Have you been injured in an accident involving a bus or other public transportation vehicle in the greater Phoenix area? If so, you could be entitled to compensation for the medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering you’re dealing with. Valley Injury Team wants to help you get it. Our Phoenix injury attorneys know how to hold government entities responsible for accidents they cause, and we’re ready to put this insight to work for you. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free consultation with a Phoenix bus and public transportation accident lawyer, and let us get to work on your case at no upfront cost to you.
Perhaps the biggest challenge in a bus or public transportation accident claim is dealing with government entities. Valley Metro is the regional agency that operates public buses and light rail systems in the Phoenix metro area. Not only do government agencies have substantial resources to fight your claim, but there are also certain restrictions in place when it comes to suing them. For instance, state law gives you just 180 days in which to file your claim against a public entity, rather than the usual two years you’d have to file suit against a private individual. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your chance to recover compensation.
The shortened timeline of many bus and public transportation accident cases creates other challenges. You may not know the full extent of your injuries and their long-term effects within 180 days, making it difficult to anticipate how much money you’ll need to pay for treatment in the future. Moreover, 180 days does not give you much time in which to gather evidence and build a case. Without help from a capable law firm, you might miss your window to file a claim or lack sufficient evidence to prove your case.
A further complication is that Valley Metro contracts with private companies to provide certain services. Depending on the circumstances, you could have a claim against one of these businesses instead of or in addition to the regional agency. Without the help of an experienced attorney, you might not know who’s responsible for your injuries or how to get them to pay you fairly.
Several different entities could be liable for your injuries, including the following.
Government Entities
A government entity may be liable for a bus crash or public transportation accident if it or its employees acted negligently. For example, if Valley Metro doesn’t properly maintain its buses or other vehicles, critical parts might break or malfunction and cause a crash. Along similar lines, a government agency may be liable for the actions of a negligent employee, such as a bus driver who changes lanes without checking their blind spot or a light rail operator who slams on the brakes and causes passengers to fall.
Subcontractors
Valley Metro subcontracts many of its operations to private businesses, who are, in turn, responsible for tasks such as hiring and supervising staff, delivering transit operations, and managing maintenance on their vehicle fleet. Failure to perform these tasks responsibly could make one of these subcontractors liable in the event of an accident.
Drivers/Passengers
Many bus and public transportation accidents are often the fault of other drivers or passengers who are careless or otherwise negligent. A distracted driver might run a stop sign or red light and collide with a bus moving through the intersection. Alternatively, a careless or inconsiderate passenger might shove someone else on the train, causing them to fall and hit their head.
Bus and Vehicle Manufacturers
Mechanical defects or design flaws can cause a bus or public transportation accident. If a bus’s brakes are defective, for example, the driver might be unable to stop their vehicle in time to avoid a collision with another car nearby. Malfunctioning doors, brakes, or other components of a light rail train can lead to catastrophic malfunctions that may injure passengers or bystanders.
Bus collisions, light rail crashes, and other public transportation accidents can cause devastating injuries, including:
Taking the following steps after a public transportation accident in Phoenix can help you protect your rights to fair compensation:
Call 911 to report the accident – A police accident report is a vital piece of evidence after a bus crash or other public transportation accident. Before you leave to seek medical treatment, make sure to notify local law enforcement so they can investigate the accident and file a report. Your lawyer can get a copy of the report later to support your personal injury claim.
Seek medical treatment and follow your doctor’s orders – Once you report the accident, seek medical treatment immediately. Even if you don’t see any obvious injuries, you may have internal injuries, and these can be life-threatening if you don’t treat them right away. Furthermore, you need proof of your injuries for your claim, and telling your doctor about your injuries creates a paper trail you can use later.
Write down what happened and your daily symptoms – As soon as possible, write down everything you remember about the accident and the moments leading up to it. If your injuries prevent you from writing down what you remember, tell a trusted friend or family member so they can write it down for you. It’s also a good idea to start a daily diary or journal noting your pain levels and how your injuries affect your daily activities. You can use your journal to seek compensation for your pain and suffering from the accident.
Hire a lawyer – You have a much shorter window to take legal action after a public transportation accident than in most personal injury cases. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the sooner they can get started building your claim—and the sooner you could potentially recover compensation.
Our motor vehicle accident lawyers are equipped to help you seek maximum compensation for your injuries, including money for:
Your current and future medical expenses related to the accident
Lost income while you heal from your injuries
Reduced earning capacity due to an injury or disability
Diminished quality of life due to an injury or disability
Your pain and suffering due to your injuries
The cost to repair or replace your damaged personal property
The deadline to sue a government agency after a public transportation accident is 180 days. However, the statute of limitations to sue non-public entities is two years from the accident date. A public transportation injury lawyer can review your case and determine the deadline that applies to it.
Valley Injury Team knows what’s at stake after a public transportation accident. We’re ready to defend your rights while you recuperate and rebuild your life. Call us today or reach out online for a complimentary case evaluation with a bus and public transportation accident lawyer serving Phoenix.
If you suffered injuries in an accident due to someone else’s negligence or wrong doing, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. At Valley Injury Team, we fight tirelessly to protect your rights and seek the compensation you need. We’re proud to serve clients throughout the Phoenix area, including Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale and Queen Creek.
Valley Injury Team is committed to helping you understand your legal rights and options, reducing your stress and uncertainty, and giving you the support you need during this challenging time. Contact us today to learn more in a free consultation.
