The FTA, which has federal oversight of SEPTA, has recently released its Safety Management Inspection report highlighting the corrective measures SEPTA must take after eight recent SEPTA crashes caused dozens of life-changing injuries and one death in Philadelphia. The report, which covers the investigation between August 2023 and January 2024, highlights the safety measures and improvement initiatives SEPTA must take to restore public confidence in the service. Within this post, we’ll explain the reasons for the FTA investigation and highlight how you can report SEPTA accident injuries.
Recent SEPTA Accidents in Philadelphia
Friday, July 21
Two buses crash into one another on Roosevelt Boulevard. The SEPTA Route 14 bus hit the SEPTA Route 1 bus, with several passengers flung from their seats in the sudden crash. The reports show at least 19 passengers suffered injuries, with 72-year-old Siu Nam Mak killed in the accident.
Sunday, July 23, 2023
A SEPTA bus hit an electrical pole in Fishtown at the intersection of Frankford and West Girard avenues, causing non-life-threatening injuries to four people.
Monday, July 24
Two trolleys collide, one rear-ending the other in Upper Darby, PA, just outside Philadelphia, near Lansdowne Avenue and Garrett Road. Five passengers went to local hospitals with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
July 27, 2023
A runaway SEPTA trolley crashes into an SUV and a historic building in Southwest Philadelphia. There was a mechanic onboard the vehicle, but no driver in control. Two passengers in the SUV were seriously injured in the crash.
May 21, 2024
A motorcyclist suffers life-changing injuries in a crash with a SEPTA bus in Bensalem, PA. The SEPTA Route 129 bus turned left on Byberry Road from Adams Avenue when it collided with the motorcycle.
The FTA Summary on SEPTA Accidents & Corrective Measures
The FTA report analyzing the potential causes for the recent accidents highlighted road safety issues such as outdated rail crossings and poor street design. The report summary also highlights the following factors behind recent accidents:
— SEPTA staffing shortages, which lead to worker fatigue, limits on training and supervision, and lapses in prioritizing safety-critical activities
— Ineffective management and training of new bus, train, and trolley operators
— Limited responses to safety oversight from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
— Lack of progress on implementing a safety management system
SEPTA has responded to FTA and initiated several corrective actions to improve the safety of their millions of passengers throughout Philadelphia and Pennslyvania. These actions include:
- Increasing staffing for front-line positions
- Mandating safety training protocols for all 9,000 SEPTA employees
- Establishing an Accident Reduction Coordination team to mitigate incidents and allocate resources to the potential causes
What You Need to Know to Begin a SEPTA Claim
Because of the complexity of the laws governing SEPTA accidents, ensure you understand the process for filing claims if you suffer an injury as a SEPTA passenger. Below are the steps to take when filing a SEPTA accident claim:
- Report the Accident
Use a SEPTA accident report card to report the accident to SEPTA. The accident report card could help provide valuable evidence in negotiating a settlement with SEPTA.
- File a Notice of Intent
In a SEPTA accident claim, you must first file a Notice of Intent within six months of the accident. Failing to file a Notice of Intent within six months may lead to the court dismissing the case.
- Responding to SEPTA
SEPTA will review your notice of intent and potentially present you with a settlement offer for your claim. If they do not offer compensation and dismiss your claim, you can pursue a SEPTA lawsuit.
- Filing a SEPTA Lawsuit
You have up to two years after the incident date to file a lawsuit against SEPTA. When filing the lawsuit, you should collect evidence such as eyewitness accounts, medical documents, and the original accident reports. SEPTA accident lawyers can help you navigate the lawsuit filing process by securing evidence from SEPTA, including operator accident reports, training notes, and available video camera footage.
Begin Your Claim Backed by 30 Years of Successful SEPTA Accident Case Experience
Jeffrey Penneys is Philadelphia’s leading SEPTA accident lawyer. He is widely known in the local legal community for fighting for SEPTA accident victims and winning bus, train, and trolley accident claims against the transit authority.
Discover the potential value of your SEPTA accident case by booking your free, no-obligation SEPTA accident case review online or call 215-771-0430.