Cheektowaga, NY (Oct. 19, 2026) – Multiple students on a school bus were injured Monday afternoon in an accident involving a Hyundai and the bus, Cheektowaga Police said.
Police responded to the area of Pine Ridge Road and Pinewood Terrace just before 3 p.m. The students’ injuries were non-life-threatening, according to police. Some of the students were taken to Golisano Children’s Hospital.
The front of the bus was damaged, and the bus was towed from the scene. The Cheektowaga Police Accident Investigation Unit responded and conducted an investigation.
Police have not said what caused the accident. This is a developing story. Details may change as more information is released.
What to Do After a School Bus Accident in Erie County
New York gives anyone hurt in a car or bus crash only 30 days to send written notice to their no-fault insurer, and evidence at a crash scene disappears faster than that. For families whose children were on the bus, a few early steps protect both the children and the claim:
- Have every child checked by a doctor, even if they seem fine, and report symptoms that appear later, such as headaches or neck pain.
- Ask Cheektowaga Police for the crash report number and the contact for the Accident Investigation Unit.
- Ask the school district or bus company how to report the injury, and keep written copies of anything it sends.
- Keep medical records, bills, and notes on missed school and work.
- Do not give a recorded statement or sign a release for an insurance company without advice.
Legal Next Steps After a School Bus Accident in New York
A school bus crash involves more parties than most, and the deadlines differ for children and for parents:
- Preserve the evidence that disappears first. Buses often carry onboard cameras and data recorders, and a preservation letter asks the owner, the Hyundai’s owner, and others to keep that footage and data.
- Get the official crash report. The Cheektowaga Police report and any findings from the Accident Investigation Unit show what each driver and witness said.
- Identify every policy and responsible party. That can include the Hyundai’s driver and owner, the school district or the contractor that runs the bus, and a maintenance provider, depending on what the evidence shows.
- Calendar the government notice deadline. If a public school district or another public entity is responsible, New York requires a notice of claim within 90 days (Gen. Mun. Law § 50-e). For a crash on October 19, 2026, that is January 17, 2027. Missing it can end a claim before it starts.
- Document the damages and track the filing deadlines. The general three-year injury deadline is October 19, 2029 (CPLR § 214), and for a child it generally does not begin until the child turns 18 (CPLR § 208). A parent’s own claim, such as for medical bills, follows the standard schedule.
Fault is still open. For motor vehicle injury claims covered by Insurance Law Article 51, CPLR § 1411(b) bars recovery when a claimant’s fault equals or exceeds the defendants’ combined fault, and a student riding as a passenger does not control how either vehicle is driven.
Questions About a School Bus Accident Claim in Erie County? Talk to Stanley Law
When a child is hurt on a school bus, parents often worry first about cost and about taking on a school district or a bus company. Stanley Law Offices works on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless we recover for your family.
Joe Stanley, who founded the firm in 1982, is Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy, and our attorneys bring more than 90 years of combined legal experience. Learn more about our Upstate NY personal injury lawyers and how we handle crashes that involve buses and other large vehicles.
From the first call, we preserve the evidence, identify the responsible parties and policies, track the notice deadlines, and handle the insurers so parents can focus on their children. We also offer virtual consultations.
Parents and families in Erie County trying to decide who to trust with a child’s injury claim can compare Stanley Law Offices on facts:
- Serving Upstate New York families for 45+ years
- Joe Stanley, Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by the American Board of Trial Advocacy
- Super Lawyers recognition for 18+ consecutive years
- 4.7-star rating across 900+ verified reviews
- Offices in Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, Watertown, Oneonta, and Montrose, PA
- Available 24/7
- No recovery, no fee
Our Rochester office at 510 Clinton Square, Rochester, NY 14604 is the closest to Cheektowaga. Call 888-997-3889, visit the office, or send us the details through our contact form, and we will call you back.
