Often, the motivation for taking public transportation can be a desire to avoid the hassle of driving in rush-hour traffic and finding parking. Sometimes, riders just want to sit back and let someone else take the wheel while saving money by not taking a cab. But as New York Bus Accident lawyers know, taking public transportation involves the implicit trust in the driver or operator to use reasonable care. When a bus driver fails to meet that level of care, accidents can happen, potentially endangering dozens of people.
Recently, an MTA bus driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing the bus to crash into multiple parked cars in the Upper East Side. Passengers stated that the bus’s speed appeared to increase just before hitting the cars. A daily passenger ran to the front to take control of the wheel and stop the bus. Currently, authorities are conducting an investigation.
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Liability in car accidents is governed by the theory of negligence. Drivers must exercise reasonable care under the circumstances, and a failure to do so can be considered negligence by a court. Actions such as ignoring traffic signals and speeding may be considered when a court determines whether a driver was negligent. Other actions, such as driving drunk or under the influence of drugs, are common causes of auto accidents, and may give rise to liability. Driving under the influence of drugs is not limited to use of illegal drugs; over the counter medications or prescription drugs that cause marked drowsiness or that can alter your perception made give rise to this infraction.
After this bus accident, two people were taken to a local hospital for serious injuries, and three others were treated at the same hospital for minor injuries. Fifteen others experienced minor injuries and were either treated at the scene or declined treatment.
Source: NBCNewYork.com, “MTA Bus Driver Passes Out, Crashes into Cars on Upper East Side,” Gus Rosendale, Jan. 29, 2013
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