When a school bus is involved in a New York auto accident, disaster can result if the bus was filled with children.  The same could be said for any collision that involves a large fuel tanker.  While it's fortunate that no one was killed and that no oil leaked as a result of a collision between an empty school bus and an oil tanker on Long Island yesterday, the driver of the bus was critically injured after the massive collision. 

According to reports, the latest Long Island auto accident occurred Monday at approximately 6:45 a.m. as Gabino Villegas, 48, was pulling an oil tanker carrying 5,700 pounds of fuel out of a driveway and onto Sunrise Highway in Amityville, Long Island.  As he did so, a school bus being driven by 56-year-old Piters Calixte collided with the tanker, crushing the front of the bus and leading to the necessity for rescue workers to extract the bus driver from the vehicle and airlift him to a nearby hospital.  He was listed in critical condition, and the driver of the tanker was unharmed.  Thankfully, there were no children on the bus and no oil leaked from the big rig.

New York Car Accident Statistics

First and foremost, we'd like to offer our hope that the man who was injured in this Long Island auto accident is able to overcome his injuries and to get back into his routine at some point.  In addition, this crash will now become part of the overall statistics regarding New York traffic accidents.  Every year, more than 187,000 people are injured and 1,200 people are killed in these occurrences, and more than 12,000 New York trucking accidents also take place on an annual basis.

New York Personal Injury Lawyers

While more facts would need to be revealed to definitively assign fault in this Long Island traffic accident, the situation could result in the filing of a New York personal injury lawsuit by the bus driver if it turns out that the tanker pulled out in front of the bus that had the right-of-way.  If that's the case and a successful lawsuit is filed, the bus driver could recover damages that compensate him for his medical costs, lost income and pain and suffering.

If you or someone you love has been injured or worse in a New York car accident, you need to seek the help of New York personal injury lawyers who understand the technicalities and nuances involved with holding all types of defendants accountable.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.