$775,000 Access-A-Ride Accident Settlement in the Bronx

Access-A-Ride exists to provide safe transportation for people with disabilities. But when a rear-end collision slammed into the bus our client was riding, the safety she depended on wasn't enough to prevent serious spinal injuries.

Access-A-Ride Passenger Rear-Ended in the Bronx

Our client, who relies on the city's Access-A-Ride program for transportation due to mobility limitations, was seated in the paratransit vehicle when a car rear-ended the bus at a Bronx intersection. The impact jolted the bus forward, throwing our client against her seatbelt and the seat in front of her. The whiplash forces caused cervical disc herniations at C4-C5 and C5-C6, along with lumbar disc bulges that produced radiating pain into both legs.

For a client already dealing with physical limitations that required paratransit services, the additional spinal injuries were devastating. Conservative treatment provided minimal relief, and our client ultimately required cervical epidural injections and a lumbar microdiscectomy to address the nerve compression.

Navigating Municipal Transit Claims in Bronx County

Claims involving Access-A-Ride vehicles carry additional procedural requirements because the service is operated under contract with the City of New York. Our attorneys filed the required Notice of Claim within the statutory timeframe and navigated the city's pre-litigation hearing process while simultaneously pursuing the at-fault driver's insurance carrier.

The rear-ending driver's carrier attempted to argue that our client's pre-existing conditions — the same conditions that required Access-A-Ride in the first place — were responsible for her symptoms. Our attorneys obtained our client's pre-accident medical records, which documented stable conditions with no active spinal complaints before the collision. The contrast between pre- and post-accident imaging was decisive.

"The insurance company tried to blame our client's pre-existing conditions for injuries that didn't exist before the collision. Her pre-accident records showed stable health. Her post-accident MRIs showed herniated discs. The timeline was irrefutable." — Andrew Levine, Founding Partner

$775,000 Settlement for a Bronx Access-A-Ride Accident

This $775,000 settlement covers cervical injections, lumbar microdiscectomy, ongoing pain management, lost independence, and the compounding effect of spinal injuries on a client who already faced mobility challenges. It holds the at-fault driver accountable and ensures our client can access the care she needs going forward.

If you were injured as a passenger in an Access-A-Ride bus, city bus, or other municipal transit vehicle, our transit accident attorneys have experience with the unique procedural requirements of claims against the city, and are ready to review your case.