Bus Accident
$7 Million
Bus passenger suffered a neck injury requiring surgery
New York Schoolbus Accident Lawyers
25+ years. Millions recovered.
Koenigsberg delivers.
Pay Nothing Unless We Win
Free case review
Millions recovered for New Yorkers
Koenigsberg & Associates have a proven track record fighting for our clients. We're committed to securing your recovery and getting you back on your feet.
How our lawyers can help
The experienced attorneys at Koenigsberg & Associates will listen to your needs, organize the facts, evidence, and details of your case, and aggressively pursue legal action until you get the compensation that you deserve:
- Medical Treatment
- Lost Wages
- Pain & Suffering
Common types of school bus accidents
From boarding injuries to highway collisions, we know the strict notice rules that protect injured children.
Stop-arm violations
Drivers illegally passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm out — the leading cause of pedestrian school bus injuries.
Boarding & exiting injuries
Falls from steps, doors closing too soon, and buses pulling away while children are still loading or unloading.
Sudden stop & jerk injuries
Unrestrained children thrown from seats and against poles by violent braking or acceleration.
Bus-to-vehicle collisions
Crashes with other motorists involving overlapping public, private contractor, and individual driver liability.
Crossing-the-street incidents
Children struck by passing motorists while walking to or from the bus stop.
Rollover & highway crashes
Serious bus rollovers on highways involving multiple injured children and complex multi-defendant liability.
Inadequate supervision injuries
Bullying, assaults, and falls that occurred because matrons or attendants failed to supervise.
Driver background & training failures
Crashes by drivers with prior DUIs, suspended licenses, or inadequate training that the contractor should have caught.
Vehicle maintenance failures
Brake failures, defective doors, and mechanical breakdowns from inadequate inspection and upkeep.
Common school bus accident injuries
Children are uniquely vulnerable in crashes — they bounce, twist, and absorb impact differently from adults.
Head injuries & concussions
TBIs from striking seatbacks, poles, and windows — particularly serious for developing brains.
Broken bones
Fractured arms, wrists, and collarbones from being thrown by sudden stops or trying to break a fall.
Neck & whiplash injuries
Cervical strain from sudden stops and rear-end crashes that can affect children for years.
Back & spinal injuries
Vertebral fractures and disc injuries from high-impact collisions and falls from bus steps.
Facial & dental injuries
Broken teeth, lacerations, and disfiguring scars from impact with seats, poles, and other riders.
Internal injuries
Organ damage and internal bleeding from side-impact and rollover crashes.
Crush & pedestrian injuries
Catastrophic injuries to children struck by buses or by passing motorists at the stop.
PTSD & emotional trauma
Anxiety, nightmares, and school avoidance after a crash or witnessing a peer's injury — compensable under New York law.
Wrongful death
When a New York school bus crash takes a child's life, families can pursue claims against every responsible party, public and private.
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Who can be held liable for a school bus accident?
Liability often involves multiple parties — the bus driver, the private bus contractor, the school district, the City of New York's Department of Education, the bus matron or attendant, vehicle maintenance providers, and any other motorist who contributed to the crash. We investigate each layer to identify every responsible party and insurance source.
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What if my child was injured walking to or from a school bus stop?
A claim may exist against the driver who struck the child, the bus driver if proper safety procedures were not followed, and sometimes the school district or transportation contractor if routing or supervision was unreasonable. Cases involving "passing the stop arm" violations are particularly strong because state law clearly prohibits them.
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What is the Notice of Claim deadline for a school district?
Claims against the New York City Department of Education, a school district, or other public-entity defendants generally require a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the injury, with a lawsuit filed within one year and 90 days. Special exceptions for infants exist but should not be relied upon — contact a lawyer immediately so deadlines are protected.
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Do public-school and private-school cases work differently?
Yes. Public-school cases trigger the 90-day Notice of Claim rule and General Municipal Law procedures. Private-school cases follow ordinary personal injury rules and typically have a three-year statute of limitations for minors that is tolled until the child turns 18 — subject to important exceptions for public-entity codefendants. We sort out the correct procedure on day one.
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What damages can I recover for my child?
Recoverable damages include past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, future lost earning capacity if the injury affects long-term work potential, and the cost of physical and emotional therapy. Court-approved infant compromises are required when settling a minor's claim — we handle the entire process, including any structured settlement or trust.
Offices across NYC
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Brooklyn Midwood
1213 Avenue U
Brooklyn, NY 11229
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Brooklyn Flatbush
282 Flatbush Ave, Suite 2
Brooklyn, NY 11217
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Queens
80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 5001
Kew Gardens, NY 11415
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The Bronx
225B East 149th Street
Bronx, NY 10451