The accident occurred on June 15, 2009 when Alfreda Kusz was 57 years old. She was crossing Jackson Avenue when the bus, driven by Jose Mateo, turned off of 23rd St. Ms. Kusz's lawyer claims she had obeyed all traffic rules. The judge and jury agreed with his evidence.
Ms. Kusz's right arm and right leg below the knee had to be amputated after the damage. She had also lost vision in her right eye. The Queens Supreme Court ordered the city to pay the $20 million in installments over the course of a 24-year period.
The MTA plans to appeal, but did not comment further. Their appeal will be based on the fact that, although they concede the traffic signals were in Ms. Kusz's favor, it is not clear that she was in the crosswalk, which could account for Mr. Mateo not having seen her prior to the accident. The judge in this case dismissed the claim because he believed the right of way was clear in this case.
As a practicing medical malpractice, wrongful death, and personal injury attorney in New York, I deal with terrible accidents like this every day. If you have experienced related problems, I want you to pick up the phone and call me. I can help. If you would like more information about how medical malpractice and accident cases work in the state of New York, I encourage you to explore my educational website. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at [email protected] to answer your questions. That's what I do every day. I welcome your call.