Eight Injured as MTA Bus Drives Off Bronx Overpass
MTA bus accidents seem to be occurring at a shocking pace throughout New York, and the latest of these incidents ended with a bus teetering from a Bronx overpass. Although this accident threatened dozens of lives, few New Yorkers will be surprised to learn about it. After all, these incidents are now just another part of daily life in the Big Apple. While the MTA may accept poor safety standards, that doesn’t mean you have to accept the cost of your bus injuries in the Bronx. Read on to learn how you can pursue compensation for these preventable, inexcusable accidents.
Police Say Bus Driver Was “Unable to Navigate” Road
In March of 2024, it was reported that a bus driver in the Bronx had lost control before crashing an MTA bus. The vehicle was left hanging off an overpass, and images from the incident are truly shocking. It appears that the entire front section of the bus fully fell off the overpass and struck a lower road section, while the rear section remained in place above.
The NYPD reported that the bus driver was “unable to navigate” the road section for unknown reasons. They also pointed out that the driver missed a left-hand turn onto the expressway. This may have caused him to panic and attempt a sharp turn far too late, ultimately causing him to lose control and careen off the freeway. Police also explained that part of the bus fell 50 feet before impacting the lower road section.
At least one serious, life-threatening injury was confirmed. Three others suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while a further four suffered minor injuries. All of these people were transported to nearby hospitals as quickly as possible, where they were treated for injuries consistent with serious falls from heights.
The MTA has vowed to “implement lessons learned” from this incident in order to “prevent it from happening again.” This is not the first time they have made such statements.
Bus Accidents Are at All-Time Highs in New York
According to MTA data, bus accidents reached all-time highs at the end of 2023. Twice that year, bus accidents reached levels close to or exceeding 65 accidents per 1 million miles of travel. By comparison, this rate never exceeded 50 accidents per 1 million miles during 2020. If the MTA does not address this situation, we can expect the accident rate to continue climbing beyond 2024. Despite this obvious increase in accidents, the MTA does not seem overly concerned. In fact, their internal papers suggest that they are more focused on increasing maximum bus speeds – an “improvement” that could cause even more accidents.
A particularly shocking accident occurred in December of 2023 when an MTA bus crashed into a sanitation truck in the Bronx. This crash injured 12 people and ended the MTA’s annual safety record on a sour note. Accidents such as this are becoming increasingly common, and passengers have every right to consider legal action after suffering injuries while using New York’s transit system.
Key Takeaways
- MTA bus accident rates reached all-time highs at the end of 2023
- Buses generally struggle with sluggish handling, blind spots, and poor acceleration
- Plaintiffs can sue the MTA for causing injuries, like any other government agency
Find a Qualified, Experienced Bus Accident Lawyer in the Bronx
If you’ve been searching for a qualified, experienced New York bus accident lawyer, look no further than Cohan Law, PLLC. Over the years, we have helped numerous injured plaintiffs throughout the Bronx – including those who have suffered terrible injuries in bus accidents. We can also guide surviving spouses, children, and parents toward compensation on behalf of deceased loved ones. We know how life-altering these bus accidents can be – and we’re ready to guide you toward justice and compensation. Reach out today to get started with an effective action plan.
Sources:
aol.com/news/eight-injured-york-city-bus-113309038.html
new.mta.info/document/127471
