Public Transportation & Philadelphia SEPTA Accident Attorneys
Tough Cases. Tougher Lawyers.
No Recovery. No Fee.
Craig A. Altman Fights to Get You Compensation for Your Injuries
Each year, there are a considerable amount of motor vehicle accidents involving public transportation commercial buses. In the Philadelphia area, that is more specifically the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
It’s no secret that SEPTA buses have been witnessed driving at excessive speed throughout the streets of Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to SEPTA bus accidents involving other motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and even pedestrians. If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our car accident lawyers today.
Why You Need A Philadelphia SEPTA Accident Attorney
High gas prices mean that more and more people are using public transportation. Unfortunately, the lack of seatbelts, on buses and the frequency of sudden stops make mass transit a particularly dangerous form of travel, especially in the busy Center City Philadelphia. SEPTA bus driver negligence is a frequent cause of public transportation accidents because far too many SEPTA bus drivers have been inadequately trained.
If you have been in a SEPTA bus accident or SEPTA train accident, only a SEPTA accident lawyer can file a personal injury claim on your behalf. Our accident lawyers are experienced in handling cases involving SEPTA’s negligence, dealing with the insurance company, and recovering maximum compensation for the injured party.
Septa Accidents in Philadelphia, PA Result in Serious Injury That Deserves Compensation
SEPTA (South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority) is one of the largest public transit systems in the US, providing public transportation to more than five million people in Philadelphia, PA, and the surrounding metro area. SEPTA vehicles include buses, commuter regional rail trains, rapid transit trains, electric or trackless trolleys, and light rail trolleys.
SEPTA vehicle operators must exercise a particularly high degree of care to ensure the safety of passengers.
If you’ve suffered an injury as a result of a SEPTA accident, you may be able to sue parties responsible for your injuries.
You Deserve Compensation for Injuries Caused by Taxi Accidents in Philadelphia, PA
A high percentage of passengers in taxi accidents are seriously injured because they rarely wear seatbelts. Additionally, taxicabs are notorious for having fewer airbags than other vehicles. This is problematic because taxi travel is especially common in Philadelphia, PA and the surrounding metro area. Unfortunately, taxi drivers are often in a hurry to get to their destinations so that they can pick up another passenger. Taxi drivers also have to deal with a constant barrage of distractions, including dispatcher calls and passenger travel requests. Beyond that, taxi drivers are more likely to be fatigued, particularly if they are at the tail-end of a long shift.
Passengers in taxis that are involved in collisions often suffer from painful, serious injuries including whiplash, concussion, and more. If you have been injured in a taxi car accident, you deserve to be compensated for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. Additionally, all other drivers who share the road with taxis are also vulnerable. We’ve all seen the way taxi drivers move in and out of traffic and we’ve all wondered how they avoid accidents. The truth is they don’t always avoid collisions with other vehicles. This is not to say taxi drivers are reckless, it means that passengers in other vehicles that are involved in a collision with a taxi driver may have viable claims as well. Although you may have claims against both the taxi driver and the taxi company, a suit against a taxi company can be complicated because the companies often classify their drivers as independent contractors. An experienced taxi accident attorney can help you identify all liable parties and ensure that they are held accountable for causing you or your loved one’s injuries.
*The Law Offices of Craig A. Altman does not offer any guarantee of case results. Past success in litigation does not guarantee success in any new or future lawsuit.
When You've Been Injured, We Will Help
The Law Offices of Craig A. Altman will help you seek monetary compensation for:
Medical Expenses
Hospital bills can be overwhelming, particularly if your accident caused brain & spinal injuries or other serious injuries. Reimbursement for medical bills is an essential part of recovery in an injury case.
Future Medical Treatments
Serious injury to your neck and/or back may require years of medical attention and exhaustive physical therapy.
Lost Income
Recovery for lost wages is essential. In addition, you could be entitled to income continuation.
How Can Our Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Help?
You Need to Act Quickly to Preserve Your Legal Rights
The experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman have been handling personal injury lawsuits for decades. The legal team is dedicated to practicing personal injury law and helping accident victims. Taking on the insurance company requires years of experience and proper legal representation is essential to prevent them from delaying or denying your claim for compensation.
