INJURED IN AN MTA BUS ACCIDENT?

1. INJURED IN AN MTA BUS ACCIDENT? (How to Pursue Financial Restitution for Your Harms and Losses) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is responsible for the oversight and administration of various aspects of public transportation that assist millions of people getting from Point A to Point B each and every day. Many bus trips in and around Los Angeles are uneventful and occur without incident. However, there are instances when a bus collides with another motorist where passengers are left with serious, debilitating bodily injuries. You Have Legal Rights as a Passenger If you were a passenger on an MTA bus when an accident occurred and suffered serious bodily injuries, you may be able to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses. If a third-party motorist (i.e. the driver of another automobile) caused the collision with the MTA bus, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim against the negligent driver’s insurance policy. If, on the other hand, the MTA bus driver caused the accident, then you may need to consider pursuing a personal injury claim against LACMTA.

2. Unique Rules and Regulations Governing Injury Claims Against Government Entities It is important to understand that certain governmental entities, including the LACMTA, are governed by a unique statutory system concerning the time limit to file a civil claim against the government entity. This is extremely important because the time period to take legal action is typically much shorter than the time period allotted for a civil claim against another motorist. For example, under California law, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim involving a governmental entity is only six months, commencing from the date of the accident. Bus Drivers Held to a Higher Standard A bus driver is considered a “common carrier.” As a result, state and federal law holds these types of motorists to a unique, higher legal standard. Why? because common carriers have a duty of care to protect their passengers from significant harm. When a bus driver breaches a duty of care and that breach proximately causes a serious accident, you may be able to pursue a claim against the LACMTA. A bus driver may breach their duty if there is evidence that they were texting while operating the bus, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving without enough sleep, and/or driving a poorly maintained bus. In these situations, the bus driver (and by extension the LACMTA) can be held liable for your harms and losses. What To Do After an Accident If you or a loved one is injured in an accident with a LACMTA bus, it is important to take certain steps to protect your legal rights. For example, if possible, try to jot down the bus number and the route. In addition, try to get the contact information of the other passengers and any potential witnesses. You should also schedule a free case review with an experienced Los Angeles bus accident attorney such as Ramtin Sadighim of Ramtin Law, right away. Take Action Today Now is the time to contact the highly reputable and experienced Ramtin Sadighim of Ramtin Law, a leading bus accident injury attorney in Los Angeles for sound legal advice and representation. For further information and/or to schedule a consultation please call 888.999.8744 or visit http://www.CaliAccidentAttorney.com to learn more.