MTA Bus Accident Attorney in NYC
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is responsible for operating and maintaining New York City’s public bus lines. Traffic in NYC is known to get hectic, and accidents with buses are not uncommon.
A bus accident can leave drivers with severe injuries needing extensive medical treatment. While you can sue the bus driver who caused your accident, you can also sue the MTA who employed the driver. Keep in mind that the MTA is considered a public entity and part of the city, so suing them requires different rules and procedures. Bus accidents often happen when bus drivers fail to look out for other drivers, run red lights, or otherwise drive recklessly. In a lawsuit, injured drivers can claim their medical bills, property damage, and more.
After a bus accident, our MTA bus accident attorneys in NYC can help you get compensation and justice from the parties responsible. To arrange a free case evaluation, call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083.
Who is Liable for an MTA Bus Accident in NYC?
After an MTA bus accident in New York City, you might be left with painful injuries, mounting medical bills, a totaled car, and other overwhelming expenses. Our MTA bus accident lawyers in NYC can help you file a lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve after a crash. One of the most important questions we must answer in your case is who you should hold liable.
In many bus accidents, the bus driver can be held liable. Bus driver negligence is a common cause of bus accidents in New York City, and the bus driver in your case may be no exception. Bus drivers are responsible for operating very large, heavy vehicles at high speeds. If they take their eyes off the road or drive without proper caution, they can cause serious accidents.
You can also hold the MTA liable for the bus accident. Suing the MTA is trickier than suing the bus driver or any other private person. The MTA is a public entity and part of New York City. As such, you must follow different rules when filing your lawsuit.
According to GMU Law § 50-e(a), you must serve notice upon a town, city, or public entity when filing a lawsuit. This notice must be served no less than 90 days from the date the claim arose. In the case of suing the MTA for a bus accident, you have 90 days from the date of the bus accident to file your lawsuit and serve a notice of claim upon the MTA. This is a very short period to begin a lawsuit, so we must act quickly.
How MTA Bus Accidents Happen in NYC
There are various causes behind bus accidents, especially in a place like New York City, where traffic is notoriously chaotic and unpredictable. Many accidents happen because of bus driver negligence, reckless driving, speeding, ignoring traffic signals, and more. It is important to discuss how your bus accident happened with our team as it will influence how our MTA bus accident attorneys in NYC approach your case.
Many bus accidents happen when the bus driver is distracted. There are lots of potential distractions for bus drivers. Not only must they keep their attention on the road, but they may have numerous passengers to contend with too. If a bus driver is distracted and causes an accident, they can be held liable.
Accidents also happen at intersections when bus drivers fail to stop. The failure to stop might be because they were speeding and could not stop in time. It might also be because they were trying to get through an intersection before a yellow traffic light turned red. When this happens, bus drivers place other drivers at risk, and our MTA bus accident lawyers can help you hold them liable.
Other common reasons for bus accidents include failing to signal when turning or changing lanes. A bus is a very large vehicle. If a bus driver fails to signal a turn or lane change, they might hit other drivers riding alongside them. In most cases, the other driver will be the one with the more severe injuries, and the bus driver can be held liable.
Damages Available in MTA Bus Accident Cases in NYC
It is important to include your medical expenses among your damages after a bus accident., Bus accidents are often very serious, and drivers suffer extensive injuries. You should include all the medical bills you have incurred since the accident, including surgeries, medications, therapies, and other treatments. You can also include any future medical expenses you expect to incur because of the accident.
If you were driving your own vehicle when you were hit by an MTA bus, you can claim the value of the repairs or the cost to replace the vehicle as part of your damages. Not only are cars very expensive, but people rely on them to get around and live their lives. Our MTA bus accident attorneys in NYC can help you maximize these damages and get the compensation you need.
We can also help you calculate the income you have lost since being injured and include it in your damages. You likely had to take time away from work to recover lost significant income as a result. In some cases, drivers are so injured they can never return to work, and they can claim lost future income. Promotions or pay increases you would have obtained had you not been injured should also be factored into your calculations.
Do not overlook your mental and physical pain and suffering. These are considered non-economic damages because they are not connected to specific monetary costs like previously mentioned damages. Instead, we must argue the value of these damages by demonstrating how they have affected your daily life.
Call Our NYC Bus Accident Attorneys for Assistance
An MTA bus accident in New York City might be severe, and you might suffer traumatic injuries. Our MTA bus accident lawyers in NYC can help you cover your damages and get justice. For a free case review, call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083.