Bus drivers in Yonkers face constant physical demands and road hazards that put them at risk for serious injuries. Whether you drive for a private company, the MTA, or a school district, long hours behind the wheel take a toll on your body. Back pain, shoulder injuries, and collision-related trauma are just a few of the challenges bus drivers deal with on the job.
When you’re hurt while driving a bus, you have the right to Workers’ Compensation benefits in New York. The insurance company has a legal team; why don‘t you?
At O’Connor Law, our bus drivers Workers’ Compensation lawyer in Yonkers can help you file claims, fight insurance company denials, and recover the wage replacement and medical care they’ve earned.
If you’ve been injured on the job, our Yonkers Workers’ Compensation lawyer can explain your rights and guide you through the claims process. We speak your language—not legal jargon—and we understand the risks you face every shift. Everyday lawyers for everyday people—that’s who we are.
Common Injuries Bus Drivers Experience in Yonkers
Driving a bus may not look dangerous to passengers, but the physical demands add up quickly. Spending eight to 12 hours in the driver’s seat, navigating traffic, and helping passengers creates conditions for both sudden injuries and gradual wear on your body. The most common problems we see affect the back, shoulders, and knees.
Back injuries are extremely common among bus drivers. Sitting in the same position for hours, with constant road vibration, strains your spine.
Making sudden stops, dealing with aggressive drivers, and twisting to check mirrors or assist passengers only makes it worse. Many bus drivers develop herniated discs or chronic back pain that requires surgery.
Our Yonkers bus drivers Workers’ Compensation attorneys have seen:
- Shoulder injuries: Rotator cuff tears and shoulder strains from steering, especially when making tight turns or parking
- Knee injuries: ACL tears, meniscus damage, and chronic pain from using pedals repeatedly throughout long shifts
- Collision injuries: Whiplash, broken bones, and soft tissue damage from accidents on the road
- Slip and fall injuries: Injuries from wet steps, icy conditions, or tripping while boarding or exiting the bus
- Assault injuries: Injuries from violent passengers or confrontations that occur while doing your job
- Repetitive strain injuries: Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and other injuries from gripping the wheel and operating controls
Understanding Workers’ Compensation for Bus Drivers in Yonkers
New York’s Workers’ Compensation system covers bus drivers who are injured on the job, but the claims process can be complicated. The type of benefits you receive depends on how serious your injury is and how long you’re unable to work.
Medical benefits cover all approved treatment for your work-related injury. This includes doctor visits, physical therapy, prescriptions, diagnostic tests, and surgery if necessary.
You should never pay out of pocket for pre-approved medical care. The Workers’ Compensation Board authorizes treatment, and the insurance carrier must pay for it.
Wage replacement benefits pay up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you’re unable to work. Your average weekly wage is calculated based on your earnings during the 52 weeks before your injury. If you’re a full-time bus driver earning overtime or working multiple routes, that income should be included.
Permanent Injuries
For permanent injuries to your arms, legs, shoulders, or knees, you may also qualify for Schedule Loss of Use awards—one-time payments based on the percentage of function you’ve permanently lost.
Yonkers Bus Drivers Lawyer Near Me (914) 595-4502
Why Insurance Companies Dispute Bus Driver Claims
Workers’ Compensation insurance carriers look for any reason to deny or reduce benefits for bus drivers. They handle thousands of claims each year, and their goal is to pay out as little as possible. Bus drivers face specific challenges because many injuries develop gradually rather than from a single accident.
One common tactic is arguing that your injury isn’t work-related. If you’ve been driving a bus for years and develop chronic back pain, the carrier may claim it’s from aging or a pre-existing condition—not from your job. They may also point to gaps in your medical records or delayed reporting as evidence that the injury didn’t happen at work.
Insurance companies also use Independent Medical Examinations (IME) to dispute your doctor’s findings. An IME doctor is chosen and paid for by the insurance company, and despite the name “independent,” these doctors often minimize injuries.
How O’Connor Law Helps Injured Bus Drivers
At O’Connor Law, we’ve been helping injured workers in New York for 15 years. With 35 years of combined experience and over $25 million in non-medical benefits secured annually for our clients, we know how to fight for the compensation you’ve earned.
Our founding attorney has prior experience working for insurance carriers in Workers’ Compensation cases. We know the tactics they use because we’ve seen them from the inside, and we know how to counter their arguments.
Whether it’s fighting a denied claim, disputing an unfair IME report, or negotiating a fair Schedule Loss of Use award, we handle every step of the process.
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Steps Bus Drivers Should Take After a Workplace Injury
The actions you take immediately after getting hurt can make or break your Workers’ Compensation claim. Insurance carriers look for any reason to deny benefits, so protecting your rights from day one is critical. First, report your injury to your supervisor or dispatcher in writing as soon as possible—within 30 days at the latest.
Second, seek medical attention right away. Some serious injuries don’t show symptoms immediately, and delaying treatment gives the insurance carrier grounds to argue that the injury wasn’t serious or wasn’t work-related. When you see the doctor, explain that the injury happened while you were working and describe your job duties as a bus driver.
Third, follow your doctor’s treatment plan exactly. If your doctor refers you to physical therapy, go to every appointment. If they prescribe medication, take it as directed. Insurance companies review your medical records, looking for gaps in treatment, and they’ll use missed appointments as evidence that you’re not really injured.
Get Help From a Yonkers Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Bus Drivers Today
If you’ve been injured while driving a bus in Yonkers, don‘t try to handle your Workers‘ Compensation claim alone. At O’Connor Law, we help bus drivers recover the benefits they’ve earned. We work on contingency, which means we only get paid if you do. If the Workers’ Compensation judge doesn’t rule in your favor, you don’t pay us.
We’re a woman-owned firm that serves thousands of injured workers across New York. With offices in Larchmont and the Bronx, we’re close to Yonkers and ready to meet with you in person, by Zoom, or by phone—whatever works for your schedule. Our firm uses an advanced case management system and a mobile app that gives you real-time updates on your case.
Contact O’Connor Law for a free consultation with our Yonkers bus drivers Workers’ Compensation attorneys. We’ll explain your rights, answer your questions, and fight to get you the medical care and wage replacement you need.
