212-736-5300 or fill out our online contact form.