On March 10, 2026, a 31-year-old pedestrian was seriously injured after being struck by a school bus at the intersection of South Summit Avenue and West Pleasantview Avenue in Hackensack, New Jersey. According to Hackensack emergency reports, the woman was crossing within a marked crosswalk when she was hit. The bus was carrying students at the time, and the victim was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.
Reports also stated that the pedestrian became pinned underneath the bus, forcing emergency responders to use specialized equipment to lift the vehicle. Authorities said the driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with the investigation. The incident remains under investigation by the Hackensack Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, which stated there was no indication of criminality at that stage.
For families in Hackensack, Teaneck, Paramus, and throughout Bergen County, a crash like this raises critical questions about how it happened, who may be legally responsible, and what rights an injured person may have under New Jersey laws. Unlike a typical car accident, a school bus injury claim may involve a public school district, a private transportation company, a contracted operator, or another public entity, making these cases much more complex than an average car crash.
Why New Jersey School Bus Accident Cases Are Complex
When a pedestrian is struck by a school bus, the legal investigation often goes far beyond the initial crash report. That is one reason contacting an experienced New Jersey school bus accident lawyer or New Jersey pedestrian accident attorney early can make a meaningful difference. These cases may require examining:
- Driver training programs
- Route assignments
- Hiring records
- Bus company contracts
- Onboard camera footage
- Witness statements
- Maintenance records
- Surveillance footage of the accident scene
School bus cases are rarely only about the moment of impact; they’re focused on what happened before the crash, whether proper precautions were taken, if safety procedures were followed, and whether the bus operator or another party created an avoidable, negligent risk.
Protection for Pedestrians Under New Jersey Law
Under New Jersey law, N.J.S.A. 39:4-36, drivers must stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk when the pedestrian is on, or within one lane of, the half of the roadway that the vehicle is driving or turning onto. In a case like this one in Hackensack, New Jersey, where the pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk, that law becomes especially important and protective of the pedestrian’s rights.
New Jersey also has strict rules involving school buses. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission states that under law 39:4-128.1, motorists approaching a school bus with flashing red lights must stop at least 25 feet away and cannot pass the bus while the stop arm is extended. New Jersey State law also requires bus drivers to follow strict protocol while children are getting on or off and until they reach a place of safety, specifically under N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.1.
Even when there is no criminal charge, that does not mean there was no negligence, and a civil injury claim could still exist. The issue is whether someone failed to use reasonable care and whether that failure caused serious injuries, damages, and losses.
New Jersey’s 90-day Notice Period
One of the most important things injured families need to understand after a New Jersey school bus accident is that a 90-day notice period may apply.
If the claim involves a public entity or public employee, the New Jersey Tort Claims Act (N.J.S.A. 59:1-1 et seq.) may require a formal notice of claim to be filed within 90 days of the date of the incident. Missing that deadline can prevent an injured person from pursuing an important avenue of compensation, and it becomes extremely difficult to recover the full amount of damages available. The statute also states that a lawsuit usually cannot be filed until six months after the notice is received, while in a case not involving a public entity or public employee, the filing limit is generally two years.
This is one of the main reasons a Hackensack school bus pedestrian accident can become complicated so quickly. After a serious injury, most families are focused on hospital care, surgery, rehabilitation, missed work, and the overall shock of the accident. At the same time, evidence can disappear quickly as the roadway reopens, and conditions change, while legal deadlines begin running almost immediately. In a Bergen County school bus case, identifying the public entities, contractors, or any other parties’ involvement as soon as possible makes a major difference in the amount of compensation available to be recovered.
Why Hire a Bergen County School Bus or Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
After a school bus pedestrian accident like this in Hackensack, NJ, the legal process is usually the last thing an injured person wants to deal with. The immediate focus is often medical treatment, pain management, and whether the person will be able to return to work, walk normally again, or resume daily life. In the most severe cases, families may also be left dealing with funeral expenses and wrongful death issues while still trying to understand how the tragedy happened.
