What Are the Most Common MTA Bus Accident Injuries?  

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Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) buses serve millions of commuters across the nation each day. Although they may increase the ease with which riders can access different parts of their respective cities, they do not necessarily provide a higher level of safety than other transportation methods.

Bus passengers are still vulnerable to traffic dangers like all other passengers on the road, perhaps even more so, as trends showed an 11% increase in injuries between 2018 and 2019. If you use MTA transportation services or are likely to share the road with one, you should know the risks associated with these buses. Just as the chances of injuries in cars, trucks, and motorcycles, there are several common injuries to be aware of after being involved in an MTA bus accident that passengers may experience.

How You Might Be Injured in an MTA Bus Accident

City buses are massive vehicles, often weighing between 25,000lbs to 40,000lbs. Although this may not be directly relevant to the passengers inside, it could mean the difference between life and death for vulnerable pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists sharing the road with an MTA bus. Bus drivers may not always see these individuals when they are beside the vehicle or otherwise passing by. Thus, they have a pronounced risk of taking the full force of those 40,000lbs directly into their body, as opposed to the metal body of their car.

For this reason, MTA bus accidents are likely to cause life-altering injuries, many of which have lasting impacts on the victim’s life and wellbeing. These injuries, in addition to those that bus passengers may experience, are listed below:

  • Spinal cord injuries, the consequences of which range from whiplash to paralysis
  • Herniated disc
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBIs), the most common of which is the concussion
  • Simple and complex fractures
  • Soft tissue damage, which can affect internal organs and muscles
  • Loss of limbs
  • Wrongful death

These represent only the physical injuries a victim might sustain after enduring an MTA bus accident. Since these injuries can permanently change the course of someone’s life, victims often develop psychological complications alongside their physical condition.

For example, imagine that you lost an arm in the crash. You would no longer be able to do your job the same, and may have to give up some of your favorite hobbies. Coping with your new condition will undoubtedly have profound impacts on your mental health, which may lead to issues such as major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In all instances, you would have the right to file a claim due to the damages inflicted upon you.

Damages You Can Claim in an MTA Bus Accident Case

First and foremost, you should not have to take on the burden of the new medical expenses alone. You were not the cause of the events that led to your new injuries; thus, you should not be responsible for paying for the necessary treatment. For this reason, you have the right to request funds for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Impacts on your wages (i.e., lost work hours, decreased earning capacity)
  • Pain and suffering (e.g., psychological and emotional trauma)

Contact a lawyer to review the extent of your losses and how you can go about recovering the funds to treat your injuries and return to your normal life.

 

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