How are Public Transportation Accidents Different from other Auto Accidents?
With the lack of standard safety features offered inside of most public transportation automobiles — such as passenger seatbelts and airbags — along with the larger physical size of public transport vehicles and the multitude of passengers involved, damages from public transportation accidents tend to be quite substantial.
That is why it is important that you are prepared to handle this type of situation, especially so you are compensated for any damages you suffer.
Common Types of Vehicle Accidents
Public transportation accidents are not nearly as prevalent as other accidents.
Obviously, car accidents are the most common causes of collisions on U.S. roadways.
However, there are plenty of other dangers of roadway travel to be wary of.
For a more detailed explanation of the dangers that occupy the streets – read our five most common types of vehicle accidents blog.
What Do I Do if I am Involved in a Public Transportation Accident?
If you are involved in a public transportation accident, the first thing you should do is contact the authorities and medical professionals.
If you cannot do so, make sure someone else on the scene is in contact with both authorities and medical professionals.
Even if you don’t initially notice any personal injuries, allow medical professionals to check and clear you.
When the authorities arrive, you should give a written statement of the events, given you are in the position to do so.
Next, you will need to collect evidence and follow the proper steps to handling an automobile accident.
If there are many parties involved in the accident, only worry about collecting contact/insurance information from any drivers involved in the accident.
You should also collect contact information for any bystander witnesses.
Do not forget to collect information from any authorities or medical professionals that you interact with.
You will want information on the public transportation service so that you can contact them later for their insurance information.
It is imperative that you seek proper medical attention as soon as possible after the accident, even if you do not believe you suffered any major injuries.
In these types of cases, most districts limit the allotted time a person can seek medical attention and still be compensated for medical costs.
Even if there are no initial signs of injury, future injuries may result from the accident.
Injuries that aren’t automatically recognizable are often very serious and can be life-threatening.
If you don’t seek medical attention within the allotted period of time, your case can be dismissed on the grounds that you did not properly mitigate your injuries, leaving you to deal with the extensive costs of medical care.
Ask your healthcare provider to complete a full array of testing, including brain and spine tests.
Who Will Pay Compensation for my Injuries?
Public transportation services will almost always have insurance coverage that will compensate for passengers’ damages.
Compared to most automobile insurance plans, public transportation insurance has much higher damages caps to suffice for the higher costs involved in accidents of a larger magnitude.
You can still receive full compensation even if another party, other than the public transport driver, is at fault.
The other driver’s insurance likely does not have a large enough cap to significantly cover the large costs involved in the accident, but the public transportation service’s underinsured driver coverage will cover the difference.
Sometimes the insurance provider will handle every individual case as a separate entity from other individuals involved.
In these situations, the insurance provider will most likely completely compensate you for any damages that you suffered.
In other cases, the public transportation service will have “pooled coverage” — a lump sum granted to all parties involved in the accident that is distributed to individuals based on the severity of their injuries and losses.
It is not uncommon for pooled coverage to undercompensate individuals, sometimes not even covering costs from injuries.
If it is not clear which party is at fault or is a dispute between parties on the degree of damages, it may be necessary to file a public transportation accident lawsuit.
How Do I Choose a Lawyer For My Public Transportation Accident Lawsuit?
Insurance providers have the obvious incentive to save as much money as possible when dealing with high-cost accidents.
They will cut corners and find loopholes, like pooled coverage compensation, to avoid having to pay out the real cost of damages.
The legal system surrounding these types of accidents is complex and often confusing, especially when more than one party is at fault.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer will be beneficial for a variety of reasons:
- Relieving you of the stress of dealing with insurance companies
- Helping you structure a strong public transportation accident lawsuit case
- Ensuring that you receive full compensation for the damages that you suffered
The personal injury team at TorHoerman Law works on contingency and is dedicated to making sure that you have the strongest public transportation accident lawsuit possible.
