There are many people who use public transportation every day to get to where they need to be. Most people use the buses and trains provided by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). In doing so, commuters have to wait at the bus or train station on the platform. Generally, these are safe places. However, they can be dangerous in the event that they are not taken care of or looked after properly. When this happens and injuries are sustained, it is important to reach out to an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney for assistance.
What Are Some Causes of Bus and Train Accidents?
It is an unfortunate reality that many accidents that occur at train or bus stations occur due to the negligence of a municipality. This may be the case if the municipality fails to take care of the stations and platforms by performing routine inspections to ensure there are no hazards that arise over time. In the event that they do, these dangers should be fixed within reasonable timing so that an accident does not occur. For example, municipalities are required to clear away any snow or weather-related hazards that occur during the winter within a certain period of time. In addition to this, the following are common causes of accidents that occur in these locations can include but are not limited to:
- Poor lighting
- Broken stairwells
- Malfunctioning elevators or escalators
- Lack of surveillance
Recovering Compensation After an Accident
In order for an injured party to recover compensation after an accident, they are required to pursue legal action against the negligent party. This can be done by filing a personal injury claim. It is important to know that, during this time, the individual is required to prove that they were injured as a direct result of the other party’s negligence. This can be done with evidence such as security camera footage of the accident as it happened, pictures of the hazard, medical documentation of the injuries, a police report of the accident, witness statements, and more.
How Long Do I Have to Take Legal Action?
When dealing with personal injury accidents, it is usually important to keep that statute of limitations in mind. In Pennsylvania, this is two years from the date of the injury. However, since the injured party is filing a lawsuit against a municipality for a bus or train station accident, they are required to file a Notice of Claim instead. This lets the municipality know that a lawsuit is being filed against them. In these situations, the deadline for filing is 90 days after the accident occurs. If they fail to do so, the individual will most likely be denied the right to legal action and financial compensation.
Contact our Firm
If you or a loved one has been in a personal injury accident in Pennsylvania, it’s important that you contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney to help you with your case and to make sure that you are not taken advantage of. Contact attorney Rand Spear to get the right attorney in your corner.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
