NYC Bus Accident Victim Awarded $72.5 Million in Damages

A Florida woman who was struck and dragged by a New York City bus in 2017 has been awarded $72.5 million in her lawsuit against the citys transit agency. The woman, Aurora Beauchamp, was crossing a street in a crosswalk when she was hit by a bus making a right turn and dragged under it for about 20 feet. She sustained severe pelvis injuries and her left leg was left paralyzed.

A Florida woman who was struck and dragged by a New York City bus and left partially paralyzed has been awarded $72.5 million in her lawsuit against the city's transit agency. A city jury found in favor of Aurora Beauchamp, now 68, who was hit by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus on Manhattan's Lower East Side in March 2017.

The Accident

Beauchamp was crossing a street in a crosswalk when she was struck by a bus making a right turn and dragged under it for about 20 feet (6 meters). Beauchamp, who grew up near the accident scene and now lives in Bradenton, Florida, had severe pelvis injuries and her left leg was left paralyzed. She told the New York Post on Saturday that she was on her way to her mother's apartment to discuss her uterine cancer diagnosis when she was struck.

The Verdict

A six-person jury deliberated less than three hours before reaching its verdict on February 22. Beauchamp's lawyers said the verdict amount appears to be one of the largest ever awarded in an MTA bus accident case. The MTA intends to appeal, spokesperson Tim Minton told WPIX-TV, which first reported the judgment. "This is another indication of how excessive awards in personal injury litigation impact funding that otherwise could be available to deliver transit service," he said.

The Driver

The driver of the bus that struck Beauchamp pleaded guilty to failing to yield to a pedestrian, the Post reported.

The $72.5 million verdict in favor of Aurora Beauchamp is a significant development in personal injury litigation involving public transportation accidents. The outcome of this case highlights the importance of pedestrian safety and the potential consequences for transit agencies when accidents occur.