As populations have increased, so has the demand for access to public transit services. Most cities across the United States offer some form of public transit in the form of buses, trains and, if crossing a body of water, ferries. With the increase in the number of public vehicles being used on a daily basis added to the increased number of domestic and industrial vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists on the road, an increase in the rate of public transit accidents is inevitable.
When a public transit accident occurs, it is disheartening for the users of the service. Those who rely on public transportation entrust the safety of their lives and the lives of their family with the operators on a daily basis. Transit users need to have faith that they are not in danger by using transit, so when an accident involving such services does occur it is very important that legal action is pursued as soon as possible. It is comforting to the victim or his loved ones to know that action is being taken to compensate for their pain. Knowing that the party(s) responsible for a transit accident are being held accountable for the damages caused is also comforting to the general public.
There are a few important steps to take following a public transportation accident, no matter what the outcome is. First, if it is possible, photographs should be taken of the entire scene and the injuries suffered immediately. This should be done using a digital camera or a 35mm camera. Notes should be taken to record what happened before, during and after the accident and what was done by whom and where. Any potential witnesses should be approached for their contact information, should a lawsuit be filed. All of this information should be stored for safe keeping until all injuries have been treated by a medical professional.
Once any injuries due to the accident have stabilized and the victim has obtained a copy of his/her medical records, it is time to find a lawyer (if family members have not already). In such instances, it is important to find someone with experience in similar cases accompanied by a high success rate for his clients. An attorney who is experienced in representing victims of public transit accidents will know his client’s rights thoroughly and how to exercise them.
Since most public transportation programs are municipally operated, if a lawsuit is filed it is most likely going to be against a department of the city government. The attorney who represents a government department is an aggressive attorney who defends his clients’ every action, making it very important to find an attorney with a similar nature to represent the victim of a public transit accident.
The Kornfeld Law Firm handles clients with major personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and various other cases in relation to personal injuries. Additionally, we represent clients who have claims arising in the work place involving sexual harassment, employment discrimination or wrongful termination. While our law firm is based in the Seattle area, we have successfully handled cases throughout the State of Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and assisted in British Columbia, Canada. Visit Kornfeld Laws Seattle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation.