If you would like to take legal action and bring a personal injury lawsuit after being negligently injured, we are the law firm you want on your side. Our track record is proof of our dedication to helping accident victims in the aftermath of a serious injury.
Tough Cases. Tougher Lawyers.
The Law Offices of Craig A. Altman is proud of the reputation it has built successfully negotiating and litigating for clients who have suffered personal injuries due to someone’s negligence.
Learn more about this personal injury law firm, the legal team, and its verdicts and settlements. An experienced attorney is what you will need and want if you seek to obtain maximum compensation for your injury case.
Philadelphia Bus Accident Law FAQs
What Are The Most Common Types Of Public Transportation Accidents in PA?
- SEPTA ACCIDENTS
- TROLLEY ACCIDENTS
- COMMUTER TRAIN ACCIDENTS
- SUBWAY ACCIDENTS
- RAILWAY ACCIDENTS
- TAXICAB ACCIDENTS
- PUBLIC BUS ACCIDENTS, INCLUDING GREYHOUND, APEX BUS, BOLT BUS, AND MEGABUS
- SHUTTLE VAN ACCIDENTS (INCLUDING COMMUTER VANS AND AIRPORT SHUTTLES)
If you’ve been injured in a public transportation accident, or any vehicle accident, you need an attorney who isn’t afraid to fight private insurance companies or powerful government agencies. Call the skilled personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman today.
What Are the Main Types of SEPTA Accidents?
- Jerk and jolt – The bus or train makes a sudden stop.
- Train derailment
- Collision with another vehicle – If you are a passenger in another vehicle that is hit by a SEPTA bus, you may have a viable claim
- The bus strikes a curb
- Driver fails to wait until all passengers are safely onboard and seated before starting the vehicle.
- Defective doors – There have been cases of doors closing on passengers and causing passengers to be dragged down the road by the bus.
Certain Rules Apply to Septa “Jerk and Jolt” Cases
There are some legal hurdles that injured parties must clear in order to bring a jerk and jolt claim. Since bus drivers are frequently required to make sudden stops, special rules apply to SEPTA injuries that are caused by a bus driver hitting the brakes and suddenly stopping the bus. You must be able to prove that the stop was outside the norm, an extraordinary occurrence. It will help your claim if there are other passengers who were injured as a result of the sudden stop or who can testify that the stop was unusual. SEPTA staff members also have a duty to ensure that you are safe while on SEPTA property, such as SEPTA stations, terminals, and concourses. Although you cannot sue for standard slip-and-fall accident injuries, you can sue for injuries caused by defective conditions on SEPTA property. The kinds of defective conditions that can give rise to a SEPTA property accident claim include:- BROKEN STEPS IN A STAIRCASE
- UNEVEN FLOORING
- LOOSE RAILING ON A PLATFORM
- HOLE IN THE CONCRETE AT A BUS STOP
- UNSECURED ELECTRICAL LINES
- LEAKY PIPES THAT LEAD TO SLIPPERY FLOORS
- CRUMBLING WALLS
- MALFUNCTIONING ESCALATOR OR ELEVATOR
What Kind Of Injuries Are Covered In SEPTA Passenger Claims?
If you’ve been injured in a SEPTA vehicle or in any public transportation vehicle, you maybe have suffered severe or even catastrophic injuries leading to economic claims (lost wages, medical bills) or non-economic damages (emotional distress. Injuries for which you can recover damages include:
- Broken bones – Fractures are common in the legs and arms
- Brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries – Rear-end collisions may result in a herniated or ruptured disc
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Scarring
- Sprain, strains and soft tissue damage
- Mental or emotional anguish – The severe physical pain from a motor vehicle accident can cause long-lasting emotional harm.
- Loss of vision or hearing
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
A Philadelphia bus accident attorney will be best able to evaluate your case and determine, based on the facts and circumstances, what kind of personal injury claim you may have under Pennsylvania law for your physical pain, medical bills, medical treatment, and non-economic damages.
What Kind Of Damages Can I Recover In A Philadelphia SEPTA Accident Case?
