Every year, millions of people around the country take a sightseeing tour around a new city that he or she is visiting. New York City features many tourist attractions. According to reports, tourism in New York City has continued to steadily grow over the last ten years, however, so has the risk of tourist accidents. While the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) does not have any regulations governing the mandated reporting of tour bus crashes in New York City, these incidents are unfortunately quite common.
Tour bus accidents can occur due to various reasons such as the failure to properly maintain the bus. However, one of the most common reasons bus accidents occurs is the negligence of the tour bus driver themselves. Many tour bus companies do not complete an adequate background investigation into their drivers. This often leads to companies employing individuals with records of prior accidents, reckless driving, or DWI’s. For instance, a recent charter bus crash revealed that the driver had been previously fired from the MTA for issues that included driving while intoxicated.
In general, larger vehicles such as buses are often less safe than other vehicles, especially in New York City, due to traffic and overcrowded streets. If a driver does not have the necessary qualifications or experience navigating narrow New York City Streets, serious accidents, resulting in death or serious injury to other drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, may occur. In addition, many tourist buses lack certain safety features such as seat belts, which helps prevent injuries in the event of an accident. Negligent driving coupled with the lack of adequate safety features and bus upkeep, increase the risk of being involved in deadly accidents while being a passenger aboard a New York City tour bus.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving a tour bus, it is important to contact an experienced New York City personal injury lawyer who can fight for the compensation you deserve. Goldberg Sager & Associates is experienced in dealing with all aspects of personal injury law and is dedicated to helping clients achieve the best possible outcome for their case. Contact the personal injury lawyers at Goldberg Sager & Associates at 718-645-6677 for a free phone consultation.
