Twelve Injured in MARTA Bus Crash
Last month, twelve people were injured when a vehicle ran a stop sign and struck a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) bus in Atlanta. The accident occurred on Thursday, August 13th at about 5:45 p.m. near the corner of Delowe Drive and Woodbury Avenue. Those injured included the bus driver, eight bus passengers and four passengers in the private motor vehicle. All injuries were thankfully non-life threatening. The driver of the passenger vehicle has received a citation for running the stop sign and causing the accident.
Bus Accidents Are Governed by Common Carrier Law
Bus accidents fall under common carrier law because buses offer transportation services to people as part of their business model. A common carrier includes any business or individual that transports people, goods or services in exchange for a fee or under the authority of a government body. Common carriers that travel across state lines or between states are governed under Federal law by the Interstate Commerce Act, while individual states regulate travel within the state.
Other common carriers include taxis, school buses, airplanes, ferries, cruise ships, airport shuttles and some limousines. Common carriers must exhibit a high degree of care because they offer transportation to the public at a fee. Failure to adhere to this exceedingly high standard of care can be considered negligence on behalf of the driver or the commercial carrier company.
If you are injured in a bus accident or another commercial carrier related accident, you should be entitled to compensation from the bus driver or the commercial carrier company. Examples of negligent conduct include speeding, driving while fatigued, inadequate training of drivers, maintenance issues, tire failure and the like. For accidents due to negligence, the bus driver and his or her company could be liable to injured passengers for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more.
Any bus accident victim should be aware that because many common carriers are government agencies, there are stringent and short deadlines that apply to these actions. There may also be specific notice requirements that must be fulfilled within a certain amount of time in order to allow the action to continue against the government entity. Therefore, it is important that all bus or common carrier accident victims consult with an attorney as soon as possible after the accident. Your attorney will review the facts of the case, begin investigations, and be sure that all notice and filing requirements are met in a timely manner so that you can obtain the compensation you deserve.
Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law: Over 39 Years of Bus and Commercial Vehicle Accident Experience
If you have been injured in a bus or other commercial transportation related accident, the Georgia Bus Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, are here to help. Our firm has over 39 years of experience assisting in accident cases, including school bus, streetcar and public bus accidents and we assist injured clients across Georgia and in the Southeast.
The sooner you act, the greater your chances of obtaining a full recovery for your injuries. As such, do not delay in seeking legal assistance, as you have a limited time in which to file a personal injury claim following your accident. Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 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.
Source:
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2015/08/12-injured-in-marta-accident.html