$1.75 Million Bus Accident Settlement in Queens

Raphaelson & Levine secured a $1.75 million settlement for a Queens commuter dragged by a city bus after the driver closed the door on her as she was boarding.

Dragged by a City Bus in Queens

Our client was about to board a city bus at a Queens stop when the driver, apparently failing to see her, closed the door — trapping her — and pulled away from the curb. She was dragged along the street before the bus finally stopped. The incident left her with injuries to her right foot, neck, lower back, and chest. What should have been an ordinary commute became a traumatic event that caused lasting physical harm.

She needed immediate medical treatment and faced a prolonged recovery. The injuries to her foot made it difficult to walk, while the cervical and lumbar damage caused chronic pain that affected every aspect of her daily life.

Challenging a Transit Operator's Denial

The transit authority initially disputed our client's account, questioning whether the driver had actually failed to check for boarding passengers before closing the door. Our Queens personal injury attorneys obtained bus surveillance footage and GPS data showing the exact sequence of events. The footage confirmed that our client was at the door when the driver closed it and accelerated away from the stop.

We also secured the driver's operational records and training history. Our mass transit accident lawyers retained a transit safety expert who testified that the driver violated standard operating procedures requiring a visual check of the door area before departure. The evidence left no room for the transit authority to deny fault.

A $1.75 Million Settlement for a Queens Commuter

The settlement covers our client's emergency and ongoing medical care, lost income during recovery, and pain and suffering from injuries to her foot, neck, back, and chest. It holds the transit operator accountable for a reckless departure that never should have happened.

"Bus drivers are trained to check the door area before pulling away from a stop. This driver didn't, and our client paid the price — dragged down the street with injuries to her foot, neck, and back. The evidence from the bus's own cameras made the transit authority's liability undeniable."

— Joseph Taylor, Managing Attorney at Raphaelson & Levine

If you've been injured in a bus accident or transit incident in Queens or anywhere in New York, our pedestrian and transit accident attorneys have the experience to take on transit authorities and their legal teams, and are ready to review your claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.