If you have suffered personal injury your SEPTA accident lawyers will advise you of the damages you may recover. You may be able to recover economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages. In Pennsylvania, there are two main types of damages: compensatory damages and punitive damages:
Compensatory damages are designed to make you whole after an accident. You may suffer both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages include:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Lost wages
Non-economic damages by their nature are more difficult to calculate. This is where pain and suffering and emotional distress are covered. These damages include:
- Loss of ability to work
- Loss of future earnings
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional pain and distress
An experienced personal injury attorney will evaluate and investigate your case, determine how the accident happened, deal with the insurance company and make sure you SEPTA accident claims are properly handled so you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
What Should You Do If You Are Injured in a SEPTA Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a SEPTA accident, there are certain things that you should do to protect your legal rights and preserve a possible claim:
- Get a claim card or incident form from the operator of your vehicle – Do not leave the accident scene without getting a claim card because you will be required to fill out the form and give a copy to the driver.
- Write down the contact information of any witnesses to the accident
- Get the names and contact information of other passengers
- Get the driver’s name and information – Try to take notes on the driver’s appearance just in case you have to identify the driver later.
- Write down the license plate numbers of any vehicles involved in the accident
- Note the time and route of the bus or train that you are on
- Take photos of the accident scene – Be sure to take photographs of the location of the accident and the cars involved in the accident.
- Seek medical treatment for any injuries suffered as a result of the accident
- Take photos of any visible injuries
DO NOT talk with SEPTA attorneys or representatives until you’ve had an opportunity to talk to an experienced Philadelphia SEPTA accident lawyer about your case. No matter how sympathetic they sound, SEPTA lawyers represent SEPTA, and their job is to disqualify your claim. You need a knowledgeable, experienced personal injury attorney with experience handling personal injury claims on your side, protecting your interests, and fighting for your rights.
How Much Money Can I Recover In A SEPTA Accident Case?
There is no simple answer to this question. Each case has to be evaluated by an experienced SEPTA accident attorney in order to determine the potential amount of damages an injured person can recover in a Philadelphia accident case.
There are many other factors to be considered in any car accident lawsuit or personal injury claim. There will be both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages will compensate you for financial costs incurred as a result of the accident. The idea is to “make you whole” or in other words, put you back in the financial place you were in before the crash. Such damages would include:
- Present and future medical expenses which includes ambulance fees, hospitalization, surgery, medication, medical equipment, surgeries, and doctor visits
- Physical therapy and other necessary and related rehabilitation treatment and costs
- The cost of replacing or repairing damaged property
- Lost Income and wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Temporary or permanent disability
These types of damages are relatively straightforward. So long as they are related to the accident, they are proven by the medical bills and expenses incurred.
Non-economic damages include:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
These damages require a different level of proof than the economic damages as there are no bills to prove the amount. This does not mean the damages are any less real. They require the experience and knowledge of a SEPTA accident lawyer. An accident lawyer will have knowledge of how the insurance company may weigh a claim for these non-economic damages and be able to evaluate what kind of demand they may make and/or argue for in a settlement conference or at a trial.
Do Not Delay in Contacting a Lawyer About Your Bus Accident Injury
SEPTA is a state government agency and special rules apply to any SEPTA accident-related claims. An experienced public transportation accident lawyer can help you navigate the difficult claims process. You need an attorney to fight for your legal rights and find ways around sovereign immunity protections for SEPTA, which is operated by the State of Pennsylvania.
The SEPTA accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman have represented numerous clients who suffered personal injuries as a result of driver error or failure to exercise reasonable care.
It Is Imperative To Not Delay Contacting A Knowledgeable Personal Injury Lawyer.
The statute of limitations on most accidents in Pennsylvania is two years from the date of your injury. Once this time has passed, you will be barred forever from bringing a claim. Additionally, you need to act quickly because there is a cap on how much money in damages will be paid out. This means that, in SEPTA accident cases, the people first in line with an injury claim have the best chance of getting compensated. When the money is gone, you will not be able to collect (regardless of the severity of your injuries).
Craig A. Altman Fights Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania to Get You Compensated for Public Transportation Accident Injuries
Call the experienced Philadelphia and New Jersey personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman today. We’ve helped numerous public transportation accident victims win their cases in Philadelphia, PA, and surrounding counties.
We are prepared to help you, as well. You can speak with one of our skilled attorneys by calling our law firm, or you can simply use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. With a specialty in the practice areas of auto accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and more – start chatting with us today to discuss how we can help win your case.
