Experienced Richmond Injury Attorneys Handling Mass Transit Claims
Pursuing compensation for victims of public transit accidents throughout Virginia
If mass transit companies or operators fail in their duty of care to keep passengers safe, they may be rightfully subjected to a personal injury lawsuit. An experienced Richmond injury attorney from Phelan Petty can help you pursue financial recovery for any losses you have incurred. To learn more, contact us today.
What can cause a Virginia train accident?
People use trains to travel locally and long distance for work and other reasons. Passenger train accidents can occur when engineers are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, when they exceed the posted speed limit, or when they fail to execute proper actions, such as slowing down at the required time. These actions and others can cause the train to derail and lead to serious injuries or even death for those onboard.
Other train accidents can occur when trains collide with pedestrians or motor vehicles at railroad crossings. Many do not appreciate the speed with which trains travel until it is too late. In addition, railroad trains are so massive in weight that it can take up to one mile to stop a train completely.
What can cause a Virginia bus accident?
Many people like to use public bus transportation for various travel needs into the city for work or to a special destination such as a shopping mall. Bus accidents that occur in the greater Richmond area may involve school buses, city buses, charter buses, or tour buses. When operator negligence is the cause of a bus accident, one or more of the following causes for that negligence may be in play:
- Distracted driving (i.e. texting while driving, or other improper cellphone use)
- Driver intoxication (operating the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs)
- Speeding or driving too fast for the road or weather conditions
- Fatigued driving
- Driver inexperience
Airplane crashes, aviation incidents, and airport injuries
Aviation accidents, just like train and bus accidents, can result in catastrophic injuries or death. Though crashes are rare, they do occur as a result of:
- Control tower error
- Mechanical failure
- Pilot error
- Product design defects
- Contaminated fuel
You can also be critically injured on a plane even when it does not crash. Unsecured beverage carts can roll and hit passengers, clip fingers, or crush toes. If an overhead baggage compartment is not properly secured, passengers can suffer head injuries and brain trauma resulting from falling bags and objects.
More often, however, people are injured in airports. They slip and fall on unsafe floors or while running towards a terminal, or they are hit by a baggage mover. In some cases, they may sustain injuries from other travelers.
The potentially liable parties in airplane accidents include airlines, pilots, part manufacturers, distributors, and air traffic controllers.
What makes mass transit claims so complicated?
Because most forms of public transportation carry large groups of people, there is always a risk that multiple people will sustain severe, potentially life-altering injuries. The greater the number the of victims, the more complicated the case can become.
Furthermore, because buses, trains, and planes are all categorized as common carriers, lawsuits will likely need to be filed under the Virginia Tort Claims Act or applicable federal acts. The statute of limitations can be different when you are suing employees of a government.
Why you should not attempt to file a claim on your own
Depending on the nature and extent of the accident at the scene, bus collisions, subway crashes, train wrecks, and airplane crashes pose significant liability upon a transportation authority. These companies and authorities, through their insurance companies and high-powered lawyers, may try to settle your claim for much less than you deserve.
An experienced mass transit accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This attorney can also help fight for the compensation you deserve if you are the surviving family member of a loved who was the victim of wrongful death in a mass transit accident.
If you were injured while using public transportation call today
Phelan Petty represents injured clients in Richmond and throughout Virginia. To setup a free case review, call us today at 804.980.7100 or use our contact form to leave us a message.