Philadelphia Public Transportation Accident Attorney
The public transportation provider and commuter rail for the greater Philadelphia region is the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). In 2012 alone, some 339 million trips were taken on SEPTA’s buses, subways, commuter trains, and trolleys, helping to transport millions of people daily. The frequency that one experiences a public -transportation crash is relatively minimal in comparison to its use.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007 approximately 12,000 people were injured in bus related crashes with 37 fatalities. While bus accidents do not happen often, the sheer size of the vehicle involved makes bus accidents particularly devastating to passengers, pedestrians, and commuter vehicles on the road. If you or a loved one have recently been injured in a public transportation accident, then a Philadelphia public transportation accident attorney at Rosenbaum & Associates may be able to help you recover compensation for the serious injuries you sustained.
SEPTA: Know Your Rights
Similar to passenger vehicle accidents, bus accidents tend to encompass one or more contributing factors such as, distracted driving, adverse weather conditions, limited experience or training, recklessness and poor vehicle maintenance. Pennsylvania recognizes that driving a bus requires special skills, advanced driving abilities, and maneuvering techniques resulting in special licensing. Buses, trolleys and trains are considered “common carriers” under the law and therefore, the driver and the company they professionally drive for are in a position where they owe their passengers a heightened duty of care. However, these vehicles are also provided some protection under the law. For example, if a bus jerks or has a sudden stop throwing a passenger to the ground and causing injury, they are not automatically liable. Under Pennsylvania law there is the “jerk and jolt” doctrine, which states that unless you can prove a specific act of negligence the mere fact that the bus jerked causing injury is not enough to prove a claim.
Contact Our Philadelphia Public Transportation Accident Lawyer
Our Philadelphia accident lawyers have handled thousands of bus and trolley accident and know how to prove you are entitle to recovery. Further, since SEPTA is a state agency they are granted some immunity, which provides additional limitations against accident claims. That is why it is important to retain a Philadelphia public transportation accident attorney who is experienced in handling SEPTA claims. If you were an injured pedestrian recently struck by a bus, injured while riding as a passenger, or were in a vehicle that was hit by a bus, the law offices of Rosenbaum and Associates may be able to assist you in receiving compensation for the unexpected medical bills, long-term permanent injuries, lost wages, and the daunting uphill legal battle.
If you or a loved one have recently been injured in a public transportation accident, act quickly to protect your rights and determine whether you have grounds for a case. Contact the Philadelphia injury attorneys at Rosenbaum & Associates for questions or a free case evaluation. Contact us online or call 1 800 7 LEGAL 7.