Failing to pay attention while driving can lead to serious situations on the road. Negligent drivers are much more likely to cause car accidents than their fellow motorists who remain vigilant. Three people were killed in a recent New York accident with a charter bus driven by a potentially negligent driver.
Reports state that the driver of the charter bus was speeding when it traveled through an intersection and collided with the back of a New York City bus. Five people were injured in the crash and are currently in the hospital, three of which are in critical condition. The driver of the charter bus, a passenger on the city bus and a pedestrian were all killed in the incident.
The accident is currently still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Police records from a neighboring state indicate that the bus driver had been arrested previously for driving under the influence and causing a crash on the interstate two years prior. Officials have said that the company he currently worked for may have violated state laws by allowing him to drive a bus.
Though the bus driver was killed in the crash, the victims may be entitled to file personal injury claims in civil court against the driver’s employer. Likewise, the deceased victims’ surviving families could file wrongful death claims on behalf of their loved ones. When these types of claims successfully prove negligence on behalf of a defendant, the plaintiffs are usually awarded monetary damages that can be used to help pay for medical bills, funeral costs and any other related expenses. Experienced New York attorneys could provide more information and assistance to anyone injured in car accidents.
Source: New York Times, “Officials Fault Charter Bus Industry After Fatal Queens Crash“, Patrick McGeehan, Sept. 19, 2017
