San Francisco Public Transportation Accident Lawyer
Thousands of people use public transit each day in the San Francisco Bay area. Passengers rightly expect that when they board a BART train or step on a shuttle bus to the airport, they will be safe. When negligence or wrongdoing causes injury or death on public transportation, injured people have choices. At the law firm of Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C., we help people protect themselves after an accident involving public transportation, preserving their rights, advising them about their options and seeking compensation for their injuries. For more information, contact one of our public transportation attorneys by calling us today.
With more than 30 years of experience, the lawyers at our San Francisco law firm have a remarkable record of accomplishment helping injured clients obtain compensation. One of our strengths is our ability to tell our clients’ stories effectively at trial or during negotiations with insurance companies. We create compelling presentations using the latest courtroom technology. This allows us to illustrate complex legal, medical and economic issues in ways that juries, adjusters and judges understand.
Examples of Public Transportation Cases
Our law firm handles the most complex public transportation cases, seeking redress for our clients from insurance companies, municipalities and other government agencies, and individuals. We handle cases arising from:
- Muni accidents
- BART accidents
- Train accidents
We also undertake wrongful death cases for clients whose loved ones died in public transit accidents as a result of negligence or misconduct. In each case, our attorneys work closely with highly regarded medical experts and other specialists so that we fully understand the impact of the injuries or loss on the lives of our clients and their families. This allows us to convey the survivors’ or injured person’s needs to the court or insurance company fully and accurately.
Legal actions involving public transportation are based in common carrier law, which holds operators of mass transit to a higher standard of care than ordinary drivers. Our lawyers are well-versed in this area of the law and are skilled at demonstrating an operator’s failure to adhere to this higher standard.
What Do I Need in Order to File a Public Transportation Lawsuit?
The most important thing to keep in mind when suing for a public transportation injury is the fact that you are taking legal action against a government agency. This is slightly different compared to a normal injury lawsuit, and there are a few factors you should keep in mind.
Firstly, the statute of limitations may be much shorter – giving you less time to get in touch with a lawyer and file your lawsuit. This is yet another reason why it is so important to book a consultation with a personal injury attorney in San Francisco nice and early, as this allows you to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.
For those who do not know, the statute of limitations is basically just a legal time limit for injured victims. If you fail to file your lawsuit within the allotted time period, you will lose your ability to sue and receive compensation. Normally, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years – giving you plenty of time to get your act together.
However, when you sue a government agency like a public transportation company, the statute of limitations may only be a few months. Although prioritizing your health is a logical first step, you should get in touch with a lawyer as soon as you have received sufficient treatment, especially if you are suing a public transport company for injuries.
The next thing you need to consider is evidence. Fortunately, public transportation companies and vehicles are highly likely to record incidents with surveillance footage. Whether you are traveling by train or bus, virtually everyone interacting with these public transportation companies will be recorded. This means that the exact circumstances of the accident are almost impossible to dispute, and clear acts of negligence will be apparent.
Other evidence might include eyewitness testimony. If you can, you will want to collect phone numbers from witnesses who saw the accident, as these individuals might be able to testify on your behalf later. Police reports may also be helpful, and police officers may be willing to share details of any investigations and findings that help establish fault.
You might also want to take photographs of the crash scene immediately after the accident. That being said, your first priority should be to receive medical assistance after your crash, so don’t worry too much about documenting the scene if you need to get in an ambulance and drive to a hospital right away.
That leads us to another important aspect of your evidence — medical records.
As with any personal injury lawsuit, it is extremely important to get the medical attention you need. Not only does this make sense from a purely health-focused perspective, but it also provides you with crucial medical evidence. This evidence shows that your injuries are legitimate, and it is impossible to receive compensation without adequate medical records. Aside from basic medical records, you can also use doctors’ notes, medical images (like X-rays), and a range of other evidence that arises due to your medical treatment.
Even if you believe your injuries are relatively minor, you should always get treatment. It makes sense to be on the safe side, and you can also ensure that you are collecting the necessary evidence for a potential lawsuit in the future.
What if I am Partly to Blame for My Injuries?
In many situations, victims may be partly at fault for their own injuries. For example, you might have been texting and driving when a public transportation bus ran a red light and struck you. It is important to understand that even though you might have been partly at fault for the accident, you can still receive compensation. This is due to California’s “pure” comparative negligence laws.
In the above example, it might be determined that you and the bus driver were both equally to blame for the accident. As a result, you would receive 50% of the settlement that would otherwise be provided. If you are completely blameless, you would receive 100% of that same settlement. Now let’s say that you were driving slightly over the speed limit at the time of the crash, despite keeping your eyes on the road. In this situation, it might be determined that you are 25% to blame for the crash. As a result, you would receive 75% of your normal settlement amount.
There are no limits to this system, which means you could theoretically sue a public transit company even if you are 99% to blame for your own injuries.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a San Francisco Public Transportation Injury Attorney
If you need assistance after an accident that occurred on public transportation and wish to talk to an experienced attorney, please contact our San Francisco public transportation accidents lawyers today.
We also undertake wrongful death cases for clients whose loved ones died in public transit accidents as a result of negligence or misconduct. In each case, our attorneys work closely with highly regarded medical experts and other specialists so that we fully understand the impact of the injuries or loss on the lives of our clients and their families. This allows us to convey the survivors’ or injured person’s needs to the court or insurance company fully and accurately.
Legal actions involving public transportation are based in common carrier law, law that holds operators of mass transit to a higher standard of care than ordinary drivers. Our lawyers are well-versed in this area of the law and are skilled at demonstrating an operator’s failure to adhere to this higher standard.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a San Francisco Public Transportation Injury Attorney
If you need assistance after an accident that occurred on public transportation and wish to talk to an experienced attorney, please contact our San Francisco public transportation accidents lawyers today.
