People rely on public transportation to get around Cherry Hill all the time, but that also carries risks. Someone could run into your bus, or worse, your bus driver could be the driver at fault. How do you sue a bus driver and their employer for damages?
You contact Rand Spear! Our public transportation accident lawyers in Cherry Hill, NJ, can help you file a claim against the driver and their employer. It’s vital you call us as soon as possible after your injury because the window for suing a government organization is far shorter than other cases.
What Causes Public Transportation Accidents?
Public transportation accidents have similar causes to other car accidents. Bus drivers also have to watch out for other drivers who act recklessly. Our car accident lawyers in Cherry Hill understand common causes of public transportation accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Driver fatigue
- Lack of maintenance
- Lack of safety equipment
- Dangerous road conditions
- Too many passengers for the vehicle
- Poorly loaded vehicles
Regardless of the cause, victims of public transportation accidents have legal remedies to get compensation for their injuries. To access them, call Rand Spear. We’ll explain your legal options and how we can help you with your public transportation case.
What Should I Do After a Public Transportation Accident?
If you’re in one, you’re likely a passenger. First, call 911 to summon medical help for anyone who is injured. Then, stay at the scene until the police arrive. While you’re waiting, take photos of the crash scene, the license plates of the vehicles, the vehicles, the weather, and any injuries you sustained.
The police may wish to interview you as a witness. Give an accurate report without embellishment so your lawyer can get the report later. After you’re released from the scene, see a doctor within 24 hours and tell them you’ve been in an accident.
After that, it’s time to call our public transportation accident attorneys in Cherry Hill. You’ll want to do this before you speak to any insurance adjusters or private investigators. The insurers are not on your side, even if you’re an innocent passenger in these accidents.
Cherry Hill Public Transportation Accident Lawyer Near Me (215) 985-2424
Insurance and Public Transportation Companies
Bus companies must carry medical expense benefits (MEB) coverage to operate. It’s the equivalent of PIP coverage for other drivers. This covers injuries when a driver or the transport company is liable for an accident. The usual maximum limit per passenger is $250,000. However, smaller public transport vehicles like limos, school buses, and hotel shuttles are exempt from this requirement.
It’s intended to cover reasonable medical costs, but it does not cover lost wages, pain and suffering, or any other damages unless you’ve suffered permanent injury. A permanent injury is one that will never completely heal to full function even with current medical technology.
If you have suffered a permanent injury because of your public transport accident, you need to speak to our Cherry Hill public transportation accident lawyers right away. People with permanent injuries after accidents have more access to compensation than what MEB coverage provides.
What If I’m Injured and Not Riding Public Transportation?
If you’re not in a public transportation vehicle and you get injured, your case is more straightforward. You can file a claim under your PIP coverage, or sue for negligence if you’ve received permanent injuries, without worry about which damages you can receive.
The Superior Court of New Jersey has ruled that the PIP coverage that some transportation companies must carry (buses especially) doesn’t limit other drivers from suing for non-economic damages if they’re struck by a bus.
What Compensation Can I Ask for in My Lawsuit?
The insurance rules and limitations for suing public entities make it hard to know how much your case is worth without the help of a Cherry Hill public transportation accident attorney. Most scenarios allow you to sue for medical expenses if you win, but you could also receive compensation for:
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death (if you lost a loved one in an accident)
Our goal is to get you the most money possible for your accident, no matter what the limitations are. You deserve it. You put your faith in the ability of public transport to keep you safe and they failed. So it’s our turn to make them pay you.
Governments and the Statute of Limitations
If an everyday driver caused your public transportation accident, you have the normal deadline to sue them. However, companies run by public entities like NJ Transit or a school district have a very strict limit for starting cases against them.
Where you have years in a normal accident, you have 90 days to notify the government of a lawsuit before you breach the statute of limitations. This is a time limit for starting lawsuits before the court denies you a chance for trial. While it protects everyone’s right to due process and a speedy trial, governments put up additional barriers that can make it harder to win because of tight deadlines.
Many public transportation companies are run by city or county governments as a service to citizens. While useful, this ownership also makes it much harder to win lawsuits against them. But it’s not impossible. Rand Spear will show you how.
Call Rand Spear for a Free Consultation About Your Public Transportation Accident
Whether it was a road vehicle, a train, or even a plane, Rand Spear knows how to handle public transportation accidents. Find out your legal options and how much your case could be worth by calling us for a free consultation.
Our lawyers will listen to your story and explain if you have a case and how we can help you win it. You do not have to worry about paying us until you hire us and we help you win compensation for your case. If you lose and get nothing, you’ll owe us nothing. That’s our guarantee to you.
To get started, send us an email through our contact page or call us directly to schedule an appointment.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
