Mass Transit Accidents in Gwinnett County

Our Gwinnett County MARTA Accident Attorneys Stand Ready to Help

Public transportation is often a convenient way to get around and, for some people, it is their primary form of transportation. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is the major source of mass transit in and around Gwinnett County, and consider the following MARTA statistics:

• The MARTA system serves 1.7 million people in the Atlanta metropolitan area
• About 500,000 people use MARTA transportation each weekday
• Since it started in 1979, MARTA bus and rail vehicles made more than 5 billion trips
• MARTA has 338 rail cars servicing 38 stops
• MARTA has 550 buses on 101 routes
• MARTA provides 173 lift vans for mobility services

Thousands of people use MARTA on a daily basis, while others may take a ride for a special occasion. In addition, people use various other forms of mass transit to travel interstate or internationally each and every day.

Mass transit is a major industry in the United States, and companies bring in billions of dollars on a regular basis. Passengers should be able to trust that buses, trains, and other vehicles are safe for their use and that they will reach their destinations safely. Unfortunately, accidents happen too often involving mass transit vehicles, and many passengers suffer severe and life-threatening injuries.

Some mass transit accidents cannot be avoided, though many occur due to inadequate safety practices or negligence on the part of transportation employees. When this happens, injured passengers have the right to take legal action and hold mass transit companies liable for their often extensive losses. Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC is a personal injury law firm in Gwinnett County that represents injured accident victims and their loved ones after a mass transit crash. Call today at 404-418-8244 to discuss your rights and options.

Common Types of Mass Transit Accidents

Accidents can occur involving vehicles owned by both public and private transportation companies. Some of these vehicles include:

All of these vehicles are considered to be common carriers because they transport people for a fare. Common carriers have the highest duty of care of anyone in the transportation industry, and the law requires them to take all possible measures and act in a manner that ensures the safety of their passengers at all times. An honest mistake of a regular driver may result in liability for a common carrier if it causes injuries to passengers. For this reason, injured mass transit passengers are often able to recover compensation for all of their losses from transit companies, and they should consult with an experienced lawyer right away.

Liability for Your Losses

Transit companies are supposed to do everything in their power to ensure that passengers will be safe on their ride. This also includes safety in train stations, airports, bus depots, and other loading and unloading areas. Drivers and operators should always be thoroughly qualified, well-trained, and operating the transit vehicle in a safe an lawful manner. Companies and all employees should always be in full compliance with all applicable safety rules and laws, including those set out by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the state of Georgia.

Even the safest transit companies can have people who make errors and cause accidents. When a crash and injuries happen due to a common carrier’s negligence, injured victims have the right to financial recovery. Some examples of negligence commonly involved in mass transit cases include:

• Hiring untrained, unqualified, or potentially dangerous drivers
• Driving while fatigued
• Driving with certain health conditions, such as sleep apnea
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Violating traffic laws, including speeding or running traffic signals
• Dangerous lane changes and failing to check blind spots
• Failing to maintain vehicles, tracks, or other equipment
• Violating any safety regulations

In addition, when an accident does occur, additional injuries may result if emergency doors are not working, if luggage is not properly secured, or if there are other dangerous conditions aboard the vehicle.

Different parties can be liable for your losses from a mass transit crash. For example, our attorneys and federal investigators may determine that a train operator fell asleep at the wheel due to untreated sleep apnea (which has happened in multiple recent U.S. train accidents). While the operator was the negligent party, the transit company that employed the operator can also be strictly liable for any injuries and losses under the law. Perhaps we then learn that the train tracks did not have properly working safety mechanisms to avoid a crash under these circumstances, which can lead to third-party liability. As you can see, these cases can become quite complex very quickly.

Seeking the Compensation You Deserve After an Accident in Gwinnett County

Liable parties in mass transit accidents can include individuals, corporations, and/or government entities. Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC knows how to file effective insurance claims with all necessary insurers, and we will present evidence to negotiate the full settlement offer you deserve for your losses.

We regularly recover compensation for the following on behalf of our injured clients:

We also know how to handle claims against government agencies who are at fault for transportation accidents. These claims have specific procedures that differ from claims against corporations. You need a lawyer handling your claim who knows how to navigate the legal system no matter who was negligent in your accident.

Contact an Experienced Mass Transit Accident Lawyer in Gwinnett County for Help

Mass transit accidents can be frightening and traumatizing events. Many victims must then deal with severe injuries, which involves seeking medical treatment, missing work, and missing out on their everyday activities for quite some time. Each person injured in a bus, train, or plane accident should have a skilled personal injury attorney protecting their rights. Please do not wait to call Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC at 404-418-8244 or send us an email through our online contact form to schedule your free case evaluation.