When you are pursuing a bus accident personal injury claim in New York City, you should have a fair idea of the legal terminology and definitions relevant to your case. Terms like “negligence,” which refers to the failure of the bus driver or company to exercise reasonable care, and “liability,” which determines who is legally responsible for the accident, play important roles in determining the outcome of your claim.
Familiarity with concepts such as “serious injury threshold,” which establishes the severity of injuries necessary to pursue certain types of damages, and “comparative negligence,” which assesses each party’s degree of fault, can significantly impact your case. Be prepared to work with experienced New York City bus accident lawyers who can explain these terms clearly, deal with the complexities of New York’s bus accident laws, and ensure your rights are protected while seeking financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
Legal Definitions Related to New York City Bus Accident Claims
Listed in Alphabetical Order
ADA-Compliant Buses: Buses designed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Articulated Bus: Bus with an articulated joint, allowing for increased passenger capacity and maneuverability.
Automated Vehicle Location (AVL): Technology used in buses to track their exact location, speed, and status, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Bus Accident Investigation: Official inquiry by authorities or agencies to gather facts and determine liability in a bus accident.
Bus Accident Reconstruction: Process of analyzing evidence and data to determine the cause and sequence of events in a bus accident.
Bus Component Defect: Flaw or issue in a bus part or system that contributes to an accident or injury.
Bus Driver’s Duty: Legal obligation of a bus driver to operate the vehicle safely and adhere to traffic laws and regulations.
Bus Driver Fatigue: State of exhaustion or drowsiness affecting a bus driver’s ability to operate safely, often due to long hours or inadequate rest.
Bus Fare: Fee paid by passengers for bus transportation services.
Bus Lane: Designated lane on roads or highways exclusively for buses, often marked with specific signage or pavement markings.
Bus Maintenance: Regular inspection, repair, and upkeep of buses to ensure safe operation.
Bus Manufacturer: Company responsible for designing, producing, and distributing buses.
Bus Operator: The individual employed by a bus company to drive and operate buses.
Bus Passenger Injury: Harm or damage sustained by a passenger while riding on a bus, typically resulting from an accident or negligence.
Bus-Pedestrian Collisions: Pedestrians getting hit by buses while crossing streets or entering/exiting buses.
Bus-Utility Pole Accidents: Buses striking utility poles, often due to driver error or mechanical failure.
Bus Route: Designated path or course followed by a bus to pick up and drop off passengers.
Bus Route Deviation: Unauthorized or unplanned deviation from the designated bus route, potentially leading to accidents.
Bus Shelter: Enclosed or partially enclosed structure at a bus stop to protect passengers from weather elements.
Bus Stop: Designated location where buses regularly pick up and drop off passengers.
Bus Surveillance: Video monitoring systems installed on buses to record passenger activities and incidents.
Bus Terminal: Station or facility where buses arrive and depart, often serving as a hub for multiple routes.
Charter Bus: Bus hired for specific trips or events, operated by private companies or organizations.
Coach Bus: Long-distance buses equipped with amenities for comfort, used for intercity travel and charter services.
Common Carrier: A company or entity legally obligated to transport passengers for a fee, such as a bus company.
Comparative Negligence: Method for allocating fault between parties based on their degree of negligence.
Contributory Negligence: Defense where the plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to the accident.
Demand Letter: Formal written request for compensation, outlining damages and legal basis for a claim.
Double-Decker Bus: Bus with two levels of seating, commonly used for sightseeing tours or intercity transportation.
Duty of Care: Legal obligation to act with a reasonable level of care to avoid causing harm to others.
Electronic Fare Collection (EFC): Technology enabling passengers to pay bus fares electronically, often using smart cards or mobile devices.
Economic Damages: Monetary losses resulting from medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Expert Witness: Individual qualified to provide professional opinions based on specialized knowledge or experience, often used to support claims.
Express Bus: These buses provide limited-stop service between neighborhoods and the CBD, offering faster travel for commuters.
Fleet Management: Supervision and coordination of a bus company’s fleet, including maintenance, scheduling, and operational efficiency.
GPS Tracking: Global Positioning System technology used to track and monitor the location and movement of buses in real-time.
