Young Child Injured in Monsey School Bus Accident After Falling From Back of Moving School Bus Near 70 Main Street
MONSEY, NEW YORK (January 16, 2026) – A 7-year-old child was seriously injured in a Monsey school bus accident after falling from the moving school bus near 70 Main Street.
Rockland County officials are saying that the accident took place around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The school bus was in motion and heading down the road near Main Street when a child unintentionally activated the rear door release.
That child fell from the back of the school bus and hit the roadway. Thankfully, a vehicle traveling behind the school bus was able to slow down in time to avoid running the child over.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. The child was transported to Westchester County Medical Center.
An investigation into the Monsey school bus accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Rockland County School Bus Accidents
Schools have a legal obligation to protect children from foreseeable sources of harm. To that end, schools must adequately supervise students at all times and enforce all rules and regulations necessary for their protection. If school bus drivers or other faculty members failed to properly supervise students in their care, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. In particular, there are several steps that school districts should take to prevent children from falling out of moving school buses.
- Bus Design: Schools should install fail-safe door interlocks that prevent the back of the school bus door from being moved unless it is properly unlatched. If small children are using the bus, these may need to be upgraded to tamper-resistant interlock systems.
- Monitoring: School bus drivers should have access to interior cameras that allow them to monitor the back doors and seating rows. They should also immediately respond to any situation where a child leaves their seat.
- Training: School bus drivers should be trained to recognize student behavior that could potentially lead to door tampering. If a door is opened, bus drivers should bring the vehicle to a safe stop.
- Audits: The school buses that transport children should be routinely inspected and well maintained. Any buses that have compromised door locking mechanisms should be taken out of circulation until they are fixed.
School districts in New York have faced numerous lawsuits after children were injured due to inadequate supervision. Consider, for example, Brandy B. v Eden Cent. School Dist., 15 NY3d 297, 302. The court held, “It is well-settled that schools have a duty to adequately supervise their students, and will be held liable for foreseeable injuries proximately related to the absence of adequate supervision.” The parents of any child injured in a school bus accident are able to seek some measure of accountability through a personal injury claim.
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Steps to Take After Rockland County School Bus Accidents
Many children are injured in school bus accidents every year. According to Accident Analysis and Prevention, an estimated 32 children are killed and another 8600 are injured every year in school bus accidents across the United States. These incidents have resulted in medical costs of around 21 million annually. Several actions should be taken after any child is injured in a school bus accident.
- Medical Evaluation: Any child injured in a school bus accident should receive a thorough medical evaluation. Many of the injuries associated with an accident will not be immediately obvious and will only present themselves after some time has passed.
- Ongoing Treatment: Accident victims should continue to receive any follow-up care ordered by their doctor. Failing to seek follow-up care after a collision can cause medical and legal complications down the road.
- Evidence Preservation: All of the evidence associated with the accident should be collected and reviewed. This will include maintenance records for the bus involved. It should also include any incident reports involving buses throughout the school district.
- Legal Review: The family of any children injured in a school bus accident should seek the guidance of a skilled New York bus accident attorney. An attorney can take steps to secure crucial pieces of evidence and hold all liable parties accountable for their actions.
The vast majority of accidents where children are injured on school grounds or school property are preventable. They tend to involve situations where clear safety lapses are taking place. This could involve inadequate supervision. It may also involve situations where schools failed to remedy defective equipment. It is important for parents to understand that they do have legal rights. The parents of any child injured due to the negligent actions of a bus driver or school district are able to seek some measure of accountability and justice through a personal injury claim.
Investigating Rockland County School Bus Accidents
We at Richmond Vona extend our best wishes to the victim of this Monsey school bus accident and their parents. It is our sincere hope that the child will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar incidents can be prevented in the future. Several questions remain unanswered. What door safety measures were in place on the school bus? Was the school bus driver paying attention to the students entrusted to their care?
Has your child been injured in a Rockland County school bus accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of bus accident attorneys is here to assist you in any way that we can. We are committed to helping families get the medical and financial support that they need to move forward with their lives. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You are always welcome to reach out to our office anytime at 716-500-5678.
