Bus driver arrested and charged after hitting teenage girl

Bus driver charged for failing to exercise due care in horrific Brooklyn accident

The driver of an MTA bus has been charged after a collision seriously injured a pedestrian in Brooklyn, according to the New York Daily News. The accident happened when a teenaged girl was struck by a bus while she was crossing the street on a green light. The driver was charged under new laws that are designed to reduce pedestrian accidents in New York City, but which have proven controversial for some. The accident is a reminder of the dangers pedestrians face everyday when sharing New York's streets with fast-moving vehicles.

Horrific accident

The accident occurred at the intersection of Union Ave. and Grand St. on the morning of February 13. The MTA bus was turning left onto Grand St. when the driver struck a pedestrian who was in the crosswalk. The 15-year-old pedestrian was trapped under the front wheel and had to be rushed to hospital, where she was reportedly in serious condition and may have to have her leg amputated.

The bus driver stayed at the scene, but he was arrested and will face charges, including for failure to exercise due care. He was also issued a desk appearance ticket for injuring the pedestrian when she had the right-of-way.

Vision Zero plan

The charges related to the driver's failure to respect the pedestrian's right-of-way are part of the city's new Vision Zero plan, which aims to eventually reduce pedestrian accidents to zero in New York City. As part of the plan, drivers who injure a pedestrian or cyclist who has the right-of-way now face a misdemeanor charge.

The plan is not without controversy. The recent accident, for example, has opened up a divide between bus drivers and pedestrian-safety advocates. While the bus drivers' union says it supports Vision Zero, it wants more emphasis placed on educating pedestrians rather than on charging bus drivers, according to WABC News. Pedestrian advocates, on the other hand, support the tougher charges against drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, noting that bus drivers should be held to the same standards as all other motorists.

Pedestrian and mass transit accidents

Pedestrians who are struck and injured by a motor vehicle, especially by a mass transit vehicle, face severe complications in their post-accident recovery. As the above article shows, pedestrians may be injured by a driver who fails to follow the rules of the road. If the accident involves a public transport vehicle, then the injured person will have to comply with unique rules, including strict time limits, when seeking to recover compensation for their injuries.

A personal injury attorney experienced in handling cases involving pedestrian and buses should be contacted immediately following such an accident. The right attorney can help victims understand what options are open to them and whether compensation may be of assistance when recovering from an accident.