In-Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS): System installed on buses to monitor driver behavior, vehicle performance, and passenger safety.
Intercity Bus Service: Bus service connecting cities and regions, operated by private companies or public entities.
Intersection Collisions: Often caused by traffic signal violations or failure to yield, leading to collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.
Lane Change Accidents: Buses changing lanes without proper signaling or checking blind spots, leading to collisions.
Liability: Legal responsibility for the damages caused in an accident.
Loss of Consortium: Claim by a spouse for the loss of companionship and support due to the injured party’s injuries.
Mobile Data Terminal (MDT): Device in buses used by drivers to communicate with dispatchers, access route information, and receive updates.
Motor Coach: Long-distance bus equipped with amenities for passenger comfort, often used for intercity travel.
Municipal Bus Company: Bus service operated by a city or municipality, providing public transportation within its jurisdiction.
Negligence: Failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm or injury.
Negligent Hiring: Legal claim asserting that an employer (bus company) failed to exercise reasonable care in hiring a bus driver, leading to harm.
Non-Economic Damages: Intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Paratransit Bus: Specialized buses equipped with wheelchair ramps and other accessibility features, meant for individuals with disabilities.
Pedestrian Accidents: Involving buses striking pedestrians, especially at crosswalks or bus stops.
Proximate Cause: Direct cause that leads to an injury without any intervening factors.
Private Bus Company: Non-governmental entity providing bus transportation services, often serving specific routes or customer groups.
Public Transportation: Services provided by government or private entities for the general public, including bus services.
Rear-End Collisions: Occur when buses fail to stop in time and collide with vehicles ahead of them.
Respondeat Superior: Legal doctrine holding an employer liable for the actions of an employee conducted within the scope of employment.
Rollover Accidents: Especially common with articulated buses or in cases of high-speed turns or collisions.
School Bus: Bus used to transport students to and from school, subject to specific safety regulations.
Serious Injury Threshold: Requirement in New York for certain types of damages to be claimed, based on the severity of injuries.
Settlement Agreement: Binding contract resolving a legal dispute outside of court, typically involving payment from the defendant to the plaintiff.
Side-Swipe Accidents: Where buses sideswipe other vehicles due to improper lane changes or driver distraction.
Single-Vehicle Crashes: Where buses hit stationary objects like poles, barriers, or structures.
Standard City Bus: These buses are the backbone of New York City’s transit system, providing regular service on city streets and designated routes.
Statute of Limitations: Time limit within which legal action must be taken after an accident or injury.
Subrogation: Legal right of an insurance company to recover costs from a third party that caused an accident or injury.
Surveillance Cameras: Video recording devices installed on buses to monitor activities and incidents.
Telematics: Technology combining telecommunications and informatics to monitor and manage bus operations, including GPS, sensors, and data analytics.
Third-Party Claim: Legal action against a party other than the primary defendant who may be liable for the accident.
Tour Bus: Buses used exclusively for guided city tours, showcasing landmarks and attractions across New York City.
Transit Authority: Government agency or entity responsible for public transportation services, including bus operations.
Transit Bus: General term for buses used in public transportation services.
Turning Accidents: Buses making turns can hit pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles if not executed carefully.
Vehicle Accident Reconstruction: Forensic analysis to determine how and why a vehicle accident occurred.
Vehicle Maintenance: Regular inspection and servicing of vehicles to ensure safety and reliability.
Whiplash: Neck injury caused by sudden forward and backward movement of the head, often in vehicle accidents.
Wrongful Death: Legal claim for damages resulting from the death of an individual caused by the negligence or misconduct of another party.
Get Our Top-Rated Bus Accident Attorneys in New York City on Your Side
The exemplary success of Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP in securing multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for injured New Yorkers has made us a law firm of choice for the state’s residents. With over a century of experience in handling personal injury cases in New York, our NYC bus accident lawyers have consistently delivered results, securing large financial compensation for bus accident victims and their families.
Whether you are facing medical bills, lost wages, or emotional distress due to a bus accident, our dedicated attorneys are committed to fighting tirelessly on your behalf. Trust in our proven track record and reach out to us today to discover how we can help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve. To schedule your free consultation, call us at 212-344-1000 or contact us online.