Many people hire limousine or shuttle bus companies to provide transportation to the airport or other destinations. While selection of the right transportation provider often is based exclusively on price, an Atlanta shuttle bus crash earlier this year suggests that travelers might also want to consider safety records.
Safety officials from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) suspended the operating authority of a ground transportation company in the wake of a shuttle bus crash that resulted in injury to 17 people. The Department of Public Safety informed Channel 2 that they were requiring MTI Limo and Shuttle to pull all of its vehicles off the road following the crash.
The decision to force the company to suspend operations followed an investigation by DPS that revealed dozens of safety violations involving MTI vehicles and drivers. Examples of these safety issues included bald tires, bad brakes, drivers license violations and problems with emergency exits. The company was forced to cease operations until it could establish that its vehicles were safe, and its drivers were qualified. The drivers must be both medically qualified and properly licensed.
During the shuttle bus crash, the investigation revealed that the driver of the bus did not have a commercial license. The hotel using the shuttle service failed to check the drivers license of the shuttle driver. While it might seem unfathomable that a hotel or transportation company would not verify that a potential driver has a valid commercial drivers license, our experienced Atlanta accident lawyers recognize that extremely egregious conduct like intoxicated driving cause far too many motor vehicle crashes.
When you are injured in a shuttle bus accident, you might have a right to financial compensation. Companies that provide transportation for a fixed rate might qualify as a “common carrier,” which means they have a heightened duty to safely transport their passengers. This high standard of care is based on the rationale that passengers on common carriers have no access or control over the condition of the vehicles or competence of the drivers. If an individual is injured in a collision while riding in a shuttle bus, there are a range of parties that might be responsible, such as the driver, driver’s employer, other drivers, public entities and/or independent maintenance companies.
Put Our Law Firm’s Over 39 Years of Experience to Work For your Claim
If you are injured in a shuttle bus accident in Atlanta, we invite you to contact us so we can evaluate your potential legal claims. Our car accident attorneys at Montlick & Associates have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over thirty years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED® (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
