School Bus Accidents in New York City can be terrifying when they happen, leaving vulnerable children injured and families devastated. One such accident in neighboring New Jersey recently demonstrates just how dangerous these types of crashes can be.
At roughly 3:30 PM on the afternoon of November 16th a school bus traveling along Paterson Plank Road collided with an automobile. The collision drove the bus up onto the sidewalk and into a light pole. It is unclear whether there were any children on the bus at the time of the crash but police reports show that at least two individuals were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
School bus crashes in New York are terrifying because these vehicles carry our children. Children, because their of small bodies, are fragile. Additionally, while school buses of today are much safer than those employed in the past, they still lack many of the safety features that are standard and built into automobiles. As such, relatively minor collisions can result in the kids being tossed around the bus and hurt.
Unfortunately, several factors are aligning that might point to an increased number of school bus accidents in the near future. First, the number of available school bus drivers has significantly dropped. Schools have been forced to hire drivers that may not be as qualified and experienced. Additionally, training periods have been shortened to help alleviate the shortage of drivers, which begs the question whether these newly hired drivers have the required skills to safely transport our children. Now that our schools have started to reopen, are we now in a situation in which these vulnerable passengers have been put in a potentially dangerous situation. Of course, the chances of something happening are relatively small, but is anyone really willing to take a risk with their child.
If your child has been injured while riding the bus, you have legal options available to you. Consult with an experienced New York City school bus accident attorneys. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel today for your free consultation. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 right now.