A New York bus accident on a busy Manhattan street last month caused quite a commotion. A tour bus with 44 passengers inside went off the road after running over a pothole and smashed into scaffolding on West 41st Street. While there were no serious injuries, victims were trapped inside the bus because the scaffolding had partially collapsed over the motor coach. When emergency services arrived, they carefully extracted the passengers through the windows of the bus.
Eye witness reports say the bus driver lost control of the vehicle after riding over a pothole. The bus then jumped the curb and smashed into the tangle of scaffolding piping and planks which crashed down on the bus, shattering some of the bus windows and trapping everyone inside.
One woman was walking on the street at the time of the accident and barely escaped being crushed under falling debris. She told reporters that “the scaffolding started falling like dominoes so I was running while the scaffolding was collapsing behind me.”
Two of the passengers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Others were treated at the scene and released with a variety of minor injuries ranging from cuts caused by shattered glass to minor head trauma.
One FDNY officer said that the situation was made that much more dangerous by the precarious nature of the scene. Thousands of pounds of metal and planking hung over the bus, barely being held in place after the vehicle knocked the supports out from underneath the scaffolding. Inspectors said that the scaffolding would have to be stabilized before the bus could be removed for fear of the whole thing collapsing.
The bus was owned and operated by Optimum Ride. Investigations are ongoing. However, if driver inattention or inability is found to be at fault, victims could very well pursue legal action against the bus company.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a similar crash, contact a New York City bus accident attorney immediately. You could be eligible to receive financial compensation for your unpaid medical and hospital expenses , lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.