School Bus Accident Lawyers

Helping School Bus Accident Victims Recover Settlements in Brooklyn

Statistically, school buses are one of the safest forms of transportation. But these numbers provide little comfort for victims of school bus accidents, or for their families, whether the victim was struck by a bus or injured as a passenger.

For over two decades, our Brooklyn bus accident lawyers at Koenigsberg & Associates Law Offices have helped families recover settlements to help ease the physical and emotional toll of bus accidents. Recently our attorneys recovered one million dollars for a rider who suffered severe injury and disability through a collision with a school bus.

An experienced New York City school bus accident lawyer will:

• Gather evidence
• Determine who is responsible
• Guide you through the legal process
• Handle all paperwork and communication on your behalf
• Fight for a substantial settlement or award

To begin filing an injury claim, call (718) 690-3132 for a free consultation.

How Do School Bus Accidents Happen?

Tired or improperly trained operators, faulty or unmaintained vehicles, and dangerous road conditions can all be causes of bus accidents. We have the experience to determine which parties are at fault, the extent of their responsibility, and the amount of damages they should pay.

School buses are large vehicles – often stretching nearly forty feet in length. With eighty passengers aboard the bus can weigh more than 40,000 pounds. At highway speeds, it takes about 300 feet to stop a bus safely. Even at slow speeds, school bus accidents can be gruesome. Drivers are following complex routes, stopping and starting frequently, and often distracted by their passengers. As a result, serious school bus accidents occur far too often.

Identifying the Right Parties in a School Bus Accident

The most difficult part of a school bus accident claim is identifying the responsible party. The state of New York happens to be a “no-fault” state, where most drivers rely on personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage from their own provider. Of course, whenever vulnerable children are involved, it’s possible to seek compensation regardless of “fault” for the car accident. This is especially true if your child sustained catastrophic injuries that go above the PIP threshold for your insurance provider.

School bus drivers are technically employees of the school district, which means that the district bears the primary responsibility for keeping kids safe. If a child is injured on a school bus – whether because of other kids or because of an inattentive school bus driver – the school district may be considered liable.

Here are some of the other parties that may be involved in your school bus accident claim:

• The school bus manufacturer
• The auto repair shop that maintains the school bus
• Another driver on the road
• Insurance providers for the school district
• The property owner at a bus stop or residential area
• The municipal government
• …and many others.

How We Investigate a Bus Accident

As personal injury attorneys, we have the means and the experience to fully investigate your school bus accident claim and determine who was at fault. By gathering witnesses, inquiring with the right local and state agencies, and talking to everyone involved in the crash, we can often get a clear picture of where the accident began.

If the school district bears some liability for your child, it’s even more important to hire an experienced attorney. The statute of limitations for suing a school is much shorter than for ordinary car accidents or personal injury claims, which means that you need to act fast in order to receive compensation. At Koenigsberg & Associates Law Offices, we make the process as streamlined as possible, so that you can focus on caring for your child and helping them recover from injuries.