In catastrophic injury cases, families often need more than medical care alone. They also need experienced legal guidance, immediate investigation, and someone to protect their interests while they focus on healing. That is where an experienced Bergen County school bus accident attorney or New Jersey pedestrian accident lawyer can make a real difference.
Experience from Leading Bus, Truck, and School Bus Accident Attorney, Marc C. Saperstein, Esq.
Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., Founding Partner Marc C. Saperstein, Esq., is licensed in both New Jersey and New York state and has handled some of the most serious and high-profile bus crash cases in the country. He has represented thousands of victims affected by school bus, truck, or commercial vehicle accidents, including a collision that injured several students in the 2018 Paramus school bus crash on Route 80 in Mount Olive, New Jersey.
On the subject of the recent Hackensack accident, Marc Saperstein said, “It’s important to understand that school bus drivers in New Jersey are trained professionals who are held to a higher legal and safety standard than other bus drivers.” Saperstein further said, “These types of crashes are not just accidents; they are caused by negligence, and those victims who suffered injuries, lost wages, and now have medical bills should reach out to an experienced New Jersey school bus accident attorney as soon as possible to start building their case.”
Marc is a nationally recognized Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer, and in 2022 he received the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service from the New Jersey Association for Justice, the organization’s highest honor. In 2024, he was awarded the Martindale-Hubbell Award for the highest possible Preeminent Peer-Reviewed AV Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards, continuing his reputation as one of New Jersey’s most trusted and respected personal injury attorneys.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Helps After a School Bus or Pedestrian Accident
Cases involving school buses, pedestrians, and catastrophic injuries on roads in Bergen County and across New Jersey, including Route 4, Route 17, Interstate 80, Interstate 95, the New Jersey Turnpike, and the Garden State Parkway, need to be taken seriously from the start. These claims may involve public entities, multiple defendants, accident reconstruction, medical experts, and strict notice requirements. Having an experienced and proven New Jersey pedestrian or bus accident attorney involved as early as possible can make a major difference in how the case moves forward and how much compensation is available.
Marc Saperstein, Esq., and the experienced legal team at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. have years of experience investigating bus crashes and fighting for the justice injured clients and their families deserve. For more than 40 years, the firm’s top NJ injury attorneys have represented injured people and families in New Jersey and New York, helping more than 40,000 clients and recovering over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements.
An experienced New Jersey bus accident attorney, New Jersey school bus accident lawyer, or New Jersey pedestrian accident attorney does more than file paperwork. A strong attorney can investigate liability, preserve evidence, identify whether a school district or public entity is involved, handle the 90-day notice issue, deal with insurers, calculate full damages, and build a case for the compensation an injured person or family deserves for suffering others negligent actions. Including compensation for:
- emergency room and hospital bills
- surgeries and follow-up care
- physical therapy and rehabilitation
- future medical treatment
- Past, present, and future lost wages
- pain and suffering
- permanent disability or disfigurement
- emotional distress
- wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Contact Our NJ Pedestrian School Bus Accident Lawyers for Help
The attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. in New Jersey and New York are here to guide you through the process, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today or visit our New Jersey school bus accident attorney or pedestrian accdient page to schedule a free consultation.
Clients seeking experienced personal injury lawyers near Teaneck, Newark, Colonia, Pennington, Jersey City, Hackensack, Princeton, Bergen County, Morris County, Passaic County, Essex County, Union County, or anywhere in the New Jersey or New York City area can contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. at 1-800-LAW-2000 or via email at info@dsslaw.com. Our firm offers free, confidential, and no-obligation, consultations or second opinions, and has offices throughout New Jersey and New York City. We take cases on a contingency basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless the firm wins their case. Contact us today to get started.
To speak with Marc Saperstein Esq., for a free, no-obligation, consultation or second opinion, he can be contacted at (800) 529-2000 or at Marc.Saperstein@dsslaw.com to schedule a meeting.
