It could be a slip at the 30th Street station in downtown Philadelphia or an accident on a train to Upper Darby, PA. Injuries occur on SEPTA property with alarming regularity. If you or someone you love is the victim in a SEPTA injury case, you require first-hand knowledge of the legal system to fight your claim for injury compensation.
Negligence is one of the first considerations when evaluating whether an accident involves recoverable damages. Let’s explore the concept of negligence in SEPTA cases and how your SEPTA accident lawyer will help investigate the cause and ensure negligent parties are held responsible for your injuries.
Data Shows Overwhelming Number of SEPTA Accidents
To get to the root cause of SEPTA accidents, we should note injuries on SEPTA buses and trains are now becoming common.
Millions of Pennsylvania residents travel via SEPTA routes across the state each year. SEPTA accident data released by the Federal Transportation Administration shows those traveling on SEPTA buses and trains are now at significant risk of injury. For example, buses on routes in and out of central Philadelphia hubs now experience several accidents per month.
SEPTA data also shows that Pennsylvania public transit authority vehicles are involved in an accident every 100,0000 miles driven: three times as often as comparably sized cities such as Houston and Chicago. In fact, there have already been a number of incidents this year involving SEPTA trolleys and buses.
SEPTA Driver Error
One of the primary causes of SEPTA accidents is driver error. As with car and truck accidents occurring throughout Pennsylvania daily, SEPTA bus, trolley, and train drivers can make a mistake in the moment that leads to a crash injury.
Examples of SEPTA driver errors include:
- Running a red light
There are countless examples of SEPTA bus drivers running a red light and then colliding with a passenger vehicle.
- Mounting the sidewalk on a turn
The wide turning radius of a SEPTA bus can cause drivers to enter the pedestrian area of the sidewalk and either hit pedestrians directly or clip them with a side mirror.
- Speeding while trying to overtake
Speeding is another common cause of SEPTA bus accidents. Drivers may be trying to make up for delays elsewhere on their route or otherwise preoccupied, creating dangerous traffic conditions.
Negligence and SEPTA Training
In addition to driver error and individual mistakes, there are also instances where the responsibility for your injuries may be related to SEPTA training practices. For example, SEPTA accident lawyers examine the following aspects of driver training after an accident:
- Was the driver sufficiently qualified as a public transit operator?
SEPTA attorneys investigate the background of the driver/operator and review potential notes in their files regarding training.
- Did the SEPTA training report cite any previous safety concerns associated with the driver?
Your lawyer will explore the vehicle operator’s history of testing and driving performance to determine whether there were any past infractions or accidents.
- Has the driver been trained on the specific vehicle, and did they take recent training?
If the vehicle involved in the accident is newer or recently updated, your lawyer will explore the driver’s training with the model and whether it matches the industry standards.
Your SEPTA injury lawyer will review the operator’s records carefully and identify any flaws within the procedures to note lapses in training that contributed to your accident injury.
You may also have a case against the SEPTA authorities if your injury resulted from their failure to maintain their vehicles or infrastructure, including bus and train stations.
Injury cases related to SEPTA maintenance may include:
- Overdue bus and train repairs
Your lawyer will evaluate the SEPTA reports and determine whether your injuries are directly attributable to mechanical failure resulting from overdue repairs or part replacements.
- Improper flooring and structural repairs
Slips and falls at SEPTA stations are often the result of structural issues, including cracked subway stairs and tripping hazards.
- Poorly maintained tracks
Poorly maintained train tracks can also cause trains to veer off course, resulting in injuries. Your lawyer can seek the maintenance records for the train line and determine whether SEPTA employees completed track repairs according to the industry protocol.
Call SEPTA Accident Lawyer Jeffrey Penneys for Your SEPTA Negligence Claim
You are required by law to file your SEPTA lawsuit within six months of your accident. There’s no time to waste in seeking qualified legal advice on your case.
Jeffrey Penneys has over 25 years of experience litigating SEPTA cases and fighting claims against the public transit authorities and their employees in the Pennsylvania court system. He understands the strategies SEPTA’s lawyers use and can counteract those strategies to maximize the value of your claim.
During your free consultation with Jeffrey Penneys and his law firm team, you’ll receive comprehensive guidance on the claims process and the path forward to ensure fair compensation for your pain, loss of income, and injury-associated medical costs.
Ready to book your free SEPTA case review? Call the Law Offices of Jeffrey Penneys today.